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Laurel

The First Lady, and First Grandmother

Type of Home at Laurel (Photo from "Long Island To-day" by Frederick Ruther, 1909)

Beginnings: Because it was situated midway between Aquebogue and Mattituck on the North Fork, Laurel was known for many years as Middle District. When Riverhead Town split from Southold in 1792, the new border ran through the little farming community, dividing it in half. Middle District later became Franklinville some time before residents formed their own Presbyterian church in 1831, and finally Franklinville became Laurel in 1890. The substitution may have been inspired by the area's abundance of laurel trees and bushes. In winter, many homesteaders gathered seaweed along Long Island Sound and piled it around the foundations of their homes for insulation.

Non-turning point: In 1890, Laurel had about 128 residents. That grew to 200 by 1900, at which time it was described in a survey of Long Island communities as ``a pretty village at peace with all the world.'' Though the population today stands at about 1,100, it could still be described as a tranquil and charming backwater.

Claim to Fame: Founded in 1832, the Franklinville Academy educated area youngsters from as far away as Patchogue. Pastors of local churches generally served as teachers at the very popular academy, which in the days before public education was financed by a stock company. The academy closed in 1889 after losing many of its tuition-paying pupils to the emerging public schools.

The First Lady of Laurel: Even though some contend Anna Symmes was actually a New Jersey native, Laurel loyalists like to claim her as their own. In 1795, Symmes married William Henry Harrison, who became the country's ninth president in 1841. Symmes was first lady for a month before her husband died. Though her tenure in the White House was short-lived, she did have the added distinction of being the grandmother of another president, Benjamin Harrison. Debunking the New Jersey claim, Laurelites insist Symmes was born in Laurel and moved as an infant to New Jersey with her parents, John Cleeves Symmes and Anne Tut hill.

Where to Find More: ``Southold Town 350th Anniversary Celebration Journal'' and ``Around the Forks: A Collection of Published Articles by Edna Howell Yeager,'' available in the Riverhead Free Library.