History
In pre-European times, the Matinecock Indian territory on the North Shore of Long Island stretched from Newtown on the west to the Nissequogue River on the east. With the arrival of European colonists, the general area of the North Shore from what is now Hempstead Harbor on the west to Oyster Bay on the east was known as Matinecock. In 1653, three English colonists from Cape Cod traded goods with Chief Asiapum for a tract of land, bounded by the Papaquatunk River (later called Beaver Swamp River and Beaver Brook) and by the Dutch province of New Netherland and the United Colonies of New England, that was to become the Town of Oyster Bay. On March 13, 1667, seven American Indian proprietors of Matinecock gave John Underhill, the best known resident of Oyster Bay, 150 acres in the general area; Mr. Underhill named this spot "Killingworth". Other settlers and property owners-principally farmers at this time- were Pryer, Birdsall, Cock, Reddock, Hawxhurst, Frost, and Williams. On September 29, 1677, Governor Andros set the western boundary for the Town of Oyster Bay at the east side of Hempstead Harbor, and on January 9, 1685, colonists made a new purchase of Matinecock land north and west of the first tract. In 1725, the Matinecock Meeting House opened for Quakers living in the area. During the American Revolution, Long Island was subjected to armed occupation from the Battle of Long Island in August 1776 until the British evacuation in 1783. On February 12, 1814, the third, fourth, and fifth School Districts in the area were established by three School Commissioners meeting at Norwich. On March 13, 1820, a post office called "Buckram" was established as part of Queens County, and in 1857, this name was changed to "Locust Valley". With the advent of the Industrial Revolution and the Civil War, a railroad was established in the area with its terminus at Locust Valley until 1889 when Oyster Bay was added as a final stop. In 1876, Friends Academy School was founded by Gideon Frost for "the children of Friends and those similarly sentimented". In 1901 Theodore Roosevelt, then Vice President, was sworn in as President on the death of President McKinley, and his home on Cove Neck called Sagamore Hill became the "Summer White House".After the turn of the century, the Quaker farming community of the general area gradually began to give way to large country residences and estates, and the motor car increased transportation. From 1914 to 1918, World War I halted further development of the area, but following the war interest in home rule encouraged the formation of incorporated villages. On April 2, 1928, the Village of Matinecock was incorporated by a vote of 19 to 8. C. Chester Painter, Town Supervisor, and Charles Ransom, Town Clerk, conducted the proceedings. The Village remains a primarily residential community to this day.
Mayors of Matinecock
- 1928 - 1934 Paul B. Barringer
- 1934 - 1940 George E. Fayhs
- 1940 - 1954 Edwin A. Fish
- 1954 - 1966 Ronald M. Craigmyle
- 1967 - 1978 George B. Pidot
- 1978 - 1993 Whitney D. Pidot
- 1993 - 1997 Peter L. Shea
- 1997 - 1998 Robert E. Benson
- 1998 - 2008 John F. Johnston, II
- 2008 - present Kenneth J. Goodman, M.D.