Idle Hour Retrospect: A Native Son’s Study of 20th Century Oakdale

By Stephen C. Carlisle

In his memoir "Idle Hour Romp - Boyhood Adventures in Mid-20th Century Oakdale", the author described the unique playground of his youth, a world dominated by woods and waterways and the remnants of Vanderbilt opulence, as he saw it at the time when he was unaware of its rich history. In this sequel to that memoir he presents some of the historical background behind this playground, things learned long after his childhood ... How Vanderbilt carved his big estate out of Long Island's south shore wilderness, building the mansion and the Farm and the many out buildings and digging miles of canals ... How the millionaire's estate became a middle class residential community ... How the Farm became the Artist Colony ... How the Gilded Age estates of Vanderbilt's neighbors evolved. It is selective local history presented from an intimate perspective, seasoned with some personal musings.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1482733250
• ISBN13: 9781482733259
• Release Date: March 2013
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 187 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 11.0" x 0.4" x 8.5"