Description
A particularly interesting aspect of the map is that it is bordered by subtle promotional copy in the top margin: “Long Island has two hundred and fifty miles of coastline on ocean, sound and bays. This underscores the region’s seaside allure from Long Island Sound on the north shore to the Atlantic Ocean on the south shore. An additional promotional line on in the lower margin continues this theme: “Long Island trends east and west and is cooled by prevailing southerly ocean breezes.” This draws attention to the climate’s supposed health benefits and to its appeal for summer homes. The 16-page guide includes township statistics and a guide on how to settle on Long Island, including purchasing land, obtaining permits, and building.
The Home Builder on Long Island showcases the region’s modern infrastructure, natural appeal, and easy access to New York City. More than just a real estate brochure, it serves as a carefully crafted advertisement for a lifestyle positioning Long Island as an ideal suburban alternative for the upwardly mobile New Yorker. The pamphlet was issued under the direction of A. L. Langdon, LIRR’s Traffic Manager, and reflects the railroad’s dual role at the time: not only as a mode of transportation but as a promoter of suburban expansion. The text describes in great detail the infrastructure and passenger experience of the soon-to-be-completed Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan. For example, the architectural plans for the station’s multiple levels are shown on page 16: a grand street-level arcade entrance on Seventh Avenue, a general waiting-room 20 feet below the street, separate men’s and women’s retiring rooms, restaurants, cafés, telegraph offices, and a spacious main concourse.
Historically, the pamphlet was produced during a pivotal era for suburban expansion. At the turn of the 20th century, railroads across the United States were actively involved in real estate development, often partnering with land companies or issuing their own promotional materials to populate new commuter communities. In the case of the Long Island Rail Road, this initiative was particularly extensive. The Pennsylvania Railroad had recently acquired the LIRR and was investing heavily in its modernization, including the construction of tunnels under the East River and the building of Pennsylvania Station — one of the grandest infrastructure projects of its time. The Home Builder on Long Island appears to have been released serially, showing LIRR’s long term commitment to this project; later editions published in 1911 and 1914 have been located.
Condition: Map and guide generally good with the usual overall light toning, handling, and wear. Map folds as issued.
References:
“Long Island – LIRR Map Archives.” Trains Are Fun. http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/lirrmaps.htm. (21 July 2025).
“Map of Long Island showing the Long Island Railroad System and Montauk Steamboat Company’s Lines 1907” Brooklyn History. https://mapcollections.brooklynhistory.org/map/map-of-long-island-showing-the-long-island-railroad-system-and-montauk-steamboat-companys-lines-2/. (21 July 2025).
