The History of Laquin: A Presentation with Matthew Carl

LeRoy Heritage Museum president Matthew Carl will be speaking and presenting at the Sayre
Public Library Tuesday, April 23 rd 2024, at 6:00 p.m. Carl’s talk will center on the storied
Pennsylvania lumber town of Laquin, and will feature his book, LAQUIN: The Rise and Fall of a
Pennsylvania Lumber Town.

In addition to discussing the new book, Carl will present a PowerPoint presentation taking the
audience on a tour of Laquin. The new book is 512 pages, 26 chapters, and contains over 600
images, maps, and original documents from both the LeRoy Heritage Museum collection and
from other repositories and private collections.

The book is filled with new research and approximately 95% of the images have never been
published in any previous book. A surname index with over 1,100 family names assists readers
in finding references throughout the book. The book is based on 31 years of research by the
author, who first became interested in local history at the age of 10 by visiting Laquin for the
first time.

After the presentation, space for questions & discussion, book purchase, and book signings will
be made. Currently, copies of Carl’s book are available at the Sayre Public Library circulation
desk for $65.00.

As a native of Bradford County, Matthew Carl became interested in local history at the age of 10
on an overnight youth group trip to the former lumber town of Laquin in southern Bradford
County.

His passion for local history led to the founding of the LeRoy Heritage Museum in 2001.
Matthew became founding president of the organization at the age of 18 and has served as
president for 23 years.

Under his leadership, the organization has undergone two multi-year restoration projects to
preserve both an 1876 grange hall, and an 1896 hotel complete with ballroom and general store.
A museum opened in the grange hall in 2010 and then moved to the hotel in 2022, providing
more space for exhibits in one building and archives in the other. Today, the organization covers
the history of four townships in southwestern Bradford County.

Matthew also joined the Board of Trustees of the Bradford County Historical Society in 2004 at
the age of 21 and was the youngest board member to be appointed in BCHS history to that point.
In the Spring of 2007, he transitioned from a volunteer board member to a full-time staff
member. Today he serves as Executive Director of the Bradford County Historical Society.

Matthew has authored, co-authored, designed, or worked on the reprints of 10 local history
books.

For seating purposes, the Sayre Public Library asks that all who wish to attend the presentation
please register with the library by calling (570) 888-2256, emailing sayre.library@gmail.com, or
by stopping by the circulation desk.