Local author publishes gateway to Matamoras
By Sharon E. Siegel
MATAMORAS, PA – Recently retired Eastern Pike Regional Police Chief Chad Stewart may have found some flexible time after retiring from a 30-plus-yearhis law enforcement career on July 24, 2026, but those extra moments have not been idle ones. Less than a month after his retirement, the lifelong Pike County, PA resident has published a first book, which is available for purchase from Amazon.
The 133-page paperback book, MATAMORAS: Gateway to Pennsylvania: A History of the Borough, It's People, and Its Place on the Delaware, was released on August 21. The book is described as offering a chance to journey through more than 250 years of life along the Upper Delaware River community. From the earliest inhabitants and pioneer settlers to the growth of Westfall Township and incorporation of the Borough of Matamoras, the book explores people, places, and events that helped to create the Matamoras community.
Stewart, who continues to serve as a volunteer firefighter, councilman, and active resident of his community, says he has always had an interest in local history and is glad to have been able to preserve stories and memories of the community he grew up in.
Drawing upon historic newspapers, government records, photographs, maps, personal recollections, and local historical collections, some of the details include names of Revolutionary and Civil War veterans of the area, early farms and businesses, the Merrill–Ronne Airport, devastating past floods and ice jams, the effort to move Pike County’s seat, and the development of the community's schools, churches, fire service, and police department.
Everyday places and traditions, streets, stores, bridges, celebrations, community organizations, and familiar landmarks are included for reader-recall and learning. The book is more than a record of dates and events. It includes historic photos and stories of generations of people and events that helped to build and preserve the character of the Matamoras community over centuries.
Stewart hopes longtime residents recognize and remember people and places they have known, younger residents discover things about their hometown that they never knew, former residents reconnect with the Matamoras community, and future generations have a record of what came before them. The book’s mission it to preserve such stories to be remembered and shared for generations to come.
While his first book is not related to his longtime law enforcement career, Stewart recognized that there is probably some connection between the two. Wanting his book to be historically useful without reading like a textbook, he spent a great deal of time going through historic newspapers, local collections, and talking with people who had firsthand knowledge of the community – shared traits with his past work.
“Police work teaches you to look for details, document things carefully, verify information, and keep digging when something doesn’t quite fit,” Stewart said. “Those habits were also very useful when researching history with my research becoming much more extensive than I originally anticipated, and one discovery often leading to another.”
Stewart’s concentrated book research took approximately two years. However, he said he has really been collecting information for many years through stories relayed by residents about how Matamoras and life was when they were kids.
Special recognition is given by Stewart to Matamoras’ late historian Bill Clark, to whom he has dedicated his book. He said Clark preserved material and historical archives of Matamoras for decades, which were invaluable in the writing of his book, and to Matamoras Mayor Cory Homer whose forward to the book is included along with personal remembrances of himself having grown up in Matamoras.
Stewart recalled his project having started with his own personal interest in local history, particularly Colonial up to Civil War. He said his interest in local history continued to grow considerably over the years.
“There is something different about researching the history of places you know personally,” Stewart said. “You can drive down a road or walk past a building and suddenly understand what happened there years ago.”
While he never really considered himself an author, at some point he realized that his interest in local history had gradually grown into something larger.
“I wasn’t just collecting information anymore. I was writing a book,” Stewart recalled realizing.
While his formal education, including criminal justice degrees and training, are not in history or writing, Stewart said he was able to learn a lot about historical research and the writing of his first book -- just through doing it. His hope is that readers of his book are able to recognize area photos, recall memories, and learn about some of the community’s local history – much of which he realizes can disappear over time.
“More than anything, I hope the book encourages people to recognize the value of local history,” Stewart said. “History is all around us, if we just know where to look, and this book is an attempt to preserve our rich history and character.”
Matamoras” Gateway to Pennsylvania – A History of the Borough, Its People and Its place on the Delaware has had a favorable sales response to date. It is currently available through Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.
Comments