EHHS: Annual House & Garden Tour / ‘Bonac’ Lights at Mulford Farm / Tours / Holiday Cards ….

Dear Friend,

Thanks to the generosity of people like you, the East Hampton Historical Society is fulfilling its mission “to illuminate the past and inspire the community through the preservation and interpretation of East Hampton’s history.”

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Through the year, the Historical Society stewards five historic properties – Clinton Academy (which includes the Town House and Hook Schoolhouse), the Dominy Shops, East Hampton Town Marine Museum, Moran Studio, and Mulford Farm – which are accessible to thousands of visitors annually.

• Initiated the final phase of construction on our new state-of-the-art Collections Storage Center to house our nearly 20,000 artifacts.
• Taught cultural and natural history to students at multiple different historic sites including the Marine Museum, Mulford Farm, Moran Studio, Home Sweet Home Museum, Gardiner Windmill, Amagansett Life-Saving Station Museum, and Cedar Point Lighthouse.
• Completed a conditions report and restoration plan to help portray the Mulford Farmhouse during the American Revolution.
• Received a prestigious grant from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation to purchase new state-of-the-art collections storage equipment.
• Partnered with other nonprofits, schools, and local government to dramatically increase our programming.

Looking ahead to 2026, we are especially excited to expand our interpretive programming and help our community celebrate America’s 250th. As our Annual Report explains, our vision for the Historical Society is to serve as a vital resource where history comes alive – and our community comes together – to explore East Hampton’s layered past.

Achieving this vision depends on you. We need your help to keep the past present in East Hampton. Please make a gift to the East Hampton Historical Society today!

Sincerely,

Steve Long, Executive Director

37th Annual House & Garden Tour

Saturday, November 29 from 1 PM to 4:30 PM

Tickets will be gone soon!

You’re invited to the 37th Annual East Hampton House & Garden Tour benefiting the East Hampton Historical Society! During this year’s edition of the East End’s original House & Garden Tour, you’ll have the opportunity to see five spectacular homes. A cocktail party at a private home kicks off the festivities on Friday, November 28 and the Tour is on Saturday, November 29 from 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM.

The cocktail party is sold out, but you can still purchase tickets to the Tour itself.

From the Collection

Mary Eldredge, the Historical Society’s first curator

When the Historical Society is offered historic photographs and documents, we usually encourage donors to give them to the Library’s Long Island Collection. However, the Historical Society still retains a significant collection of photographs especially ones depicting the historic properties that it stewards. In that collection are pictures that were taken at Clinton Academy during the Historical Society’s second annual “Forefather’s Day” in 1941. Featuring “a notable demonstration of homespun industries” according to the event’s promotional flier, “Forefather’s Day” was organized by Mary E. Eldredge, pictured here.

While she wasn’t among the organization’s founders in 1921, Mary played a vital role in creating the Historical Society we know today. A former schoolteacher, she became the Historical Society’s first curator, which was a volunteer position. Prior to 1938 when Mary began collecting artifacts and curating exhibits for the Historical Society, Clinton Academy was used just for meetings and art exhibits. Because of her efforts, Clinton Academy became a history museum. As Mary’s obituary noted in 1952, “it is hard to imagine the Historical Society without her guiding hand.”

Upcoming Special Programs!