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July 2024
History Matters
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Dear Friend,
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“A lot of people take the history of East Hampton very seriously,” wrote T.H. Breen in his book, Imagining the Past: East Hampton Histories. While Breen didn’t mean it as a compliment, I’m very grateful that we have an abundance of historical organizations throughout East Hampton Town preserving and interpreting our community’s past. For example, I recently attended a walking tour of Wainscott that we cohosted with the East Hampton Trails Preservation Society, which was presented by Esperanza Leon of the Wainscott Heritage Project.
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One of the sites Esperanza showed us is where Wainscott’s post office was located on Main Street before the current one was constructed in 1978. According to an article in Dan’s Papers that year, the former post office, which has a commemorative plaque on the façade, was built circa 1949 and owned by the postmaster, Ethel Pearson. After she retired in 1973, Ethel didn’t want to sell her property, and since there was a 300 person wait list for post office boxes in Wainscott, the US Postal Service arranged to build their current facility on Montauk Highway.
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Recently, the Wainscott Heritage Project received funding from the Preservation League of New York to begin identifying historic properties in Wainscott and understanding their local, state and/or national significance. If you’re interested in getting involved in the process, I encourage you to participate in their Reconnaissance Survey.
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Sincerely,
Steve Long, Executive Director
Photograph of former Wainscott Post Office by Irwin Levy
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Antiques & Design Show
Preview Party – Friday, July 12
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
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It’s time for the 18th Annual Antiques & Design Show benefiting the East Hampton Historical Society, which will take place on Historic Mulford Farm! This year’s Honorary Chairs are Anthony Ingrao and Randy Kemper, the principals of Ingrao, the internationally recognized design and architecture firm. Thank you to Ralph Lauren, Doyle, Stony Brook Southampton, and Landscape Details for their sponsorship support!
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Preview Party:
Friday, July 12, 6pm – 8pm
Preview Tickets start at $250
Space is limited so purchase now!
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Open to the General Public:
Saturday, July 13, 10am – 6pm
Sunday July 14, 10am – 5pm
Tickets: $18 in advance / $20 at the door.
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Hats Off:
300 Years of Headwear in East Hampton
Exhibition opening – Friday, July 12
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Coinciding with its annual Antiques & Design Show fundraiser, the East Hampton Historical Society is opening a new exhibition at Clinton Academy entitled, Hats Off: 300 Years of Headwear in East Hampton.
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Featuring a selection of hats, caps, and bonnets from the permanent collection, most of which have never been exhibited before to the public, the exhibit explores East Hampton history through its headwear. For centuries people wouldn’t think of leaving their home without a hat. Hats Off explores the evolution of headwear styles, historical hat making practices, and local East Hampton residents and businesses of the past. “As we develop our new Collections Storage Center,” said Anna Muller, the Historical Society’s Curator of Collections, “we’re also mining our collection for lesser-known stories and objects that can be featured in exhibits like Hats Off.”
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On display in Clinton Academy at 151 Main Street in East Hampton through the summer, the exhibit text is accessible in both Spanish and English. The exhibit is open Sunday through Saturday, 12-4pm.
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Experience East Hampton history this weekend!
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301 Bluff Road, Amagansett
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73 North Main Street, East Hampton
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10 James Lane, East Hampton
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For more information, please email or call us at 631-324-6850
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Doyle Appraisal Day at Mulford Farm
Friday, July 19
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Join us on Friday, July 19 at Mulford Farm (10 James Lane) for an Appraisal Day to benefit the East Hampton Historical Society!
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Doyle’s team of Specialists will provide verbal auction estimates for Paintings and Prints, Jewelry, Watches and Silver. Discover the value of your treasures in today’s auction market. Photographs of large objects are acceptable.
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$20 donation to the Historical Society for up to five objects. Appraisals will be conducted by appointment only.
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Annual Design Luncheon
Thursday, August 8, 11:00 AM
with acclaimed interior designer, Alex Papachristidis
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Join us on August 8 at 11am for the 18th Annual Summer Lecture Luncheon with guest speaker and acclaimed interior designer, Alex Papachristidis.
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Drawing from his latest book, The Elegant Life, Alex Papachristidis will profile a variety of his most arresting projects, including a luxe, modern beach house decorated in gold, silver, and white; a Manhattan home that has a vivid lavender-and-blue palette; and a colorful “bohemian” apartment incorporating mid-century furniture. Each project presents the creative ways he makes spaces versatile to share with family and friends—from cozy seating areas to games tables.
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Taking place at the Maidstone Club, 50 Old Beach Lane, East Hampton
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From the Historical Society’s Collection
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“Four miles across the bay from Sag Harbor, guiding the mariner to the narrow entrance between Gardiners Island and Shelter Island, which leads into Shelter Island Sound, shines the white warning beam of Cedar Island Lighthouse,” began an article on “Life at Cedar Island Light” in a November 1905 edition of the East Hampton Star. The Star profiled Charles J. Mulford, the lightkeeper hired to serve at Cedar Island in 1897. A Civil War veteran with an artificial leg, Mulford lived in East Hampton as a farmer prior to his appointment. After arriving at Cedar Island, Mulford began noting visitors in a ledger, which is housed in the collection of the East Hampton Historical Society. Most of the lighthouse visitors in the late 19th and early 20th century traveled by catboat (when the vessel was indicated). However, during two especially cold winters in 1904 and 1905 when the bay froze, Mulford welcomed visitors who travelled over the ice. For example, on January 17, 1904, W.C. Bates skated four miles from Sag Harbor to visit.
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With his wife, Anne, Charles stayed at Cedar Island until 1906 when he became the keeper of the Warwick Point Lighthouse in Rhode Island. After his departure, three more men served at Cedar Island until 1934 when the lighthouse was decommissioned. The Hurricane of 1938 left a massive amount of silt that connected Cedar Island with the mainland creating Cedar Point. Suffolk County purchased the area including the lighthouse in 1967 to make Cedar Point County Park. Unfortunately, the lighthouse was devastated by a fire in 1974, but Suffolk County is undertaking a multimillion-dollar restoration of the site, which will help future generations learn about the lightkeepers and the cultural and natural history of Cedar Island.
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