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September 2025
History Matters
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Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Moran Home and Studio last month for the unveiling of a newly rediscovered painting by Mary Nimmo Moran. I’m especially grateful to Bob Hefner and Kay Gibson who gifted the painting to the Historical Society in memory of Isabel “Min” Spear Hefner. During the unveiling ceremony, Bob described the incredible detective work he completed to discover the painting’s provenance. He explained that when the painting came up for auction, it was described as “Cherry Blossoms,” but upon receiving the painting, it was clear that there were apple blossoms, not cherry, on the tree.
With help from Mary Nimmo Moran scholar, Shannon Vittoria, Bob deduced that the painting was A Young Apple Tree in Blossom in Dr. Ed Osborn’s Orchard, which was one of the four oil paintings undertaken by Mary during the half-dozen years before she died in 1899. Known today as the “White House” just up from Main Street on Woods Lane, Dr. Osborn’s home in the 1890s fronted Main Street. It wasn’t moved to its current location until 1907. The Osborn orchard and greenhouse would have been clearly visible to Mary from her home’s turret and mezzanine.
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“In May 1894,” as Bob described her work on the painting, “Mary walked through the garden gate into her neighbor’s fragrant springtime orchard to begin this en plein air work bursting with apple blossoms.”
She completed the painting that year and returned to her neighbor’s orchard again in 1895 to paint In Dr. Edward Osborn’s Garden. Owned by the East Hampton Library, that artwork is currently on exhibit alongside A Young Apple Tree in Blossom in the Moran Studio. Three of the four paintings that Mary worked on during the 1890s have now returned home to be enjoyed by visitors. To see the paintings, plus artwork by Thomas Moran, please visit our calendar of events. You can also schedule a private tour by calling 631.324.6850, x2.
Sincerely,
Steve Long, Executive Director
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Congratulations to Lukas Sabatino
Gardiner Young Scholars Fellow
at the East Hampton Historical Society
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During the past year, Lukas Sabatino has completed 100 hours of services to the East Hampton Historical Society. As a Gardiner Young Scholars Fellow, Lukas staffed exhibits, helped digitize our photograph collection, and created a virtual tour of the Moran Studio. Thank you to the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation for funding a stipend to support Lukas’ work! Below, you can watch out a short video that Lukas made about his experience at the Historical Society. You can also see the virtual tour of the Moran Studio that Lukas created on our website.
Congratulations to Lukas for serving as the Historical Society’s Young Scholars Fellow! We hope the experience will help Lukas pursue his interest in an architecture career.
If you’re interested in learning more about a fellowship at the East Hampton Historical Society, please email us.
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Visit our Historic Sites!
Upcoming Guided Tours & Open Houses
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A Meteor Impacts Amagansett!?
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Have you ever heard of the large meteorite that landed in the ocean near Amagansett? A researcher recently contacted us wanting to find out if the Historical Society had anything in its collection about a big meteor strike in 1907. He sent an account reported in the New York Tribune on August 19, 1907, which featured an eye-catching headline: “Meteor Churns Up Sea, Falls off Amagansett Shore and Wrecks Buildings.” According to the article, a meteorite measuring 75 feet in circumference fell into the ocean and “like a tidal wave, huge breakers came ashore near the Life-Saving Station” washing away several bathing pavilions and destroying fishing nets. The story also appeared in newspapers across New York State including the Albany Arbus, the Brooklyn Eagle and the Utica Observer. Do you know what newspaper didn’t cover the Amagansett meteorite? The East Hampton Star.
We called Hugh King, East Hampton Town Historian to find out if he knew anything about a 75-foot meteorite that supposedly fell near Amagansett 118 year ago. It was news to him. It was also news to the editors of Sag Harbor’s The Corrector in 1907. A week after the original story appeared, The Corrector asked, “Has anybody heard anything about the monster meteor that according to the New York World, fell in the sea off Amagansett on Saturday last? If so, the extraordinary occurrence escaped the observation of the natives.” The Amagansett meteor was a complete hoax!
How did so many newspapers get duped into believing a catastrophe had befallen Amagansett? The Corrector’s editors believed they had solved the mystery after receiving a note from Amos Bougher. Recently hired as the Station Master at the Amagansett L.I.R.R. Station, Bougher wrote to The Corrector in October 1907, “Do you want a real life correspondent, to increase your circulation here, and what inducements do you offer?” The year prior, Bougher, age 41, had lived in Brooklyn where he worked as a telephone operator. By 1908, he had moved to western Ontario where he was employed by the Canadian Pacific Railroad. The Corrector suggested that during his short stint in the hamlet, Amos Bougher fed several newspapers with outlandish and exaggerated reports from Amagansett, including the meteorite, in exchange for payment.
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Artists in Residence: Historic Artists Homes & Studios of the East End
Exhibit Extended through September 19
Clinton Academy, 151 Main Street, East Hampton
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Artists in Residence: Historic Artists Homes and Studios of the East End has been extended through September 19. Open Monday through Friday from 12 Noon to 4 PM, the exhibit features artwork, stories, and photographs from the seven Historic Artists’ Homes & Studios (HAHS) sites located on Long Island’s East End, including –
- Arts Center at Duck Creek Farm
- D’Amico Institute of Art
- Elaine de Kooning House
- LongHouse Reserve
- Madoo Conservancy
- Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center
- Thomas & Mary Nimmo Moran Home and Studio
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Reception in honor of Tom Scheerer
100% of book sale proceeds benefit the Historical Society
Saturday, October 11, 2025
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Join us for a reception from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Clinton Academy to celebrate the publication of interior designer Tom Scheerer’s new book, Still Decorating. Copies of the book will be available for sale with 100% of proceeds benefiting the Historical Society.
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Fall Golf Outing Benefit
Maidstone Club
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
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Play golf at the Maidstone Club on October 15 and support the East Hampton Historical Society!
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$1,500 Individual Player / $5,500 Foursome
11:30 AM Check-in / 1:15 PM Shotgun Start
Please contact us for information about sponsorships.
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Tickets now on sale!
East Hampton House & Garden Tour
Kick-off Cocktail Party on Friday, November 28
Tour on Saturday, November 29
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You’re invited to the 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 historic home kicks off the festivities on Friday, November 28 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM and the Tour is on Saturday, November 29 from 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM.
Please join us as a “Tour Sponsor,” which entitles you to attend the Tour and the Cocktail Party on the evening prior. “Tour Sponsors” will be acknowledged on printed copies of the House & Garden Tour Event Program, which is distributed to hundreds of attendees and friends of the Historical Society. Please register by September 30 to be included in the invitation.
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