What’s really amazing about the past is how it can provide us with inspiration and historical perspective. I was reminded of that power last weekend when the East Hampton Historical Society participated in the Suffolk County Veterans Resource Fair, which took place at the American Legion Post 419 in Amagansett.

As part of the Resource Fair, which was hosted by Suffolk County Legislator Ann Welker and East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez, Director of Education Stacy Myers arranged for veterans, their families, and the public to tour the East Hampton Town Marine Museum and the Amagansett Life-Saving Station Museum. Both museums have strong roots in the history of our armed forces. Built in 1943, the Marine Museum (shown above) originally served as barracks for the U.S. Navy during World War II. Interestingly, the portico visible in the middle of the building that serves as the main entrance to the Museum was a later addition and not part of the original construction. The Amagansett Life-Saving Station Museum was operated by the U.S. Coast Guard, and its precursor, the Life-Saving Service from 1902 to 1944.

It was wonderful that the Suffolk County Veterans Resource Fair provided the opportunity for retired and current servicemembers to visit both these sites and walk in the footsteps of their predecessors.

Sincerely,

Steve Long, Executive Director

Visit our Historic Sites!

Upcoming Guided Tours

Friday, October 10

5 PM: Lantern Tour of the South End Burying Ground with Hugh King

Saturday, October 11

11 AM: Tour of the Moran Studio

Sunday, October 12

10 AM: Tour of the Dominy Shops Museum

Monday, October 13

10 AM: Tour of the Mulford Farmhouse

Friday, October 17

3 PM: “Marine Mammal & Maritime History” Tour of the East Hampton Town Marine Museum

5 PM: “Goody Garlick” Witchcraft Walking Tour with Hugh King

Advanced Registration Required.

Check out our website for information about all our events and programs. And remember, you can take a self-guided tour of Main Street in East Hampton whenever it’s convenient using our mobile guide on Bloomberg Connects.

Reception in honor of Tom Scheerer

100% of book sale proceeds benefit the Historical Society

Saturday, October 11, 2025

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.

Anna Muller, Curator of Collections

helping to lead the museum field

Last month, Anna Muller, Curator of Collections at the Historical Society, led a workshop for colleagues in the museum field who were interested in learning how to upgrade their collections storage. She and Amy Folk, Collections Manager at the Oysterpond Historical Society, had been invited by the Museum Association of New York to co-present a virtual program for dozens of museum curators and collections managers from across the region and state. Using her experience preparing for the construction of the Historical Society’s new Collections Storage Center, Anna shared her timeline, procedures, and lessons learned while handling and moving collections during the process.

Thank you for our community’s support to make this work possible. In addition to improving the stewardship of East Hampton’s cultural heritage, you are making an impact throughout New York State.

Fall Golf Outing Benefit

Maidstone Club

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Get in one last round of golf this fall! You have a special opportunity to play at the Maidstone Club on October 15 and support the East Hampton Historical Society.

$1,500 Individual Player / $5,500 Foursome

11:30 AM Check-in / 1:15 PM Shotgun Start

Please contact us for information about sponsorships.

Party to Celebrate our Volunteers

October 27 from 5 PM to 7 PM

We’re celebrating the contributions of our volunteers at a party on October 27 from 5 PM to 7 PM and all volunteers are invited to attend! If you’re passionate about East Hampton history and want to learn more about volunteering at the Historical Society, please join us, too! There are plenty of opportunities to help out with special events, programming, marketing, and collections management (and not just at the Marine Museum). To attend the party, which is being held in a private home, please RSVP by October 21.

In Memory of Charles Hummel

Foremost expert on the Dominy Craftsmen of East Hampton

The East Hampton Historical Society was saddened to learn that Charlie Hummel had passed away on September 14. As a long-time curator at the Winterthur Museum, which is the primary repository for Dominy tools and account books, Charlie made countless trips to East Hampton. In the 1960s while doing research for his book, With Hammer in Hand: The Dominy Craftsmen of East Hampton, NY, Charlie visited numerous local residents to document their Dominy clocks and furniture. More recently, after beginning to collaborate closely with Glenn Purcell (shown on the far left) and Charles Keller (on the far right), Charlie (pictured in the middle) returned to East Hampton in 2010 to co-curate an exhibition at Clinton Academy entitled Dominy, The Federal & Empire Periods, New Discoveries 1790-1840. Two years later, Charlie presented a lecture at Clinton Academy on “Fakes & Forgeries.” His last trip to East Hampton was in 2017 when he spoke in conjunction with an exhibit of Dominy furniture at the Osborn-Jackson House.

For the Historical Society, With Hammer in Hand continues to serve as the seminal text for interpreting the Dominy Shops on North Main Street. While we mourn our loss, we look forward to celebrating the wonderful contributions Charlie made to our understanding of East Hampton history at an upcoming exhibition at the Dominy Shops Museum.

Tickets now on sale!

East Hampton House & Garden Tour

Kick-off Cocktail Party on Friday, November 28 

Tour on Saturday, November 29

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 November 3 to be included in the program.

www.EastHamptonHistory.org