EHHS: Osborn-Jackson Update | Tours + Open Houses | Appraisal Day | “Goody Garlick” ….

Dear Friend,

Many community members have asked me when the Historical Society plans to return to the Osborn-Jackson House at 101 Main Street, which served as our long-time headquarters. As I described in my letter to the East Hampton Star last month, the Historical Society has no plans to reoccupy the Osborn-Jackson House.

Unlike our historic sites such as Mulford Farm and the Moran Studio, where a concerted effort preserved the property for use as a museum, the Osborn-Jackson House became a museum almost by accident. For generations, it was home to the Osborn family. Initially built in the early 18th century, the southern wing of the house was added in the 1860s by Sylvanus Osborn. The “Jackson” part of the museum’s name comes from Lionel and Patricia Jackson who owned the property in the 1970s. In 1977, they donated the building to the Village of East Hampton with the stipulation that it had to be used a museum. The Village considered running the museum itself, but opted to lease the building to the Historical Society, which opened it to the public from 1978 until the Covid-19 pandemic precipitated its closure.

In early 2021, the Village discovered asbestos in the Osborn-Jackson House and required the Historical Society to relocate its operations. The move to Clinton Academy was supposed to be brief, but unfortunately, the Village found several structural issues during the asbestos abatement that will require a major financial investment to correct. The Historical Society continues to use the site temporarily to store a limited number of artifacts until its new Collections Storage Center is completed at Mulford Farm.

In 2022, the Village presented the East Hampton Historical Society with the very exciting opportunity to take on the new Dominy Shops Museum, which the Village owns, with the proviso that the Society would need to vacate the Osborn-Jackson House permanently. With the Historical Society’s endorsement, the Village invested in the completion of the Dominy Shops restoration and tabled work on the Osborn Jackson House.

I recently conferred with Village Administrator Marcos Baladrón who said he is committed to preserving the exterior of the Osborn-Jackson House, which the Historical Society wholeheartedly supports. The Village is exploring a variety of options for how the interior can be used most effectively to serve the needs of it residents. My hope is that the building becomes a visitor center for the community and the Jacksons’ original vision could still be realized through a video and other interpretive materials that encourage visits to our numerous historic sites and museums.

Sincerely,

Steve Long, Executive Director

Above Postcard of the Osborn-Jackson House circa 1900 

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AAQ / East End photo, 2014.

Check our Calendar for this Fall’s History Tours and Open Houses!

Coming up this week –

Saturday, September 21

10 AM: Guided Tour of the Dominy Shops

Meet at 73 North Main Street, East Hampton

11 AM – 4 PM: Dominy Shops “Open House”

73 North Main Street, East Hampton

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Sunday, September 22

11 AM – 4 PM: Moran Studio “Open House”

229 Main Street, East Hampton 

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Monday – Friday

12 noon – 4pm: Hats Off: 300 Years of Headwear in East Hampton Exhibition

151 Main Street, East Hampton

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Advanced Registration Required.

For more information, please email or call us at 631-324-6850

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Photo of the Dominy Shops exterior in 1940 by the Historic American Building Survey

Celebrate Maritime Heritage

Long Island and the Sea: A Maritime History presented by Bill Bleyer

October 4 at 6 PM

Co-Presented by the Amagansett Life Saving Station Museum

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For more than five centuries, the waterways surrounding

Long Island have profoundly shaped its history.

Join us at BookHampton on Friday, October 4 at 6 PM as historian, author, and former journalist, Bill Bleyer draws from his book, Long Island and the Sea, to explore our nautical bonds from the Native Americans to current efforts to preserve the region’s maritime heritage. In addition to familiar subjects of lighthouses, shipwrecks and whaling, he’ll talk about oft-forgotten oddities such as Pan-American flying boats landing in Manhasset Bay in the early days of transatlantic flight.

Signed copies of Bill Bleyer’s book will be available for sale.

BookHampton, 41 Main Street, East Hampton

Space is limited, so reserve your seat today!

Maritime History Open House and Tours

October 5, 11 AM – 1 PM

Amagansett Life Saving Station and Marine Museum

In celebration of our maritime history, you’re invited to visit the East Hampton Town Marine Museum and the Amagansett Life Saving Station Museum. On Saturday, October 5 from 11 AM to 1 PM, you can see both museums free of charge. Museum docents will also be on hand at the Life Saving Station and the Marine Museum to provide guided tours.

• Amagansett Life Saving Station Museum: 160 Atlantic Avenue, Amagansett
• Marine Museum: 301 Bluff Road, Amagansett

Drop-ins are welcome. No advanced registration required.

Doyle Appraisal Day at the Moran Studio

Friday, October 18

Appraisal Day to benefit the East Hampton Historical Society!

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.

$20 donation to the Historical Society for up to five objects. Appraisals will be conducted by appointment only.

To make an appointment, call 212-427-4141, x256 or email DoyleLI@Doyle.com