125 Years Ago 1896
From The East Hampton Star, December 18
Nat Roe, of Patchogue, sealer of weights and measures, was in town on Tuesday, inspecting all the weighing and measuring devices in the several stores.
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The first train to become fast in the snow was the east bound freight train which became stalled about half a mile west of Bellport. About the same time the west bound freight train became stalled at East Moriches. Then the afternoon west bound train got stuck at the golf club grounds, Shinnecock hills.
An engine was sent from Patchogue to help out the east bound freight train and an engine was sent out from Amagansett to help out the west bound freight train. Both engines became imbedded in the snow before reaching their destinations, making a total of three trains and two single engines fast in the snow between Patchogue and Amagansett.
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Judge Reeve has appointed Wm. C. Greene of Sag Harbor, E.R. Bishop and Edward Sayre of Bridge Hampton, commissioners to render decision upon the application for a new highway fifty feet wide to be opened from Main street to the Old highway east of Hook pond.
100 Years Ago 1921
From The East Hampton Star, December 16
The long-time effort that people at Shelter Island have been making to have all-the-year electric current seems likely to produce such an improvement in the near future, for the Shelter Island Electric Light and Power Company has just been organized, with these officers:
President, C.P. Brigham; vice presidents, Francis Myers and R.B. Phelps; treasurer, Irving Clark; secretary, David H. Young.
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In the true spirit of the occasion and with due appreciation of all it implies, we extend Christmas greetings to the readers of this publication. Christmas has a meaning possessed by no other holiday throughout the world. America has its national and special days, other countries have theirs; Christmas is the only one alike in spirit and celebrated in all Christian lands. So pure is its principle that it commands respect and admiration among people who worship their Creator in different ways from ours.
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One of the ladies who attended the firemen's game dinner at Odd Fellows' hall last Saturday night was heard to remark as she was leaving, "That was the best managed affair I have attended in many a day and I see now why the East Hampton Fire Department is nearly a one hundred per cent efficient organization."
75 Years Ago 1946
From The East Hampton Star, December 19
This afternoon and tomorrow morning the children of the elementary grades will present a Christmas program of music in Guild Hall. The program is "A Christmas Fantasy" by Lillian Cervenka. This afternoon's performance is at 2:00 p.m. and will be for the grade children while on Friday morning a second performance will be given for the high school students.
The production is under the direction of Miss Betty Barlow of the school music department. Miss Dorothy Vollmer will accompany on the piano.
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Paul J. Ehrhardt of Montauk made his last trip on the Cannonball Express of the Long Island Railroad on Wednesday afternoon of last week. He made his last run after 49 years of service with the Long Island Railroad.
As a conductor on the "Cannonball" for 25 years, he has been a familiar figure to commuters along the New York to Montauk run of the Long Island's fastest train. At the age of 69 he made the decision to retire only six months short of an even half century of service with the line.
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Springs
The Springs Young Peoples Community Association is giving a Christmas party at Ashawagh Hall on Friday, December 20, at 8 p.m. Presents will be exchanged and everyone who attends is requested to bring a present for the tree. The cost of the gift is not to exceed fifty cents.
50 Years Ago 1971
From The East Hampton Star, December 16
The County Health Commissioner may hold a hearing to evict Mrs. Edith Bouvier Beale and her daughter, Edie, if they do not vacate their home on Apaquogue Road, East Hampton, an officer of the Health Department said this week.
Sidney Beckwith, head of the Department's housing and sanitation division, said a visit would be made to the Beales' home "before the end of this week to determine what the status is"; in other words, to determine whether the women have made arrangements to vacate "Grey Gardens."
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An old Sag Harbor sore is beginning to fester again. It is the State's order to abate pollution of Shelter Island Sound, into which an estimated 63,000 gallons of raw sewage per day flows during the summer months.
The sewage flow into the Sound from about two dozen Main Street businesses and 200 employees of the Bulova Watch Company includes such toxic substances as cyanides, dichromates, and hydrofluoric acid used in Bulova's copper and gold plating processes, states a preliminary draft engineering report on Sag Harbor's sewerage, prepared for the State Environmental Facilities Corporation.
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East Hampton High School's varsity basketball team started off the League Five season in winning fashion Tuesday afternoon by drubbing Comsewogue 53 to 36 on the Bonac court. Roy Mabery and Dave Marshall led the winners with 14 and 12 points, respectively, and the visitors' Tim Rogan was high for both teams with 20 markers.
The East Hampton jayvees followed suit, romping over the visiting JV team on the Middle School court 61 to 44. Gilbert Mabery had 13 for the junior Bonackers, Ricky Watson 12, and Carl Johanson eight as the home jumped off to a 20 to 7 lead in the first quarter.
25 Years Ago 1996
From The East Hampton Star, December 19
For many, the holiday season means trying to squeeze a rush of shopping and entertaining into schedules that are already packed. The spirit of Christmas seems to be thriving here, however, the quickening pace of things notwithstanding.
Indeed, an underlying kindness continues to pervade the East Hampton community, as evidenced by reports from several residential social service agencies that provide good will not only in this season but year-round.
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Two longtime East Hampton insurance agencies with deep local roots, which have been doing business quietly on Main Street for decades, just as quietly joined forces earlier this year.
The Osborne Agency, which was founded by Joseph S. Osborne in 1875, and E.T. Dayton, founded in 1906, merged as Dayton & Osborne in September. However, the merger was not publicly announced until last week.
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How often do we stop to think about what is going on in the kitchens of our favorite restaurants? Just how clean is it back there? Is the food being handled properly? Are the plates, flatware, and glasses really clean? Was the chicken cooked enough? Was the fish properly refrigerated?
Violations of one form or another, from minor "maintenance" deficiencies to others with the potential to cause illness, occur at virtually every restaurant on the South Fork, from the poshest of the Hamptons dining spots to the inexpensive Chinese take-outs.
