125 Years Ago - 1897
From The East Hampton Star, October 1
F.E. Grimshaw has made marked improvements on his place, which was formerly the old Sea Spray Hotel. A new piazza has replaced the old, the familiar chain fence has given place to a neat picket fence and the house shines with new and lighter colored paint applied by Elmer Smith. The floor beams of the piazza originally came from the ship John Milton, which was wrecked at Montauk many years ago, and they were found in such good condition that nearly all were replaced.
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About forty guests, sportsmen and their families from Connecticut, will be at the Third House, Montauk, next week. Several sportsmen from this place will join them for a few days.
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On October 1st all children between the ages of eight and fourteen must be in school. It is said the state authorities are making extra efforts to have the compulsory school attendance laws strictly complied with this year. It would seem that the school vacation in this town was long enough to satisfy everyone, and that all parents would desire to have their children attend school every day it is open, if possible.
100 Years Ago - 1922
From The East Hampton Star, September 29
It has been definitely decided to locate the new clubhouse on the Dunes between Old Beach Lane and Frank B. Wiborg’s property. Architects are now engaged in drawing plans for the new clubhouse. The club building will be a long, low, very simple structure, a style of architecture that will lend itself to the dune site. The interior of the club will contain all conveniences for members, but both the exterior and interior of the building are designed with the idea of having the club as simple and unpretentious as possible.
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William Payne, aged twelve, of Blue Point, Suffolk county, proved to the satisfaction of State Commissioner of Education Frank P. Graves that boys are better spellers than girls. Clara Rusch, of Hempstead, L.I., representing Nassau County, gave William a good run until Dr. Graves asked her to spell inocculate, and she left out one of the c’s.
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The Long Island Railroad has at last started out on its way to the electrification of the forty mile commuter zone with the reinforcement of its power equipment by the installation of a 25,000 kilowatt rotary generator in the Long Island City power plant, it has been announced by the company. During the present year operations were concentrated on carrying the conduit line almost to Forest Hills, with a view to providing additional feeders. This construction is not yet completed but it is well underway.
75 Years Ago - 1947
From The East Hampton Star, October 2
The Suffolk County Mosquito Extermination Commission intends to restore the extensive salt marsh drainage system created about 12 years ago, largely by WPA labor, C.T. Williamson, director, informed the Board of Supervisors Monday. He said it will take two or three years’ time to put the system, which he described as the “backbone of mosquito control,” in good working order.
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Guild Hall Players extends a cordial invitation to everyone interested in any of the many phases of play production to attend its first meeting of the season on Monday evening, October 6, at 8 o’clock in the Moran Gallery of Guild Hall.
In making this announcement Robert Reutershan, president of the organization, wishes to emphasize that membership is open to anyone living in East Hampton or vicinity and that a person who joins does not necessarily have to be interested in acting. There is a definite need for people who like set designing, building, painting, lighting, costuming, make-up, lighting, set furnishing and the various jobs connected with the business end of production.
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A truck-drawn trailer, loaded with four hundred bags of New York bound cabbages owned by Ferris Talmage, went off the road west of East Hampton Sunday, causing fire damage to the truck, but the trailer and cabbages suffered the only minor damage.
50 Years Ago - 1972
From The East Hampton Star, September 28
The huge murals which, painted by 42 local artists, were used as a backdrop during the George McGovern “political cabaret” three weeks ago, were to have been sold last night, instead of on Sept. 20 as originally planned. They have been on display at the Benedek Gallery, 380 West Broadway, New York.
Their sale will benefit the McGovern campaign. Prospective buyers were obliged to bid at least $10,000. Who offered the most, and what he offered, will, if all went according to plan, be reported next week.
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There was an attraction in Montauk last Saturday which drew scores of parents with their children in tow, and two detectives of the East Hampton Town Police Department.
Two pigs, a boar and a sow, were the focus of attention. They had been bought by John C. Craft, a Montauk realtor, and placed on a vacant lot in the business section as a protest against local officials.
Mr. Craft claims that his plans to build a 29-unit motel on the Elmwood Avenue property, across the street from the Takamatzia Resort Motel, had been approved by the Town building inspector but later disapproved, illegally.
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Montauk Fish Notes
All reports are that bluefishing is good and that more nice striped bass are among the catches. The Marine Basin reports local waters all covered, swarming with the blues, and the fish go up to 20 pounds. The Basin held a tournament last week with the Triton taking the prize for a 20-pound blue and the Encore III taking the largest striper, a 32-pound fish.
25 Years Ago - 1997
From The East Hampton Star, October 2
The East Hampton Town Board took a careful look at land use and zoning changes recommended in the Amagansett Corridor Study Tuesday and decided to do away with one of the most controversial of them — the creation of a new “planned commercial district” to the east of the hamlet. The study was commissioned by the board with the intent of making its recommendation a part of the Town Comprehensive Plan.
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The Board of Directors of Peconic County Now, the organization that has been leading the drive for secession of the East End from Suffolk County and its formation into a separate county, has voted unanimously to bring a lawsuit to compel the State Legislature to consider legislation that could lead to a Peconic County.
For two years in a row, State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has blocked Peconic County legislation from reaching the floor of the State Assembly.
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East Hampton Town Supervisor Cathy Lester has refused twice in the last week to sign papers that would further the widening of the main runway at the Town Airport, but the Republican majority on the Town Board, led by Councilman Thomas Knobel, has managed an end run around her both times.
Supervisor Lester and her fellow Democrats have opposed any further improvements at the airport, where a $4.5-million reconstruction was recently completed, starting with the nearly $3-million plan to repave runway 10-28, making it 100 rather than 75 feet.
