125 Years Ago 1899
From The East Hampton Star, October 20
William Strong, a farm hand in the employ of Charles Dimon, of Southampton, was taken to a Manhattan hospital yesterday afternoon in an unconscious state and he now lies in critical condition with slight chance of recovery.
Last Saturday night, as Strong was returning after leaving a young woman friend at her home, and when he had nearly reached his employer's place, he was struck down from behind with some blunt instrument and his skull fractured. Judging from the wounds the assailant also used a razor, as several deep, clean gashes were found in Strong's head.
He lay where he was struck down until about 7 o'clock Saturday morning, when he was found at the roadside by a son of Samuel Dimon, who at once informed his father and the unfortunate man was removed to his employer's house and Dr. Halsey sent for who dressed the wounds. Strong is still unconscious and the authorities are now making an effort to ascertain the identity of the assailant.
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There will be a county Prohibition rally at Southampton on Friday afternoon and evening, October 27. Oliver W. Stewart, State Chairman of Illinois, will be present and make an address.
100 Years Ago 1924
From The East Hampton Star, October 17
It is learned that an operator at the local radio station was first to notice that something was the matter at the Naval Compass Station at Amagansett, the night it burned to the ground. Frank Rosenquist was on duty at the local station and noticed that the Compass Station was sending a long dash which did not end. He tried to get them on the telephone but to no avail. Realizing that something was wrong he called the local power house and asked them to cut the power off at Amagansett as something was wrong at that station. The current was turned off and this was the reason the electric siren was not blown when the fire was first discovered.
In addition, the wireless station at East Moriches has been out of commission a few days this week, the trouble being caused by a ground somewhere. Messages that should have been sent from that station were relayed to Ralph Vanegas' residence in East Hampton. Mr. Vanegas has direct connection with the station here and at East Moriches.
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John Y. Strong, custodian of the voting machines in East Hampton Town, gives notice that new voting machines will be on exhibition at the several polling places with an attendant on hand to provide instructions in using the machine. It will be well worth the new voter's time to visit the polls and inspect the voting machine and acquaint oneself with its working.
75 Years Ago 1949
From The East Hampton Star, October 20
For the first time since 1942, town budget figures for the new fiscal year show a drop. Figures for 1950, as released by the Town Board recently, call for a total outlay next year of $200,385.96, exclusive of Special District, School District and County appropriations -- a decrease of $11,699.17 in the total outlay, and a decrease in the amount of money raised by tax of about the same amount.
The General Town Fund calls for increases of about $8,000 and includes salary increases for the Town Attorney, $400; Supervisor's clerk, $100; each Justice-of-the-Peace, $200; Assessors' clerk, $100; police chief, $200; police patrolman, $100; police clerk, $200.
The Highway budget estimates take a drop of over $20,000 as compared to last year. The drop is largely attributable to cuts of $1,000 in the estimate of money needed for the removal of weeds and brush, a $2,000 cut in the Highway General Miscellaneous Account, and $8,000 less for snow removal than in 1949. It is also worthy of note that there is an unexpected balance of $9,000 in the Highway Account -- $7,000 more than last year.
Special fire, light and police district estimates are, as a whole, lower than last year.
50 Years Ago 1974
From The East Hampton Star, October 17
Some 22 months after it was first announced, the Federal government turned over to the Long Island State Park Commission about 120 acres of Camp Hero at Montauk for parks and recreation use.
The deed was turned over in ceremonies at the site Thursday. The general manager of the Commission said that paperwork tie-ups had delayed the transfer.
A spokesman for the Bureau indicated last week that the property in question was an L-shaped tract, south, east, and west of the Montauk Air Force Station, which included the 4,500 feet of shoreline between the military reservation's western boundary and a point somewhat west of Montauk Point, near the former Wyandanee Inn.
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Concerned by rumors of what an elusive tycoon may be planning to do with his dock in Fort Pond Bay, Montauk, and by plans that a smaller developer indubitably has for his property on the bay, the East Hampton Town Board decided Tuesday to ask the Town planner and the Town Planning Board for their advice.
A large barge is beached alongside the 500-foot dock at a 72-acre tract which, now zoned for commercial-industrial use and owned by George Semerjian, has often been the subject of speculation about the prospect of a deep-water port for oil tankers.
One of the real estate companies headed by Mr. Semerjian over the years, Levon Properties Inc., did make an unsuccessful attempt to build what he described as Long Island's first deep-water port, at Jamesport, in the late '60s. The Montauk property, meanwhile, was mined sporadically for gravel.
25 Years Ago 1999
From The East Hampton Star, October 21
Edward T. Rush, the chairman of the Southampton Zoning Board of Appeals, was indicted by a grand jury on Monday on a felony charge of accepting a bribe in return for influencing the outcome of an application.
Accused of "soliciting a benefit" in exchange for "influencing the business before the Z.B.A.," Mr. Rush, 54, was additionally charged with "official misconduct," a misdemeanor. The Z.B.A. chairman stood silently before acting Supreme Court Justice Joseph Farneti at his arraignment in County Court Monday morning.
If convicted, he could receive up to seven years in a state prison. He was released on his own recognizance with a return court date on Nov. 9.
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The chairman of the Long Island Power Authority set a deadline for Monday for Suffolk County to agree to a $625 million settlement for the overassessment of the Shoreham nuclear plant or risk paying the full $1.3 billion he said LIPA was owed.
But the deadline set by Richard Kessel passed with the Suffolk Legislature refusing to agree to the settlement. Commented legislator George O. Guldi of Westhampton Beach on Tuesday: "It would be imprudent to settle under these circumstances."
The $625 million, he said, is "several hundred million dollars more" than what it is expected the county, Brookhaven Town, and the Shoreham-Wading River School District would be required to pay if LIPA is successful in court on the overassessment issue.
