125 Years Ago 1899
From The East Hampton Star, March 24
Since moving his barber shop up into the street, Howard Mayes has had such an increase of business that he has been obliged to introduce a second chair, which is presided over by Robert Taylor, a practical barber.
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Someone broke into the East Hampton Lumber and Coal Company's office on Monday night and stole a brace and bit, saw, pair of mittens and a coat. The brace and bit were afterwards found on top of a coal car where the thieves had thrown them.
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William H. Barnes, city engineer at Topeka, Kan., only son of J. Henry Barnes of East Hampton, and a native of this place, has recently completed plans, which are favorably commented upon by the Topeka State Journal, for the paving and improvement of Topeka's streets.
100 Years Ago 1924
From The East Hampton Star, March 21
The week of April 21 has been designated as forest protection week.
Every week should be protection week in these parts, is the belief of the majority of citizens. This week a fire in the woods west of Alex McGuire's home was discovered just in time to allow the fire wardens to call together a fight force. They backfired and thus stopped a fire that would have endangered the home of Mr. McGuire, and burned off acres of woodland.
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A very enthusiastic meeting, with nearly forty members of the East Hampton Gun Club present, was held Tuesday evening in the Legion rooms. The meeting was presided over by President Hastings.
The plan of the club to restock East Hampton territory with quail, rabbits and pheasants has met with great approval. Already the club has received and released twenty-four pairs of Bob White quail. The birds arrived Monday in fine condition and were released Tuesday, in various suitable locations in the township.
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The tides of the past week have opened the inlet from Shinnecock Bay into the ocean, which was dug a week ago Wednesday, and made a channel twenty feet wide and ten feet deep. The work is going to be successful, the trustees of the town believe.
The cut in the inlet was made by dredging, and when as near the beach as the engineer dared to go the dredge was removed, and during the heights of the storm a week ago over 200 volunteers set to work with spades and shovels and dug an opening, so that the water in the bay would rush out into the ocean.
75 Years Ago 1949
From The East Hampton Star, March 24
Just two weeks remain for entering work in the first Handcrafts Exhibition to take place at Guild Hall from April 9 to April 21. Mrs. William A. Taylor, chairman, announces that all entries must be delivered to Guild Hall on Thursday, April 7, between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Date for collection of articles at the close of the exhibition is Thursday, April 22.
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A hand-carved mahogany Pirate Chest, containing a sizable check from his parishioners, was presented to Rev. William J. Osborne, Pastor of St. Philomena's Church, East Hampton, St. Peter's Church, Amagansett and Little Flower Church, Montauk, at the Saint Patrick's Night Parish Party, on Thursday, March 17 at Guild Hall. The presentation was made by Theodore J. Cook, of Montauk, the president of the Holy Name Society.
The gift, a complete surprise, was in appreciation of the completion of Father Osborne's twenty-fifth year as a priest.
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In the list of awards for the 1948 George Ruppert Fishing Contest for a total of $9,335 in prizes the magic name of Montauk figures prominently, with numerous prizes awarded for fish caught in local waters. In the broadbill classification Montauk fish took the first three out of four prizes; first for white marlin went to Montauk as did first prizes for cod and sea bass.
50 Years Ago 1974
From The East Hampton Star, March 21
The three Republican and two Democratic members of the East Hampton Town Board clashed again Tuesday night, more bitterly than ever before, as both factions introduced resolutions creating the position of Town "Commerce Coordinator" but naming different persons for the job. The Democratic resolution was defeated, the Republican one was passed, and various spectators in the crowded Board room joined in denunciations of one side or the other. A few denounced both.
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East Hampton Village Mayor Ronald P. Rioux and two Village Trustees inveighed against the Long Island Rail Road at the Village Board meeting Friday night, and Mayor Rioux predicted the "abandonment" of the commuter line "in ten years." Their comments were in sharp contrast to the optimism engendered in other government officials by the $50,000,000 rehabilitation plan recently announced for the LIRR.
At the same time, the Mayor dusted off an old idea, urging that the LIRR's road bed be used as a bus and auto bypass. "It's wide enough," he said, "a barrier could be put in the center; the road bed is good; all that would be needed would be a little bridge work."
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A record crowd turned out for the Friends of Erin St. Patrick's Day parade last Sunday. Among the guests at the reviewing stand were Perry Duryea, Judith Hope, and John Bistrian. John Behan, one of the judges, announced that the best all-around award went to the Amityville Highland Pipers.
25 Years Ago 1999
From The East Hampton Star, March 25
It's official. The East Hampton railroad station, which is owned by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority but is no longer used for railroad business, was formally designated a historic landmark by the East Hampton Village Board on Friday. The village plans to lease the station from the M.T.A., though its ultimate use is still to be determined.
The village will construct a parking lot to serve the RECenter on Lumber Lane. Trustees approved a resolution authorizing a $143,895 bond issue to cover the construction costs on Friday.
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Three months before East Hampton Town's political conventions, Democratic and Republican leaders have begun screening candidates who they hope will help their party win a Town Board majority in November.
The Republicans, who have held that majority for only two of the last 16 years, are banking on the Democrats' being in the embarrassing position of having to explain why Sammy's Beach, a nature preserve, has become a crater the size of 20 football fields. For the moment, at least, Sammy's Beach is shaping up to be the issue of the 1999 campaign.
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Barnes & Noble, the largest bookstore chain in the United states, whose president, Leonard Riggio, is a part-time Bridgehampton resident, has moved public attention from Bridgehampton Commons, where Caldor closed its doors this month, across the Montauk Highway.
The chain was confirmed this week as the owner of 6.4 acres south of the highway, which includes the converted potato barn that most recently housed the Sagaponack General Store. Additionally, Mr. Riggio is said to be a partner with J.R. Siwicki Jr. in Bridgehampton Development, which owns a .69-acre parcel to the west, adjacent to a Carvel shop.
