As another summer season kicks off in East Hampton, Main Beach remains a popular destination for local beachgoers. Surrounded by estates and scenic ocean views, Main Beach retains much of its historic charm.
The section of Main Beach that is seen here includes the adjacent parking area and bathing pavilion, which were purchased from private individuals by the Village of East Hampton in 1937 under Mayor Judson Banister (1884-1967). The pavilion, which can be seen on the left of this photograph, started as smaller bathhouses built in 1876. Austin Culver (1863-1944) bought the bathhouses in 1892 and eight years later expanded them into the pavilion we see today. After the purchase by the village, the pavilion and lockers became more accessible to the community.
The Sea Spray Inn can be seen on the right of this photo. A historic inn that burned down on Feb. 20, 1978, it was originally a home located on Main Street and then briefly operated as a hotel managed by a former Montauk Lighthouse keeper, William S. Gardiner (1823-1887). Edward D. Terbell (1850-1924) moved the building to Ocean Avenue on Main Beach as a residence in 1902. Separate cottages for guests were added to the property in 1914, and at the height of the hotel’s popularity it could hold up to 125 guests. The on-site restaurant could accommodate 166 diners. After the 1978 fire, only the cottages remained, and the village bought them in 1979 for $3 million.
This aerial photograph, taken by Dave Edwardes between 1945 and 1960, captures the last stretch of Ocean Avenue, with the pavilion, the Sea Spray Inn and cottages, and a few neighboring properties. Beachgoers can be seen swimming and walking along the shoreline, and the parking lots seen here are still used today.
Main Beach, which is often named one of the best beaches in America, recently started hosting a series of free summer concerts, and this year will also host free yoga.
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Kristen Ahearn is a librarian and archivist in the Long Island Collection.
