Information, News, and features from Montauk Library’s local history collection.
After Ruth Woodrow died in 1983, Bessi Hochstein wrote a letter to the East Hampton Star describing her memories of boarding at Mrs. Woodrow’s cabins in Shepherd’s Neck. “The first time I was in Montauk was early spring, 1979, the year before I entered college,” she wrote, “I came, like hordes of others my… Read more »
After a bright and fair morning on September 21, 1938, an unexpected Category 3 hurricane made landfall on Long Island around 2 pm. With no cause for alarm, the New York Times’s forecast for the day read “Rain, probably heavy today and tomorrow, cooler.” No one had predicted the storm to take its path north… Read more »
The man clamming in the foreground of this photograph was known as Augustus Petitpas in his native Nova Scotia, and as Ben Pitts in the United States. The beached boat listing behind him in Lake Montauk was known as the “Pelican,” an open party boat that Long Island Rail Road passengers would eagerly jump… Read more »
On that day, August 25, they wandered from one isolated dwelling to another, frightening most residents but managing to purchase two dogs, a bottle of gin, and some sweet potatoes with the Spanish gold doubloons they had found aboard the ‘Amistad.’ — Mutiny on the Amistad In August of 1839, nine Africans came ashore at… Read more »
If you don’t know what a cow shoe is, you may want to get educated at “How Dry We Weren’t,” a hands-on exhibit presented by the Montauk Historical Society at the Carl Fisher House. The answer is concealed behind a little door – with a crystal pull, of course, this being the decadent 1920s –… Read more »
‘Tis the season to keep a sharp eye for those big, beautiful, brave but vulnerable butterflies – the monarchs. Monarchs are important pollinators as well as indicators of the overall health of other species and their habitats, migrating thousands of miles each year over several generations and as many as 100 miles in one… Read more »
Given the price of land today, a waterfront building is more likely to be replaced with something grander than moved from one spot to another. Back in the day, though, homes and even restaurants (like Trail’s End) in the old fishing village on Fort Pond Bay were moved to other places like Shepherd’s Neck and… Read more »
Montauk’s past and present history is painted with verdant parks and preservations, a blend of historical and modern architectural styles, shorelines glittering with seaglass, plentiful marine life, vivid sunsets, and colorful characters that make our community so unique. Aligning with our Summer Reading Program’s theme, “Color Our World,” we used AI software to transform black-and-white photographs… Read more »
Built in 1929 and designed by Walker and Gillette, the Montauk Tennis Auditorium boasted tennis courts, a boxing ring, a stage, and seating for thousands of Montauk Manor guests and their friends. It was — like the manor, the Protestant and Catholic churches, the school, the golf club, surf club, yacht club, polo fields, and… Read more »
Do you have a drawer or shoebox that has become a catchall for collecting nostalgic items (think postcards, flyers, brochures, ticket stubs, newspaper clippings, menus, etc.) that have significant personal meaning? Maybe you have them on view, stuck to your fridge, a daily reminder of a memorable moment in your life. Without our community of… Read more »