New Photos From Old

KING LEADS THE WAY

The concept was Clarence E. (Kelly) King Jr.'s, and his children, David M. King and Deanna Tikkanen, have taken on the execution of the project.

The elder Mr. King, whose roots in Springs run deep, thought it would be a good idea, during East Hampton Town's 350th anniversary year, to gather together a trove of old photographs from the trunks and attics where they have been reposing, and to exhibit them in some public place as part of the celebration.

Clarence King, who has quite a respectable photo collection of his own, started the ball rolling. David King and Ms. Tikkanen, a Springs representative to the anniversary committee, hope others will be inspired to ferret out their family photos as well, whether they are filed in albums or in Granny's Schrafft's tin.

The old images will be given new life before being returned to their owners. John Reed of Reed's Photo in East Hampton has been photographing each picture to create new negatives, which can be used to make fresh 8-by-10-inch prints. The prints will be framed, gratis, by Nina Battaler of East Hampton Picture Framing.

David King hopes to mount an exhibit by Memorial Day. As more photographs come in, they will be added to the show, which will remain in place until the end of the tricent-quinquagenary.

Between 40 and 50 local photos have been collected so far. There's a shot, for example, of a World War II honor roll plaque that used to sit on Main Street in East Hampton in front of the Veterans of Foreign Wars building. The plaque was likely made of plywood, Mr. King said, and probably perished in a fire at the V.F.W.

Another photo shows stores in the Freetown neighborhood "that I never realized existed," said Mr. King. "There were a lot more fires then, so things just burned up and were gone."

One old snapshot is a perfect illustration of that: Taken during a fire in the late '20s at Springs School, it shows a group of helpless onlookers, unable to stop the fire, standing in front and watching the school burning to the ground.

Then there is a picture taken from in front of Herrick Park on Newtown Lane, showing the old Schenck house across the street, where a block of stores now stands. "You talk about losing charm," said Mr. King. "That's progress. . . ."

Fred Yardley, the East Hampton Town Clerk, is lending a hand, and a number of photos, to the show. Averill Geus, curator of Home, Sweet Home and a 350th committee member who is compiling the official commemorative book for the occasion, will share some of her stores, and Carleton Kelsey, the Amagansett historian, is being asked for help. Village historical societies are being called upon as well.

In a real estate office recently, Mr. King noticed an aerial photo of the town taken in the early 1960s and decided to pair it with an earlier aerial view. He found one at the Suffolk County Planning Commission, which had a photo taken in the 1930s.

In that picture, said Mr. King, Springs's roots as a "very strong agricultural community" are clearly seen, with a "real to-do cow pasture" where Pussy's Pond is now and pastureland on the east side of Landing Lane, where cedar trees have grown.

He hopes to make a copy of that print, which measures a huge 8-by-12-feet, for inclusion in the show. He is trying to raise the $900 it will cost to have it made.

After all the photographs have been collected will come the formidable task of choosing the ones the public will see. A committee will be named to help with that responsibility.

Meanwhile, any and all submissions will be considered. The Kings, father, son, and daughter, may be reached at the C.E. King &Sons in Springs.