125 Years Ago 1897
From The East Hampton Star, December 3
It has been reported that an alligator six feet long has been seen to crawl out of Hook Pond, East Hampton, and come over the dunes to the ocean. We thought East Hampton was a prohibition town.
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The Rev. Mr. Marsland preached a very forcible sermon last Sunday evening against dancing. The older heads connected with the church approve the pastor's course, and while the young people do not agree entirely with the pastor's views they admire the fearless way in which he does what he considers his duty.
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The Peanut Cure
Peanuts are highly recommended by the medical fraternity for pulmonary troubles, indigestion, and insomnia and we know they are good for quick consumption. Take one pint after dinner, gradually increasing the amount. We have a fresh stock — the best we can buy. Give them a trial. Montauk Domestic Bakery. — Advertisement
100 Years Ago 1922
From The East Hampton Star, December 1
East Hampton has a vast tract of wooded land on its northern boundary with woods roads a-plenty leading from the village to such points as Hands Creek, Cedar Point, Three-Mile Harbor, and numerous other places, all of which are fast becoming popular to the autoist and those who love to ride horseback. Especially in the fall are these wooded roads attractive.
Years ago, our summer residents would scarcely ever venture into the wood, not being familiar with that section. The automobile has changed this as well as many other habits. It is a common occurrence to meet two or three autos when driving in the Northwest woods, and it only goes to show that this number will be greatly increased as the years roll by and the public becomes acquainted with this pretty country.
During the past two or three years, or perhaps longer than that, the residents of the town have removed their rubbish themselves or had it carted away, its usual destination being, however, alongside some of the pretty woods roads we have mentioned. If any of our readers want to see a most unattractive spot and spoilage of natural beauty, they should take a short drive down the old Hands Creek Road. You will not have to go over a quarter of a mile from the outskirts of the village before your attention will be attracted by vast piles of rubbish, tin cans, paper, glassware, twisted wire and everything imaginable. It is a disgrace.
75 Years Ago 1947
From The East Hampton Star, December 4
Mrs. Percy Ingalls asked that everyone enter the LVIS's contest for the best outdoor Christmas decorations. Written entries should be made, and the decorations should be ready by Dec. 22; entrants are asked to state whether their decorations will be seen best in daylight or after dark.
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The Southampton Hospital to date has cost over $1,600,000. This money was contributed by thousands of generous men and women over the thirty-eight years of the hospital's existence. It is estimated that to replace the present hospital and its equipment would cost over $2,500,000. The hospital's financial situation is critical. If this amount is not raised, it will only be a question of time before the hospital will have to consider closing its doors.
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A meeting was held this week in Guild Hall to discuss dances to be held during the winter for young people; Ralph C. Frood, chairman of Winter activities; Rev. Nat Griswold, who has held very successful square-dances at the Methodist Church hall; Mrs. Stephen L. Marley, chairman for the junior dances; and Mrs. Warren Whipple talked it over, and further committee meetings will be held shortly.
50 Years Ago 1972
From The East Hampton Star, November 30
A new road called "Pondview Lane," beginning at Main Street just northeast of Guild Hall, running in a straight line parallel to Dunemere Lane for 2,800 feet to a dead end, and providing the only access to 13 new houses arrayed to the south of it; this prospect is the first to be pondered by East Hampton Village's new, two-week-old Planning Board.
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The owner of apartments near Sag Harbor's waterfront should be made to replace cesspools with a sewage treatment plant, a Sag Harbor conservation group maintains. In a recent letter to the Sag Harbor Village Board, the "Sag Harbor Conservationists" noted that the developer, Robert L. Rowe, had signed an agreement two years ago with the Suffolk County Health Department committing him to construct a treatment plant for his 32-unit grouping at the corner of Railroad Avenue and Bridge Street, provided that the Village had not installed by this time a plant to treat the sewage of the business district.
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Jack Knowles, the author, was telling us one night how difficult it is to walk his German shepherd through the trails near his house in Noyac these days for fear of the hunters — the pock-a-pock-a-pock boys we get used to with the rising sun these mornings, but we don't have dogs and good luck, Jack.
We were, however, in the same bar a few nights later, empty it was, save for a young man with a shock of hair straight out of "Skeezix," having himself a couple, and a bartender I shall call Pete, and myself. The young man had just had his first kill and he was telling us about it and drowning his sorrow or celebrating it at the same time.
"It was weird," he kept saying.
25 Years Ago 1997
From The East Hampton Star, December 4
As early as next spring, boaters who tie their vessels to docks and moorings leased from the East Hampton Town Trustees will be required to fasten the valves of their marine heads in the closed position when in port.
That would be two, or three, years earlier than proponents of Federal no-discharge zones expected a similar regulation to take effect. The vote, taken on Nov. 25, has marine industry representatives fuming.
East Hampton Town Supervisor Cathy Lester said on Monday that the Trustees' decision would serve to put boaters on notice, but that enforced no-discharge zones were not expected until spring of 1999 at the earliest.
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Rhodes W. Fairbridge, a professor emeritus of geology at Columbia University who is considered an expert on global erosion, has been charged with violating the East Hampton Town Code.
According to papers filed in Justice Court, Mr. Fairbridge allegedly built an illegal 75-foot rock revetment on town property next to his Fresh Pond Road, Amagansett, house, which looks out into Gardiner's Bay.
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The lame duck Republican majority on the East Hampton Town Board hopes to move forward with planned work on the Town Airport's main runway, although the incoming Democratic Town Board majority is set against it without further environmental review.
As it stands, "It is very definitely the policy of the town that this project should proceed," Councilman Thomas Knobel said last week, pointing to a string of Town Board resolutions that set the project in motion. Mr. Knobel and Councilman Len Bernard took issue with a headline in last week's Star stating that a $2.5 million Federal Aviation Administration grant for the project had been canceled.
