One of East Hampton’s Main Street mainstays, Clinton Academy, has stood sentinel over the village since 1784. The academy was one of the first of its kind in New York State chartered by the Board of Regents, a body that governs education at all levels.
At its founding, Clinton Academy was a coeducational institution, offering vocational training and college preparatory classes for men and classes in etiquette, domestic management, and social conduct for women. The school was named for George Clinton (1739-1812), the first governor of New York, who contributed the bell that once hung in the building’s cupola.
In 1886, the school was expanded and converted into a multipurpose building called Clinton Hall. At different times it was used as a playhouse, community center, polling station, home to Guild Hall and the East Hampton Library, and offices for The East Hampton Star.
After almost 200 years of use, the building was finally starting to show some real wear and tear. By 1971, the tulip-shaped cupola on top of the building was covered in moss. Neighbors liked the rustic look it gave the building, but the shingles hadn’t been replaced in 50 years.
That spring, a contractor, Bill Johnson (1923-2003), and several helpers reshingled the structure. Bill was actively involved in preserving the architectural character of East Hampton, serving on the Town Zoning Board from 1971 to 1997.
In this picture from The Star’s photo archive, the job is in progress. The project was not without its challenges, as the crew had to shoo a flock of pigeons out of the cupola, and shaping the shingles to conform to the structure’s unique outline proved difficult. Despite these hassles, the job was finished by the summer.
Today, Clinton Academy serves as the headquarters of the East Hampton Historical Society, which first moved into the storied building in 1921.
Julia Tyson is a librarian and archivist in the East Hampton Library’s Long Island Collection.
