125 Years Ago 1900
From The East Hampton Star, June 1
One of East Hampton’s most quiet and uneventful holidays was drawing to a close; Decoration Day had passed without incident of any sort, and the people walking to and fro on the sidewalk were quietly chatting with each other when a pistol shot rang out and the whole scene was instantly changed to one of excitement. Ferdinand Warner, a German baker, was seen with a pistol in his hand, and Constable Gay soon had him in charge.
It was said that Warner was walking along the street with a young lady, when he was suddenly accosted by Fred Loucant, a German gardener, who works in the village. The two men had met on the street a few evenings before and had come to blows, when they were parted by their friends. Warner is now charged with having discharged a pistol at Loucant.
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Today the census enumerators all over the United States began the work of taking the eleventh census. The enumerators in this town are all well known to most of the people, and for that reason their work will probably be comparatively easy.
The law under which the census is taken is very clear and explicit as to the census taker’s rights, as well as to the rights of the citizens themselves. The enumerators are sworn to secrecy by the terms of their appointment. Failure to preserve secrecy will render the violator liable to a fine of not exceeding $500.
100 Years Ago 1925
From The East Hampton Star, May 29
One of the principal events planned for tomorrow, Memorial Day, will be the dedication of the War Memorial at Springs.
The community of Springs is planning to make this Memorial Day one long to be remembered in their little village. After earnest efforts on the part of the residents, sufficient funds have at last been raised to completely pay for the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial. The community would have been unable to do so had it not been for Dennistoun Bell, who most generously contributed to the deficit.
In the morning, a firing squad of the post will visit the six cemeteries and pay tribute to the memories of their comrades, twelve in number. New markers will replace those of last year.
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Older residents of the village say that the terrific electrical storm that swept over the village and eastern Long Island last Saturday afternoon was one of the worst in their memory. The lightning was almost blinding and the thunder ear splitting.
Although no serious damage was done by the lightning, it struck three or four places. Phillip Bono’s house on Pleasant lane was hit and several shingles torn off and bricks knocked out of the chimney. The lightning bolt entered through the roof and went out the window, breaking a pane of glass. The tenants were greatly alarmed by the shock but no one was injured.
The lightning struck several trees in Northwest woods, and the wind, which nearly reached a hurricane, blew the debris across the roads, blocking traffic.
75 Years Ago 1950
From The East Hampton Star, June 1
Suffolk County has decided to hang onto Plum Island, at least for the present. Such was the recommendation of the special committee of the Suffolk Board of Supervisors, which has charge of the former Army reservation, submitted Monday to the full membership of the board convened in Riverhead, and it was not questioned or challenged.
Their conclusion, according to Riverhead Supervisor Joseph Kelly, is that the county has more to gain by retaining the property, at least for the immediate future, than by unloading it, even though a very handsome profit could be realized.
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Starred with famous sportsmen drivers and their high speed automobiles, the second annual Bridgehampton Sport Car Road Races will give spectators a thrilling day of racing on June 10th. Drivers in the invitational meet are coming to Long Island from all points of the United States with their cars and pit crews to compete for honors and trophies.
Road racing as fine as anything now being presented in England or Europe will be the order of the day. These high speed cars range from tiny M.G.s to the Jaguar and include Cisitalias, Bugattis, the Healey, Ferrari, Frazer-Nash, the German B.M.W. and special American types such as the Crosley and the V-8 Special.
50 Years Ago 1975
From The East Hampton Star, May 29
Somebody who apparently knew antiques broke into the Miss Amelia Cottage Museum in Amagansett May 19 and drove away with $2,500 worth of them. According to the Museum’s curator, Mrs. Cora Simons, some of the pieces taken — mostly Dominy furniture and Fleur De Lys dishes and platters — were irreplaceable.
The East Hampton Town Police say they have a few leads and are continuing to investigate. They note that the thieves were “very familiar with antiques as most of the better items were taken.”
By one account, the thieves backed a truck up to the Museum, broke open some windows, then inventoried the Museum’s collection before taking the more valuable items.
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The New York Ocean Science Laboratory, which is opposing an attempt to create a marina to the west of it, was saying “We told you so” this week as an east-bound oil slick passed under its docks Monday afternoon.
Coast Guard investigators said that the oil — diesel fuel — had leaked from a ruptured fuel tank and out of holes in the hull of a 42-foot derelict party fishing boat that had been bulldozed Monday onto the beach in front of the Lab’s neighbor to the west, Port Royal, also known as the Argyle Land Company.
Roy Norman, Port Royal’s owner, said yesterday that he had not asked for the boat to be towed to his place, nor, for that matter, did he think the oil came from his beach.
25 Years Ago 2000
From The East Hampton Star, June 1
Marijane Meaker thought she was going crazy. By mid-May, the Springs resident was receiving past-due notices from creditors. Credit card companies, insurance brokers, and utilities wanted their money. But Ms. Meaker distinctly remembered paying her bills and mailing them on the first day of the month, a Monday.
“Nobody got my checks,” Ms. Meaker said. “I thought I was getting Alzheimer’s.”
After some investigating, she learned the truth. The East Hampton Post Office had lost her mail, along with mail from at least 50 others. In fact, the branch on Gay Lane had lost the entire 1 p.m. collection on May 1, which included mail from about 10 pick-up points around town.
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At $5,000, the Palm Management Corporation will pay what may be the second highest zoning-violation fine in East Hampton Village history. Not only that, the company, which runs East Hampton’s Huntting Inn and Palm restaurant, must redouble its efforts to reduce the smell that has wafted through neighbors’ windows for close to two decades when chefs prepare their legendary side orders of fried onions.
Two years ago Harry Macklowe, the Manhattan real estate magnate, paid $10,000 for zoning violations on his Georgica Close Road property.
