Amagansett Historical Association

21/06/2022

“On ye easterne plain, at a pace called by the Indians, Amagansee-att, place of good water”

Older generations knew the original name of the road now called Indian Wells Highway. It was Indian Well Plain Highway, changed without permission by the Highway Department because the longer name did not fit on the new road markers.

The Indian well historical marker is in the wrong place. The actual well -- a spring of fresh water that bubbled up into the hollow stump of a pepperidge tree – was on the north-east corner. The owners of a new subdivision there did not want it on their property, so the marker was placed across the street. The stump is gone, but that corner is still swampy.

17/05/2022

If you are driving by and notice that our grass needs mowing, it's because we are participating in "No Mow May" to benefit honey bees and other pollinators. Their food is in short supply at this time of year, so we are letting our wildflowers bloom without mowing.

01/12/2020

Please help us! Go to
www.amagansetthistory.org
and click "Donate."
Thank you!

Amagansett Historical Association The Amagansett Historical Association was founded in 1964, when a supermarket and parking lot were planned for the historic site. The primary purpose was to preserve the 1725 Miss Amelia Cottage. Since that time, other historic structures have been added to the prop...

10/11/2020

With help from the wonderful staff at the Long Island Collection (East Hampton Library) we are making good progress scanning the historical photographs in iur Kelsey Archive. Many are now available online -- there is a link in our earlier post.

The database is searchable. For example, if someone wanted to see images of the local Bennett family, who have lived in Springs and Amagansett since the earliest days of the settlement, they could go to this link. Take alook -- and tell any Bennetts you know!

https://nyheritage.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15281coll2/search/searchterm/amagansett%20historical%20association!Bennett/field/subcol!all/mode/all!all/conn/and!and/order/date/ad/asc

04/12/2019

FIRST LOOK at the Carleton Kelsey Archive Online! Much, much more to come. Just click on this link!

https://nyheritage.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15281coll2/search/searchterm/Amagansett%20Historical%20Association/field/subcol/mode/exact/conn/and

09/06/2019

A little more than 100 years ago, between 1913 and 1916, Sylvester and Cora Kelsey took photographs of their family and friends, and the Amagansett community. A selection of their photographs is now on display in Dell Cullum's spectacular exhibit now on display in the Richard S. Jackson Carriage House.

This is a unique opportunity to see how Amagansett was before tourism took over the local economy. The exhibit is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, from 10 AM to 4 PM, but only through the end of June. Don't miss it!

25/04/2019

About 20 years ago the old Kelsey family house on Abraham’s Landing Road, Amagansett, was about to be demolished. The family’s furniture and belongings had been removed, but a tenant taking a last look around spotted an old suitcase, Inside it was a box of old photographs.
That box of old photographs found their way into the hands of a Kelsey family friend, Dell Cullum. He was captivated by the images of family life in Amagansett around 1913 to 1916, and he discovered that the photographs had been taken by Sylvester and Cora Kelsey, early fans of the new hobby of photography.
Dell has had a selection of those photographs enlarged and printed. They will be on display in the Amagansett Historical Association’s Richard S. Jackson Carriage House from Saturday May 4 through to the end of June.
They show an Amagansett in a different time, almost a different world. They show ordinary people, Amagansett residents, enjoying their summer beach time when life was more relaxed, and long before Amagansett became part of “The Hamptons.”
The exhibit will be open to the policy on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, from 10 AM until 4 PM through the end of June. There will be an opening reception on Friday, May 3, from 5 to 7.

22/12/2018

Please consider a donation to help us continue our work to preserve the past for the future. You can now donate online at our secure website. Donations are tax deductible as permitted by law. Our new website is at
www.amagansetthistory.org. Thank you!

Amagansett Historical Association The Amagansett Historical Association was founded in 1964, when a supermarket and parking lot were planned for the historic site. The primary purpose was to preserve the 1725 Miss Amelia Cottage. Since that time, other historic structures have been added to the prop...

02/12/2018

Our new website is live! Please visit amagansetthistory.org

21/10/2018

The museums have closed for the season, but we still need volunteers to help with a variety of projects. Are you interested in conserving very old photographs? Do you have any carpentry or painting skills? Could you help with maintenance of our grounds? Can you handle computer data entry?

Call us at 631-267-3020 and leave a CLEAR message, repeating your phone number so we get it right! Let's see if there is something that interests you and helps us preserve the history of Amagansett!

11/07/2018

Our museums -- the 1725 Miss Amelia Cottage, and the Lester Carriage Collection -- are now open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 AM to 2 PM. Come visit us and see how people lived and traveled in the 1700s and 1800s!

24/06/2018

On the west side of our property, by Windmill Lane, we have an apple tree that is known to be over 120 years old. It is a very old variety called Rhode Island Greening.

This weekend, with the generous help of C. Whitmore & Sons, we planted two young trees that we grafted from that old tree. This was the wish of a benefactor, Bill Cowley, who wanted the old tree's genes to survive through its progeny.

The trees are protected against deer, and we wish them long and healthy lives!

07/02/2018

The Richard S. Jackson Carriage House is available for rental this summer season for art shows and other community events. For information please email us at [email protected], or call 631-267-3020 and leave a clear message.

This post-and-beam barn, and the 1.5-acre field, are a great site on Amagansett Main Street/Montauk Highway. The price is reasonable and rentals benefit the Association's work to preserve local history.

29/11/2017

We need your help to preserve Amagansett history. We depend totally on donations, and get no government funding. Thank you for helping us save our history for future generations :)

We need museum volunteers, too! Days and hours can be arranged to suit your availability. Come and help us, and learn more about local history! Plerase email us at [email protected], or call 631-267-3020 and leave a clear message.

Our mailing address is PO Box 7077, Amagansett, NY 11930.

10/10/2017

TOOL SALE on Saturday and Sunday, October 28 &29, from 10-4 both days. Carpentry and general hand tools, lots of power tools, saw and chainsaw sharpeners, builder's level, concrete nail gun, D-R Trimmer, really good prices!

JACKSON CARRIAGE HOUSE, corner of Main Street and Windmill Lane, Amagansett (behind Miss Amelia's Cottage).

25/04/2017

We have decided, with great regret, to discontinue our 50-year tradition of holding twice-annual community yard sale events. For several reasons, perhaps including online yard sales, participation decreased until advertising and mailing costs exceeded the income.

15/02/2017

The Richard S. Jackson Carriage House is available this season for art shows and community events. Please email us for more information -- [email protected]

07/12/2016

Will you help support our work to preserve the history of the Amagansett hamlet and local area? Please send a generous donation to Amagansett Historical Association, PO Box 7077, Amagansett, NY 11930. Thank you :)