HomeMy WebLinkAboutOR-57OR 57
HISTORIC AND NATURAL DISTRICTS
INVENTORY FORM
DIVISION FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION
NEW YORK STATE PARKS AND RECREATION
ALBANY, NEW YORK (518) 474-0479
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY
UNIQUE SITE NO.
QUAD
SERIES.
NEG. NO.
o -57
YOUR NAME: B Van Liew, Consultant/ NS. Foster DATE: 8/79
YOUR ADDRESSB°x 416, St. James, L.I.
516-584-5600
TELEPHONE:
ORGANIZATION (if any):
Natural Heritage Trust
1. NAME OF DISTRICT: Orient Beach State Park
2. COUNTY: Suffolk TOWN/CITY: Southold VILLAGE: Orient
3. DESCRIPTION: A low, almost level stret ch of sandy l~d which gives a
sense of being on the water, as everywhere there is the
salt water bays and marshes. The shrubbery is low and windblown.
This encourages bird watchers and other nature lovers to visit
this Park.
4. SIGNIFICANCE: This is a very significatn nature preserve, it is on the
North ATlantic Flyway. Many rare birds and equally rare plant life
are found within the Park boundaries. This is the area where the
great self-taught naturalist, Roy Latham, of Orient, has worked and
learned.
5. MAP:
Plum Island Quadrangle
Orient Quadrangle
6. SOURCES: Blakelock, Chester R. in Paul Bailey, Editor. Lon~ Island, A
History of Two GReat Counties, Nassau and suffolk. NY Vol II.pp.278-280.
Wheat, Maxwell C. Jr. "Orient Park Has Something for Everyone." Newsday.
Jan. 16, 1979. p.2o
7. THREATS TO AREA:
BY ZONING [] BY ROADS []
BY DETERIORATION []
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
No threats.
OTHER
BY DEVELOPERS []
8. LOCAL ATTITUDES TOWARD THE AREA:
Local attitudes are positive and encouraging to the Park users, especially
those interested in the Flora and Fauna.
PHOTOS: see attachments
Orient Beach State Park
Orient 0R-57
ORIENT BEACH STATE PARK
Park Development
Situated at the end of the North Fork of Long Island, on low
meadowland, Orient Beach State Park is susceptible to the ravages of
water borne storm damage. Interest is in its variety of natural
habitats, both plant and marine life and bird watching.
Land Acquisition
The long narrow peninsula of land which became Orient Beach State
Park has always been common lands held by the Trustees of the 17th C.
land grants. 20th Century demands on such land encouraged the gift
of this land to the State for use as a public park in 1929.
Orient Beach State Park
Orient
~ Long Beach, a sandy peninsula extending southwest
from Orient Point, forms a sheltered bay along the southern
ecige of Orient. A deep well (668 ft.) drilled on Long Beach
indicated that bedrock was found about 660 feet below
sea level, and overlying this for about 450 feet was the
sand, clay and gravel of the Mesozoic Era. Thc upper
strata, about 213 feet, were attributed to the more recent
glacial deposits of Pleistocene times.
At the time of division of Oysterponds, Long Beach
was left as common property belonging to all male in-
habititnts. Some people abused the privilege of using the
land as a pasture and also cut down many of the trees. As
z result, the Long Beach Association was formed in 1774,
with a committee to determine who should use the pas-
tures, what rents would be charged and what civic pro-
jects would be supported with the revenue. This unique
organization held annual meetings and flourished as a
benefactor of the community for over 170 years, holding
its last meeting for final disposition of funds in 1955. In
the early days, rents of two to five pounds per season were
charged for pasture lands and beach rights. About 1865
the Atlantic Oil and Guano Company leased a parcel of
Long Beach for $500 per year to establish a fish factory,
utilizing menhaden or bunkers to make fertilizer and fish
oils. This enterprise was taken over by the Atlantic and
Virginia Fertilizer Company in 1875, and a decade later
it became known as the Orient Guano Company. In the
meantime, the lease rental had been raised to $1000 per
year. The factory went out of existence in 1895, at~d the
Mallard Inn, at the edge of the East Marion-Orient cause-
way, was made from one of the buildings moved by barge
from this factory. With money from the fish factory and
other rentals, the Long Beach Association had funds to
maintain a hearse-ambulance, provide care for cemeteries,
monuments and many other civic projects, including the
Liberty Pole and publication of a nc~vslettcr to servicemen
during World war II. The Association deeded Long Beach
to the State for the establishment of Orient State Park in
1929 and thus lost its source of revenue. The park is four
miles long and offers excellent bathing and picnic facilities
and is a refuge for wild life. The road right-of-~vay to the
park was donated by the King Farms. The first road along
the beach ~vas destroyed by the 1938 hurricane.
Historical Review, Oysterponds Historical ~ociety
1959~ PP. 14-15.
Collections qPLIA, Setauket, Long Island
This fish factory once stood on Long Beach.
OR 57
and ease of carriage; and when, at the age of z$ years,
he wa~ sent to acquire the rudiments of mercantile
business successfully until 1853. Then, having acquired
where he }.ad passed a few years of his life. Here he
man as when he entered it, with the lustre of his integrity
made brighter by the ordeal through which it had passed,
History of Suffolk County
,.uns ell 1~2
o~-57
14. THREATS TO BUILDING: a. none known l~ b. zoning[--I c. roadsF--I
d. developers [] e. deterioration []
f. other:
15. RELATED OUTBUILDINGS AND PROPERTY:
a. barn[] b. carriage house [] c. garage []
· d. privy [] e. shed [] f. greenhouse []
g. shop [] h. gardens []
i. landscape features: mowad l~x,m c,q ,=n~-r~, ~-,-e=-
j. other: Natural shrubbery
16. SURROUNDINGS OF /HE BUILDING (check more than one if necessary):
.... '.-. a. open land :~ b. woodland []
· c. scattered buildings [] . .
- . .---r - ._ ... . d. densely built-up [] 'e. commercial []
· - ............ f. industrial [] g. residential [~
h. other:
17.
INTFRRELATIONSHIP OF BUILDING AND SURROUNDINGS:
(Indicate if building or structure is in an historic district)
Building is half hidden by entrance shrubbery
OR 57
OB i
18. OTIIER NOTABLE FEATURES OF BUILDING AND SITE (including interior features if known):
one story gable roof rectangular shingled structure
SIGNIFICANCE
19. DATE OF INITIAL CONSTRUCTION: 1940
ARCIIITECT:
BUILDER: Park employees
20. HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURALIMPORTANCE:
Typical shingled out building of northeast coast
indigenous styling of local tradition
21. SOURCES:
Interview with
Mr. Milne, park superintendent. 6/21/79
22. THEME;
"5' q7
OB
Plum Island Quadrangle
FOR OFFICE SUE ONL~a~FOR OFFICE USE ONLY'
BUILDING-STRUCFURE INVENTORY,
~IO.N FgR HISTORI~PRESERVATION ~ --;4,~.W.'C
~K. STATE P.A~RKS AND RECRE,.A.T ON ' SERiEs" ~.' ~ -
~.~,~B Van Liew, Consultant/NS Foster '~ T/7'9
OUR ~DDRE Box 416 St J~es' ~.' ~' · :~"" .. HONE'
RGANIZATIC Nat~al ~st "' :':" ~
LOCATION
,.-:Southold "'e'~'<%qLLAGEi ~.Orient .~.
~ESCRIPTION
;BUILDING
:lapboard
it ,h, ~1. gl'
L3..MAP:
~ ~7
OB 2
la. THREATS TO BUILDING: a. none known []
d. developers []
f. uther:
[5. RELATED OUTBUILDINGS AND PROPERTY:
16.
17.
0~-57
b. zoning [] c. roads []
e. deterioration []
a. barn~] b. carriage house ~ c. garage []
d. privy [] e. shed [] E greenhouse []
g. shop [] h. gardens []
i. landscape l~atures: mowed lawn down to the water's edge
j. other: native trees mn
SURROUNDINGS OF THE BUILDING {check more than one ff necessaryl:
a. opeu land [~ b. woodland []
: c. scattered buildings []
&densely buih-up [] e. commercial []
'_'5 '- · ..... ..... f. industrial [~Jaeesg. shorelzneresidenti~l []
h. other:
INTERRELATIONStlIP OF BUILDING AND SURROUNDINGS:
{Ind~cateifbuiidingorstructureisinan historic district)
"Cottage" has view over Gardiner's Bay. Nestled in pine and scrub oak
vegetation typical of the shore area of the glacial moraine area.
18. OTHER NOTABLE FEATURES OF BUILDING AND SITE (includingioterior featutesifknown):
3 bay 1% story central chimney central entrance "cape cod" shingled structure
with "salt box" addition.
SIGNIFICANCE
19. DATE OF INITIAL CONSTRUCTION:
ARCItlTECT: · -
1934
BUILDER:
/ 1957 contractor
20. IIISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURALIMPORTANCE:
Park opened Oct 7, 1932. First superintendent, Ray Tabor, lived in village.
Cottage is typical of the 1930"s version of the Cape Cod House. Many details,
· and lines of original building still visible. Ail details are very typical
of the vernacular architecture of the 1930's.
21. SOURCES: Interview with Mr. Milne, Park Superindendent. 6/21/79
22. THEME:
-~.,:. .... · . , · Q · ] -....': ~.-...,?; - · ~.-~,.~.~_ OB 2
~ ~ ..... r~ent Beach State Park .,...~ ......-.,~.~;. ~.- , ~ ~.._.
" ~ ""- · .. · ' ' ."; - ' · · .... ~ ' .2' t ~': '- ~-~;-, ~-~ .~-~:~;~t~; ~.
· ....,: · .... ,,..-~ ,~-:~:~. . .:~ .;?.,-. · .. :. : .. , -..~.:
.:' ,-} " ~..~. :. ¢~ · . ,,. ~ .' ~ .'- . Superxntendent s Cot
"~ ~ . .'. -' ~. ' . ' . ' ' : '. ~" · - Orient Beach State Park .a' ~
' .-." .*.'[~;~. -; ;. :.'~' : ,-'," :" ' , r' , ~,?... ' , Coll. Orxent Beach ~te Park '~"~
.. ,¢ .... ~ r~4..,,~tN .u.~ ~;k.~ ....-_ .-¢~-.- .~ .¥,,~...... .. ~ . ,.. :~ .., .... ~.~
~, . Superintendent's Cottage, 1955 i
· :'?.:. . · · : Orient Beach State Park I OB 2 ~ '
14. THREATS TO BUILDING: a. noneknown [~
d. developers []
f. other:
15. RELATED OUTBUILDINGS AND PROPERTY:
0R-57
16. SURROUNDINGS OF THE
b. zoning [] c. roads []
e. deterioration []
oB 3
a. barn[] b. carriage house [] c. garage ~
d. privy [] e. shed [] f. greenhouse []
g. shop [] h. gardens []
i. landscape features:
j. other: T~m~c Darkinq area
BUILDING (check more than one if necessary):
a. open land [] b. woodland []
c. scattered buildings [~:
d. densely built-up [] e. commercial []
f. industrial [] g. residential [] ....
h. other: in maintenance complex
INTERRELATIONSHIP OF BUILDING AND SURROUNDINGS:
(lnd~chteifbuildingorstructureisinan historic district)
All the buildings are one story , and complement each other in the
weathered shingling
18. OTtIER NOTABLE FEATURES OF BUILDING AND SITE (ncudinginterior ~aturesifknown):
One story gable roof shingled building, cement block foundation,
painted window and gable trim . Sign "Police Office"
SIGNIFICANCE
19. DATE OE INITIAL CONSTRUCTION:
ARCHITECT:
1932
BUILDERW-P-A-
20. HIS,'FORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL IMPORTANCE:
Typical vernacular building or structure for Ubusiness "use.
21. SOURCES: Interview with Mr. Milne, Park Superintendent 6/21/79
22, THEME:
OB 4
a~ 57
OB 4
14. TItREATSTO BUILDING: a. none known L~
d. develnpers L~
15.
OR-5?
b. zoning ~J c. roads []
e. deterioraUon
RELATED OUTBUILDINGS AND PROPERTY:
4. harnt~ b. carriage house
d. prlYy [] e. shed ~/ f. greenhouse
g. ~hop ~1 h. gardens
i. landscape features: Tarmac drive
j. other: offices
16. SURROUNDINGS OF THE BUILDING (check more than one il' necessary :
a. open land [] b. woodland []
' c. scattered buddings
. d. densely built-up [] e. commercial []
: ' : - f. industrial [] g. residential
h. other: Osprey nesting on specially bui]t no~.h~ngpole
Wood swallows using specially build bird houses on 3' pole
17. INTERRELATIONSIIIP OF BUILDING AND SURROUNDINGS:
(Indicate if butldmg or structure ~s in an historic distnctl
the one story height melds into the landscape because surrounded by native
scrub pine and scrub oak, beach grass, poison ivy and flowering weeds (daisies)
18. OTHER NOTABLE FEATURES OF BUILDING ANDSIIE (includingintenor ~aturesifknownl.
Multi bayed garage, one story high with gable roof, shingled sides.
Central portion .~%??J,.'~has angles at the top corner of the opening
other entrance doors are squared at the top corners.
Vernacular structure typical of era and area.
SIGNIFICANCE 1932
1'0. DATE OF INIIIAL ('ONSTRUCIION:
ARCtlITECT.
WPA
BUILDER:
20. HISTORICAL AND ARCHITE~?TLIRALIMPORTANCE:
vernacular structure typical of'era and area. the angled door openLng
has a certain whimsical character of suburban residence garages.
,Two bays have seg~aental arched ooenings.
21.
SOURCES:
Interview with Mr. Milne,
Park Superintendent- 6/21/79
22. THEME:
Orient Beach State Park
OB 4 0R-57
OB4-14 East facade
OB4 - 12 South facade
OB 4
Maintenance Buildings, Orient
Beach State Park
Upper- section built 1940's
Lower Section Buil~ 1934
Coll. Orient Beach State Park
oR-57
-7:
:'OB 5
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY
BUILDING-STRUCTURE INVENTORY FORM
[SION FOR HISTORIC PRESERV&TI¢
STATE PARKS AND RFCRE\TION
N'E!q'YoRK 1'5181 ~74-'0479
NAMLB. Vcm .,~.~w, Con, ct J tent/NS Poster
YOUR ADDR[ :c,.~, .: .' ..
SITE NO.
*, ~.. .., .....r-. :-,.,r.. ", ",., , , ~....,'. "[:..~'~ -,.:.... . ~ -.~:. '"'
IDENTIFICATION t' ~ .... r' ~- t~ .......... } ' ' , · ...... ~'.
.. BUILDING NAME(.s ..............
'~OUNTB~ ~: '~ '' '. ;"1.O~% lily _ .L..:..L. 2.'22:'. .. VIIIA(,I._.'~': "
.,,,,,:,. .........
-Original: eo~cc~ ~&.¢:;.~ .~..~: ":.' ':"', "..""lhes,,.,~., · '" et.",:':; r':: :: :.at i.''..: "'"'
"ACCESSIBILITY :TO fro~"publi~ road: Yes ~ ::;[:¢~o
accessible: .Explain
~.' BUIL[~IN9
~MATERIAL:' ~'obblestofle"~] (? f. ~h ng cs [] -~iU~ [] '
.board and batten
STRUCTUR~
interlocking j
wood frame w/th light members
-maso0~y. load bearing walls []
. go~d [] ~?.:c.'fair [] Cd.'deter'iorated
~ ~ jot alterations and dates 0f known):
'PIIOIO
13. MAP. .Or,om. Q,,:adrau.ci!.c
OR 57
OB $
14. TftREATS TO BUILDING: a. none known [~
d. developers []
f. other:
15. RELATED OUTBUILDINGS AND PROPERTY:
16. SURROUNDINGS OF THE
17.
0R-57
b. zoning [] c. roads []
e. deterioration []
a. barn[~] b. carriage house [] c. garage []
d. pr,vy [] e. shed [] L greenhouse []
g. shop [] h. gardens []
i. landscape features: neat lawn and brick walk to building
j. other:
BUILDING (check more than one if necessary):
a. open land [~ b. woodland {~
c. scattered buildings []
d. densely built-up [] e. commercial []
f. industrial [] g. residential []
h.other: Tarmac parking lot
INTERRELATIONSHIP OF BUILDING AND SURROUNDINGS:
(IndicateifbuiIdingorstructureisinan historic district)
Building sited discreetely near parking lot. Brick is old used brick
very unobtrusively sited.
18. OTHER NOTABLE FEATURES OF BUILDING AND SITE (including interior features if known):
one story three bay gable roof shingled building
SIGNIFICANCE 1932
19. DATE OF INITIAL CONSTRUCTION:
ARCHITECT:
BUILDER:
W.P.A.
20.
HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURALIMPORTANCE:
Vernacular building with some vestiges of its 1930's 7?timber Y~m~" porch
trea~aent. See Attaachments
21. SOURCES: Interview with Mr. Milne, Park Superintendent 6/21/79
22. THEME:
OB 5
Orient Beach State Park
Refreshment Stand, now Comfort Sta.I
1934
Photo. Coll Orient Beach State Pk.'
O~ 57
OB 5
0R-57
,2
OB 5
oR-57
..
'------ -;--,'Orient Beach State Park
.............. :eneral View of Refreshment Stand
of 1934
~oll Orient Beach State Park
OB 5
0R-57
Orient Beach State Park
Undated view of refreshment stand
Coll Orient Beach State Park
0R-57
OB 5
'-. -.:..i~'. ~ ". ' ~ .', .1
Orient BEach State Park
General view of Refreshment Sta
(comfort Station) 1952
Coll. Orient Beach State Park
BUILDING-STRUCTURE INVENTORY FORM
DIVISION FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION
NEW YORK STATE PARKS AND RECREATION
ALBANY, NEW YORK i'518) 474-0479
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY
UNIQUE SITE NO.
QUAD
SERIES
NEG. NO.
YOUR NAME:B. Van Liew, Consultant/NS Foste~ATE:- 8/79
YOUR ADDRI Box 416, St James, L.I.
ORGANIZATI{ Natural Heritage Trust
PHONE
516-584-5600
IDENTIFICATION Bath House Orient Beach State Park
I. BUILDING NAME(S):__
Orient
2. COUNTY: Suffolk TOWN/CITY:f~lu]~
~qLLAGE:
3. STREET LOCATION: On water side of park drive
4. OWNERSHIP: a. public
· 5. PRESENT OWNER:
6. USE: Original: Bath House
7. ACCESSIBILIIY TO PUBLIC:
DESCRIPTION
8. BUILDING
MATERIAL:
Ix private []
ADDRESS: E~!mcnt L~kc °~ ........
Present: Same
Exterior visible from public road: Yes [~ No []
Interior accessible: Explain public bu'iidinq'
a. clapboard [] b. stone [] c. brick [] d. board and batten []
e. cobblestone [] f. shingles [] g. stucco [] other:
O. STRUCTURAL
SYSTEM:
(if km~vn)
10. CONDITION:
I I. INTEGRITY:
a. wood frame with interlocking joints []
b. wood frame with light members []
c. masonry load bearing walls []
d. metal (explain)
e. other
a. excellent L~[ b. good [] c. fair [] d. deteriorated []
a. original site ~:1 b. moved [] if so,when?
c. list major alterations and dates (if known):
.OB 6
0 -57
12. PHOTO: no photo taken
13. MAP:
Orient Quadrangle
HP-1
OB ,
14.
15.
THREATS TO BUILDING:
a. none known F'xl
d. developers []
f. other:
OR-57
b. zoning [] c. roads []
e. deterioration []
RELATED OUTBUILDINGS
16. SURROUNDINGS OF THE
.AND PROPERTY:
a. barn[~] b. carriage house [] c. garage []
d. prix? [] e. shed [] f. greenhouse []
g. shop [] h. garde~oc~al material growing
i. tandscane t'e~amres:
I. uther:
near buildxn~
BUILDING (check more than on,~if necessary):
a. open land Xl~ b. woodland CD
c. scattered buddings []
d. densely built-up [] e. commercial []
f. industrial--[] . u. residential []
~pecl~£ wooo sparrow houses in pond on north side
· z ' ' ' h. other:
17. INTERRELATIONSHIP OF BUILDING AND SURROUNDINGS:
(Indicate if building or structure is in an historic district)
Building sited in attractive setting of scrub pines and oaks, facing
wide beach on Gardiner's Bay. Pond on north side with the bird houses for birds
that catch mosquitoes. This area is 2% miles from entrance. Bird Sanctuary
is in the next 3 miles down the peninsular
18. OILIER NOTABLE FEATURES OF BUILDING AND SITE (including interior features ff known):
3 bay one stoary gable roof shingled building with raised gable over entrance area.
SIGNIFICANCE
It). DATE OF INITIAl CONSTRUCTION:
ARCtlITECT:
1951-55
BUILDER:
Park employees
20. tlISTORICAL AND ARCIIITECTURALIMPORTANCE:
Sincere understated contemporary building in keeping with the wildness and
openess of the park. There is a certain 1950's vernacular character, but
still has a timelessness, i.e. still appears 'modern' and new.
21. SOURCES:
Interview with Mr. Milne, Park Superintendent. 6/21/79
22. THEME:
OB 6,
0R-57
Bath House, Orient Beach State Pa
July 28, 1962
Coll. Orient Beack State Park
OR 57
Coll Orient B&ach State Park
Bath House
1962 Photo
OR 57
OB 6 ~
-3-
Archival Evalustion ef the Orient Paint Subdivision,
Orient Point ~ Southold.
The Mount
embayment
by Foster
the N.Y.S.
Pleasant Site ts located around a small
opposite Terry Point. It was excavated
H. Saville and the Inc. L.I. Chapter of
Archaeological Association.
OR 57.
The Ma~or Banks Site ts located at the mouth of this
same small embayment (southeast of the Mount PLea-
sant Site) on Orient Harbor. This site was also
· recorded by the Inc. L.I. Chapter of the N.Y.S.
Archaeological AssoCiation.
The Brown Brothers' Site is Located on a westerly
feeder stream of Hallocks Bay.
The Barnfietd Neck Site is Located on Eagle Point,
a peninsula which juts into Long Beach Bay. This
was a village site recorded by the Inc. L.I. Chap-
ter of the N.Y.S. Archaeological Associati.on.
The Jagger Site is Located on the west side of Hat-
locks Bay north of the Brown Brothers' Site. It
was excavated by four members of the Inc. L.I. Chap-
ter of the N.Y.S. Archaeological Association be-
tween 1925 and 1929. It was an aboriginal village
site of the Late Woodland (Sebonac) Period which
also contained some ~istoric material.
The Latham Brothers' Farm Site is located near the
headwaters of Hallocks Bay. It was excavated by
Roy Latham of the Inc. L.I. Chapter Of the N.Y.S.
Archaeological Association. Latham described it
as a double child burial (two infants placed back
to back with their heads toward the south) within
a 26' deep grave. Ten feet south of the burial
was a circular pit (30' in diameter and 28' deep)
filled with soft clam shells. A Sebonac pot was
found between thr burial and the pit.
The Eagle Neck Site is located on Eagles Neck Point
on Long Beach Bay. It was recorded by the IncL
L.I. Chapter of the N.Y.S. Archaeological Assoc.
The Orient Beach State Park
narrow peninsula which juts
Gardiners Bay.
Site is Located on a
southwesterly into
The Five Acre Indian Villase Site is located north
of King St. between King St. and Narrow River Rd.
It was excavated by Roy Latham and R. W$ggens in
1925 and 1968. They describe it as part of an
extensive shell heap floor that extended from Long
Beach Bay to Orient Rarbor.
The Kin$ Street Site is Located west of
and east of Village La.
by Billadello and JohRnnemRn~ ~ - :' "
King St.
Ar~heological
site.
Orient Beach State P~rk
Orient 0R-57
Desolate, Beautiful Area
When we arrived at the parking lot there
wasn't a car around. One lone mocking bird
bopped on the hare gtonnd in the lee of a
beach plum bush. He was our only welcome.
But we had come to walk and so we bundled
lp and headed out. This in my mind is
probably the~mest desolate~ beau_t~_.~r ~e~.
'we have on the whole of the North Fork.- ;
As soon as we were past the rdreshment
stand the wind r~pped at us in all its lury. We
had to hand against it and as we walked
ahead sand stung our faces and lashed at
our legs, Here too the water was extremely
low, expnsing a pattern of hars and bare
bottom land that l'd never seen before.
Down low a group of gulls had taken
shelter below the beach. Our glasses
A WINDY WAlK
focus on nab. lre
by Paul Stoutenburgh
scanned them, but the wind blew the water
out of our eyes and made it impeasible for us
to see. We had hoped to find one of the rare
northern gulls that occasionally are blown
off course and are found along our shores,
but nn~ there was nothing bqt black.hacked
/t was a gag oremember,
· a day when nature
showed her wrath-not
nafural wodd as we4 .
and herring gulls seeking shelter from the
wind.
ff we could get behind the cedars up ahead
it would afford us some protection from the
wind, and so, with heads down, we pushed
on. The beach ls one of the best shell beaches_~
· about, ~lipper sheIl~ quarterdecks were
everywhere and I kicked m~ for~ant
~aa vi~g a knile along so that I could pry them
loose and enjoy these tasty snails. The beach
- was strewn w~-iff~~op shell~,
razor clam shells,]f~ussols and conch~ were
everyw~h~r~. · --
At one point on the south shore of the
beach we came across great plat/ocms of
bog that through the realm of time had once
been on the north side. But l~ke all harrier
beaches, sand overwashes the hayside
marsh and as time passes what was a marsh
in the bay then becomes sand-filled and
eventually, as the sandy beach migrates
shoreward, is e×posed dead and brown on
the seaward side. With this extremely low
tide we could also see the remains of cedar
stumps along the seaward side ~;tU~c,~ gave
c~c]e~-t~ o~r theory or--beaChes such as
this migrating shoreward.
A Glorious, Wild Day~
What a glorious, wild day! And to think
Ralph and I were the only ones enjoying its
splendor out here. By now we had gained the
protection of the cedars and our glasses
could be put into use. Ha ha, there was a
shore bird. One lonely ruddy turnstone. How
out of place bo seemed! Most of his
companions had gone south monLl~ ago.
What made him ringer on? Now a group o!
ten black ducks burst out of the shoals, only
to peel off, showing their whitish under-
wings in the bright sun.
By the time we reached the
factory area it was almost noon and time to
north where the wind was screaming acrc6s
the bay. Not a duck did we see.
Underfoot were the shriveled remains of
the beautffuLp~cldy pear ~ac_t~ that has a
mest elegant yell6w~lower in the summer.
Also in the gravel were the st/il greenish-
gray leaves of the horned poppy that
exquisite yellow_poppy ~
~the beach~ __~/~.~p~ and Gardner..
-"U'~th~ beach"'~e co~dd see hundreds of
gulls gilding over the water's edge, and our
curiosity wondered what they were search-
lng for and eating. A short walk down the
beach soon told the story. It was scallops --
baby scallops. Bugs, as the haymen call
them. The)' were everywhere. Blown ashore
by the great wind. Thousands of them an
inch or so across. These were the harvest
the gulls were gleaning. This is why. when
nature produces her young, it is done in
extra amounts so that pitfalls such as this
storm can take their toll and the species can
still survive.
The walk back with the wind behind us
was no problem. It was a day to remember
A day when nature showed her wrath -- not
only to man but to the natural world as well.
News Review of Riverhead, 12/13/79.
Orient Beach State Park
Orient
~ ~'- 5,,~:~:. ~',-'~-'.' ~eat, ~ell C. Jr. "Orient P~ '. ". t ~
/..F.~,~gro~.: ~ ~Has Some~ng for ~e~one." ' '
._.~' .~'. ' ,::' .'..,.'. "," ~.~7-'~ ~ Newsday. J~- 16, 1979. p. 2. ; . -=..
.... ~.~,~,-,...-~ .,~.~ Naturalist Jack
'" Cahill ~ a
~'" ~ :~ .',~, ':~ walking tour of
~:('( 0~ Beach
'~": :-':~'~ ~~ 'Par~. The 4-mile
s~h of sa~ and
soil, in ~di~n to
t~
~ li~, also
plant life
with the moun~ins
or the deseX.
have the twisted crouching stubborn appearance
of trees that have to stand off powerful and at
times freezing wincLs.
But at Or/ent, add lashing--and sometimes
deadly~t spray. Becatme the red j.u_n/.l~re or
~esclars" can take a lot of this salt spray punish-
ment, they are often fo~ncl near the sea and get
the .nme of %A,itime forests." But these in the
· , front r=.ka facing the salt water often have to
· bear more than they can tolerate. You see this,
on the Orient beach, where the first trees in llne
are bleached skeletons. . .
Curioasly, two rare plante in the sta.te park
· are usually found on mountsina. One m rock
*oike mq~_. Or/ent i~ the only known Island loca-'
~ ho'n iok this relative of the ferns. There are only
. two *mall coloaies, discovered by ~aturalist P, oy
' L~tham of Orient, now 97. He aho. found a
mountainous lichen there known only by its sci-
enti~c_m~T~_-~/a..a/pes,tr~. This baa .been
o't'~nd in only a few other Long bland locatio~
The plants are probably de~canEants of thoee the
glaciers pushed down from the m0unta/na of
New England.
The park is a h~tan/zt'a dellght, for it sup-
....~ports other rare plants, as well, including Poly-
gonurn tenue, a kind o~' ~uotweed, and carolina
whitlow grass (actually a must. etd plant and not
It is a tras~ury for shell enthu~iaste. "I never
saw so many shells. They are beautiful,' said
%tichelle CozteLlo, 17, of North Babylon, who
WO.s On the bus tr/p. You would think that t;rtlc]r,a
txad backed up to the beaches and had' ckunped
piles o/' shells, especially jingle and beat shells.
The thin. round/eh, pale j/ngle
~hey conld be meed for earrino. The boat shell
gets its name from ite rounded stern, broad be~-
tam a~d ~ea:-like in~de. You can actually float
it br/efly like a tiny boat. Large whelk shells are
common. Worki.= at it, you can find 25 cl/.fferent
kinds of shells t~ere during a day's outing.
And the park. is great for seeing winter
ducks. There are goldeneyee, with an exotic
white spot over each eye; oldaquaw, with long,
needle-thin taiis; black n.d white scamp, and all
three so-called "sea ducks." Thase are the com-
mon, surf and white-winged seoters, which are
mostly bl~ck plumaged. But the ~vhite-wings~_.
catch your attention with their wing patches
that look llke they are flashing semaphore sig-
hals when they fly. Binoculars are recommended
for the bird wat~hl.g. You might also catch
sight Of a harbor seal or two that have wandered
south for'm~ ~e'r.
Orient Beach St,~,~ Park will be 50 years old
on ~ 7.1t'wa~ b~'/h~/-ffate in 1929 that it was
designated a state park.
An old dirt road runs through the middle of
the peek. The rj, L~n ed_/t'o_u_n_ clations~of a once-thr/v-
lng fish fer~ili?er plant can be seen at the tip i~.
Or/ent Harbor. But for the most part, 'it is one'
of the few areas on Long Island that is in the
same state as it was 200 years ago," says ALlene
Dove Of Mattituck. In terms of the junipers, bay-
berries, seaside goldeuro~ and re[//~.; plants of
the glacial era, ~it has not been "t~anged by
mnn~s she soy~.
~,_B~_use of this~ she cl/d an invente~ of the
park s plants and an/,~nve yea~s"~ ~'-khow
why at le~t the last 2 nfiles should be designat-
ed as a regiztered Natural Landrnnrk by.the
Center for Natural Are'~-'~at-the Smith~o~ian In-
stitution in Washington, D.C. For thi~, she had
the ~llpport; Of severs] orgAni~-st/olxs including
the North Fork Audubon Society, of which she
was once president. She has.yet to hear of a dec/-
sion by the center./~
oR-57