HomeMy WebLinkAboutOR-60 D
NEW YORK STATE HISTORIC TRUST -C)-evno M t S V)ecl
STATEWIDE SURVEY OF HISTORIC SITES AND BUILDINGS
1. Name (Common and Historic) Arnole s) Orient Point
Location 2. Suffolk 3- Southold 4.
CountyTown Village or City
5. Address or Location t" WW � I WDY�SI& i 00;t- �. MCa6ou) W%kV�,
0rp0Siie Fe:ry
I
Transportation
G. Type Colonial to Federal 7, Subject or Theme Commercial
1672 do early 19th cent. ec ura
8. Date of Construction 9. Architect (If Known)
10. Builder (If known)
11. Original Owner
12. Original Use Inn
13. Present Owner
Name
Address
14. Present Use None
15. Physical Condition Fai
16. Surveys _ - L. I . Survey. (Office of Planning Coording,li,gn)
17 . Future Action See other aide,
18. Surveyed by R. WiEEins, Ouddebackville, N. Y. , March 68.
Date Surveyed
DSP-23
History and Significance:
At the preserit time this bu'-lding is vacant and available for dev.
If the bridge to New England is bu',.lt, this will be prime land.
If more of Orient Point were made into a park, this building might
have some _potential park use.
Although it does have an early 19th century appearance, parts do
date from 1672.
Sources of Information; L. I . Survey, ( Office of Planning Coordination)
Photograph- Date Direction of View
Map Location:
GS Coordinates
A'
'Plum
Orrc ni _
cc) T
N
OR-60
NEW YORK STATE HISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE INVENTORY FORM
For Office Use Only--Site Identifier
Project Identifier DateIQov m r
Your Name Town of Southold SPLIA Phone (3161 ? 5 1892
Address 7-0-w-n-Rall, main i3cl . , Southold
zip
Organization (if any) Southold Town Community Development Office
1. Site Identifier (s) Orient Point Inn
2. County Suffolk One of following: City
Township
Incorporated Village Orient
Unincorporated Village or
Hamlet
3 . Present Owner Co,,,ty� of R,�f�rlk
Address County Cantor
Han auger _ N.Y.
zip 11787
4 . Site Description (check all appropriate categories) :
Structure/site
Superstructure: completepartial collapsed not evident
Foundation: above below_X (ground level) not evident
Structural subdivisions apparent X Only surface traces visible
XBuried traces detected
List construction materials (be as specific as possible) :
Wood
Stone
Grounds Lo :, shrubbery, small trees
_Under cultivation Sustaining erosion X Woodland _Upland
Never cultivated Previously cultivated _Floodplain —Pasture.-O._
Soil Drainage: excellent good X fair _ poor
Slope : flat X gentle moderate steep_
Distance to nearest water from structure (approx. ) 1 mile N and S , E.
Elevation: (less than)
5 . Site Investigation (append additional sheets, if necessary) :
Surface--date (s)
Site Map (Submit with form*) No testing or collection undertaken.
Collection
Subsurface--date (s)
Testing: shovel coring_ other unit size
no. of units (Submit plan of units with form*)
Excavation: unit size no. of units No excavation undertaken.
(Submit plan of units with form*)
* Submission should be 8' "x11" , if feasible
Investigator _
Manuscript or published report (s) (reference fully) :
None
Present repository of materials None
Page 2
03-60
6 . Site inventory:
A. date constructed or occupation period � .� F7? Pnlarged c . 1800 ,
b. previous owners , if known occupied untill 1960 's .
Jonathan Latham, 1796, Hotel rroprieter, M.B.Parsons, 1860-1875 ,
C. modifications , if known Geo. C. Gibb, c. 1896.
Enlarged in several stages . Griffin Journal: 1857 states that
(append additional sheets , if necessary onat an Latham built large
boarding house in 1834-35 .
7 . Site documentation (append additional sheets, if necessary) :
a. Historic map references
1) Name U.S .Coast SurveyDateT-55 , 1838 Source
Present location of original , if known
2) Name Chace , Suff.CntyDate 1858 Source _
Present location of original , if known
b. Representation in existing photography see attachments
1) Photo date Where located
2) Photo date Where located
C. Primary and secondary source documentation (reference fully)
see attachment
d. Persons with memory of site :
1) Name Many Address
2) Name Address
8 . List of material remains other than those used in construction (be
as specific as possible in identifying object and material) :
Tar and gravel (recent) drive:iay material . Round headed windows
with interlocking muntins reportedly were reused when a section
of Inn was altered in 19th century. They are now in a house
on south side of Skippers Lane (now on National Register. )
If prehistoric materials are evident, check here and fill out
prehistoric site form.
9 . Map References : Map or maps showing exact location and extent of
site must accompany this form and must be identified
by source and date. Keep this submission to 8'�"x11" ,
if feasible. NYS GOT Orient and Plum Islami quad
USGS 7� Minute Series Quad. Name attached
For Office Use Only--UTM Coordinates
10. Photography (optional for environmental impact survey) :
Please submit a 5"x7 black and white print (s) s-�cwing the current
state of the site. Provide a label for the print(s) on a separate
sheet.
attached
corm prepared by ''urt 7ahofer, research assistant .
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Site of Orient Point Inn
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`riew of site from ?lain ?oad
(opposite fern: to '`Te.^, London)
nep: k"r" VTI_10 from south.
OR 60
ARCHIVAL EVALUATION
of
the ORIENT POINT SUBDIVISION ,
ORIENT POINT, SOUTHOLD
Aboriginal Site Potential
The environment and its potential for life-sustaining
resources are prime considerations in the search for sites
of prehistoric human activity. One of the single, most im-
portant resources is , of course. potable water. Within the
subject parcel , significant sources of fresh water are not
evident . There are, however, recorded instances where the
Indians took advantage of shoreline water table seepage .
This was accomplished by burying hotlowed-out logs , thereby
providing a makeshift well .
Sustenance resources (ie . marine life , flora and fauna) ,
important factors in aboriginal camp site selection, do not
appear under present day' environmental conditions. The em-
bayments CLittle Bay and Long Beach Bay) , their associated marshes
and fresh water sources to the southwest of the subdivision
were prime settlement sites. as attested to by the recorded
sites . It is hypothesized that the coastal Algonkians of
Long Island were hampered from becoming sedentary through a
Lack of agriculture due to the highly acidic soils of the
island. There is no evidence to indicate otherwise. There-
fore , under the premise that they made seasonal rounds hunt-
ing and gathering (edible plants. seeds and nuts) , we took
to the soil potential of the area. The soils at Orient fall
within the Havens Serres : "well-drained , medium-textured
soils that formed in a loamy or silty mantel . . . " (U.S .
Agriculture Soil Conservation S.ervice 1975 :71 ) These soils ,
which are agriculturally productive under proper management
Cie. use of lime as a neutralizing agent) were, under natural
conditions , only conducive to the growth of wild fruits ,
berries and nuts .
The close proximity of. the subject parcel to the sites
Listed in this report , together with the soil ' s natural pro-
ductivity capabilities . indicate at least seasonal exploit-
ation including ritualistic practices of the Orient Phase.
This intermittent use of the larrd may or may not, include
campsites such as those villages or stations within the en-
virons of Little Bay and Long Beach Bay .
The Suffolk Co . Archaeological Association has compiled
the following list of recorded sites for these areas :
Billadello and Johannemann
<M) y
IOJ I
10.
109 J
•.9 ITO
b9 91 —L9
I
e1 116 -
�ePROJECT SITE e
� e3 i Sr SJ -�C—------20
t t:
26
53
moi; ♦ r
23
21 JaQ
Orient
so
i ins
< �3
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Wh[h
.>•. a a .ao oCem VI
14
12
i• aj �• o 0o iR Te I Np`r+ ^J. � -Guar ' p m I I r•
• - Cem _{ _ =Bae',.ORIENT BEACH
STATE PARK
•
Fes- t-
Eagles Neck
J Pt
EACH 84 Y2.1
s JJJJJJl`
.OQ`t�,(�e pR efcr
/ 5
°�, -
3
Billadello and Johannemann
-3_ OR 60
The Mount Pleasant Site is Located around a small
embayment opposite Terry Point . It was excavated
by Foster H. Saville and the Inc . L. I . Chapter of
the N.Y.S . Archaeological Association .
The Major Banks Site is located at the mouth of this
same small em ayment (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 Barnfield 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 Association.
The Jagger Site is located on the west side of Hal-
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 historic 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 Associaticn. 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 Inc .
L. I . Chapter of the N.Y . S . Archaeological Assoc .
The Orient Beach State Park Site is located on a
narrow peninsula which juts southwesterly into
6ardiners Bay.
The Five Acre Indian Village Site is located north
of King St . between King St . and Narrow River Rd .
It was excavated by Roy Latham and R. Wiggens in
1925 and 1968. They describe it as part of an
extensive shell heap floor that extended from Long
Beach Bay to Orient Harbor .
The King Street Site is located west ofcKing St .
and east of Village La .
Billadello and Johannemann
-4-
The Peters Neck Site is located on the Peters Neck
Pt. peninsula which forms a channel between Orient
Harbor and Long Beach Bay.
The Orient Flakin Station or Hallock Site faces
the mouth o Narrow River which TLows into Hal-
locks Bay. It was excavated by Roy Latham who
interpreted the site as a small workshop near a
village site. More than 3 . 000 scrapers were re-
trieved from the surface of a field that had been
cultivated since the 17th century. Latham in-
dicated the site had been heavily surface collected
since the 1880s .
The Orient I and II Sites are located on the pen-
insu a known as Mulford Pt .
The Sound Beach Site is Located on what was known
as the Heath Farm within a deep hollow of a farm
pasture. It was surface-collected by Roy Latham
in 1943. Many quartz refects . chipped blanks .
flakes and pebbles were recovered. The site area
extended from the farm pasture over a Low bluff to
the beach of Petty ' s Bight_ A fresh water pond
existed in the area. ,
In conclusion . the subdivision lies east of an area that
was intensely inhabited due to the availability of fresh water ,
sustenance resources and regulating climatic conditions .
Although the easterly extremity of the Orient Pt. peninsula
was probably not similarly exploited (due to an apparent Lack
of these factors) , its use as a hunting and gathering resource
is highly probable_ A walk-over survey and subsurface testing
of the parcel would suffice to determine the extent of this
exploitation .
Historic Site Potential
Five nineteenth century maps and three early twentieth
century maps were consulted. The southwesterly portion of
the subdivision contained numerous structure: of the nine-
teenth and early twentieth centuries according to our map
sources . The following chart summarizes the data :
Date Reference Structure (s) Comments
1909 Atlas of Suffolk - ELias Latham Est . " 2 structures
Co . . LI . NY , appear to Lie
Sound Shore . within the sub-
division; 1
appears to Lie
outside it .
Billadello and Joha.nnem3nn
OR 60
Date Reference Structure (s) Comments
1909 "Benjamin Latham Ditto.
cont. Est. "
1906 Map of LI 'Hotel G . _ Gibb' 1 structure
"E. Latham Est. ' Ditto.
'B. D. Latham-
Ditto .
1904/9 U.S. G. S. unlabelled 2 structures
1896 Map of LI -G. Gibb" 1 structure
-E. Latham Est . ' Ditto.
"S. D. Latham" Ditto.
1884 U.S . Coast & - unlabelled 3 structures
Geodetic Survey (1 residence
& 2 outbuild-
ings?) ; an or-
chard.
1873 F .W.--Beers "Orient Point — 1 structure
House"
'E. Latham" This structure
lies within
the subdivision
on preceding
maps; on this
map, it appears
to lie outside .
it ; this may
be due to scale
inaccuracies.
1858 J . Chace Jr . "Orient Point 1 structure
Ho. '
"E. Latham" Ditto.
1838 U. S . Coast Sur- unlabelled 1 structure
vey
' Lathams" 13 structures
Lie outside the
subdivision; scale ,
however , is dif-
ficult to deter-
mine.
Billadello and Johannemann
-6- .
Perhaps the most outstanding , documented cultural resource
to be effected by the subdivision is the extant , unoccupied
Orient Point Hotel . This hotel sits upon land that was settled
and farmed in the mid-1600s by the Latham family. (Ms . Trainer ,
personal communication) Various sources claim that the orig-
inal structure. which was much smatter and eventually incorp-
orated into the inn, was constructed in 1672. (Southold Town .
Suffolk Co. , L. I . . N.Y. , 1636-1939 1939: 39. 40. Cottral 1959:
3 and Van Liew 67:4) This first structure was supposedly
built by the father of Joseph Latham (Pelletreau 1882:35) in
connection with early marine activities. (Van Liew 1967:4)
The inn ' s Revolutionary War history is variably described
by secondary documentation : In Southold Town , Suffolk Co. ,
L. I . , N .Y . 1636-1939 (1939:39) , it is described as standing
near where once stood a British fort" . Cottral claims that
"a garrison for British troops landed here before the Battle
of Long Island at which point the inn was expanded and a
garrison built nearby . (1959: 13 . 37) Van Liew (1967:4) states
that 'an old fort" was nearby but that the " inn was used by
the British troops as a garrison . "
Some time during the late 18th or early 19th centuries ,
the original structure apparently underwent expansion. Accord-
ing to Cottral , materials from the original building and the
garrison were utilized. M959: 13) One source even claims
that lumber hewn by the British soldiers and used in local
operations during the Revolutionary War were employed in the
enlargement . (Southold Town . Suffolk Co . . L. I . . N .Y . 1636-
1939 1939:39, 40)
According to Mrs . Barbara Van Liew of the Society for
the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities (personal commun-
ication) , the earliest section of the visible facade is the
west wing of the inn. Architecturally . this portion of the
inn is of the Federal or Post-Revolutionary Period. This
data seems to coincide with the documented expansion of the
original structure . "The gambrel-style roof on the western
part of the 31 story structure has two well-proportioned
dormers with nicely executed round-topped windows on the sec-
ond and third floors. " (Van Liew 1967 :4)
The inn enterprise was begun in 1796 under its first prop-
rietor , Jonathan F . Latham, who was also responsible f6r the
aforementioned structural alterations . (Cottral 1959: 13 . 37 ,
Van Liew 1967:4) Pelletreau proclaimed it the oldest summer
resort on Long Island . (1882 :35)
Structural additions and alterations continued through-
out the 19th century. The easterly section was added early
in the 19th century while the mid-section appears to stylist-
ically belong to the mid-century. At some point . the interior
was also refurbished in the Greek Revival style. (Mrs . Bar-
bara Van Liew , personal communication) " Later in the 19th
century the roof on the center and eastern sections was ra4
Billadello and Johannemann
-7- OR 60
a porch was added across the front, and refurbishing of the
interior brought new stairs. " (Van Liew 1967:4)
The "Orient Point House' (Chace 1858) continued under the
" lathams' (U.S . Coast Survey 1838) throughout most of the 19th
century. Daniel Latham was the proprietor during the mid-
century. (Pelletreau 1882:35) Perhaps it was Daniel Latham,
then. that instigated the mid-century alterations of the inn .
M.B. Parsons purchased the Orient Point House in 1860.
(Pelletreau 1882:35) According to Pelletreau, he enlarged the
hotel and, therefore, may have been responsible for the alter-
ations to the central and easterly sections. A lithograph of
the inn. c. 1882 under the proprietorship of Mr . Parsons , was
published in Pelletreau 1882 :35. (Figure 2)
Richard M. Bayles . chronicler of many 19th century Suf-
folk Co. landmarks , described . the Orient Point House thus
in 1874 C388) :
'On the south side of the point is a steamboat wharf ,
and near ft is a large summer boarding house which is
largely patronized during the summer season by throngs
of people - who are attracted by the retirement ,
beauty# and varied privileges of this location . "
Bayles estimated that the inn could accomodate 250 guests .
Famous patrons included James Fenimore Cooper. Walt Whitman ,
Daniel Webster, President Grover Cleavland , Sarah Bernhardt
and Washington Irving. (Cottral 1959:13 . 37)
Circa 1896, proprietorship of the inn changed from M. B.
Parsons to "G . Gibb" . (Map of Long Island) In 1897 , the
'Orient Point Hotel , Geo. C . Gibbs" (Figure 2) was advertised
in Lain and Healy ' s Brooklyn and Long Island Business Directory
(386) . Gibb' s proprietorship continued into the early 19th
century C"Hotel G . Gibb' , 1906 Map of Lang Island) but at some
point discontinued, after which George W. Hedges replaced him.
(Anonymous 1973) According to Wick (1981 ) . Eugene McDonnell
owned the hotel between 1922 and 1952. During the 1920s. the
hotel was popular with the elite of Newport . Rhode Island and
of Manhattan. (Ms. Trainer , personal communication) Cottral .
in 1959 (13) , commented that it was popular with Connecticut
honeymooners as well as city folk during the summer .
The 1882 lithograph of the structure (Figure 2) indicates
a rather large, detached building to its east . Using a win-
dow for a scale, the building was about 45 ' lone. A c . 1939
photograph of the inn, viewed to the northwest ."indicates a
northerly extension in the rear . In addition , no cupola is
apparent and the central roof is pitched . (Southold Town ,
Suffolk Co. , L. I . . N. Y . 1636-1939 1939 :40) See Figure 3 for `
photographs of the hotel taken c . 1959 and 1979. (Van Liew
1979 : 6)
Billadello and Johannemann
I
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ORIENT POINT.
BUFFOLK COUNTY.
fi,:';t ': _ .rl',C; ^^..-• '•io . Dleuuce 106 callow Pop. 100.
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w :. :v ,aa � , - r✓}t� s:.� .� -+;.1 .+•' r'..k'r'iltX 0.Yi{lJ rn'1y��. �, t y r11�� y.r , [.;�i. '-0t11a 5,y'1L.C11„f�'i t' J San Hemeor, Phut W. Kalea•
•i'. '` 4 yh1,$'' a_�,!'fi� 'q�.k�-tis7Gc(d'w'a_.K..fd _c.:'t ';su•l'�if`:..�'R4S 9+ic•°,o•iis�ufG'f."!, A am, Farmingdale:CTaHm DII•
I
Oleo Core: Wm. H.
°
ORIENT POINT HOUSE ORIENT POINT, 5UFrOLK COUNTY, LONG ISLAND.N.Y, Simonson, Hlckovillo: Walter
i - Franklin, East Norwlct; PstH
M,B.PARSONS PROPRIETOR. v. xa n.m. F. minad.ta
Figure 2 .
-9- OR 60....
Orfent Pt . Hotel c . 1959
;r
41
ZIP
7� T:f �..�.:: y�ri.. "t--t-� +'r_• �-c?`T..y;ary��,��I.{Y'�d
Orient Pt . Hotel c . 1979
Billadello and Johannemann
Many points concerning the history of this important Long
Island landmark remain unsubstantiated. Since written document-
ation is limited to secondary resources , an in-field archaeo-
logical survey and architectural evaluation would be invaluable
contributions to lacking primary documentation. Both types
of investigations would. most certainly , clarify various aspects
of the inn ' s history. ie. its initial construction relative
to local marine activities . its Revolutionary War connections ,
its 18th century alterations. its resort period and even its
eventual demise.
Summary of Aboriginal and Historical Site Sensitivity Potential
Based on Archival Research
The existence of fifteen recorded aboriginal sites west
of the subdivision make it highly probable that related evidence
of aboriginal exploitation exists undetected , to date . at Orient
Point . Historic documentation indicates that historic cultural
resources associated with,and including , the Orient Point
Hotel exist within the subdivision. Only an overall , in-field
archaeological investigation and architectural evaluation (of
the inn) will substantiate the existence of additional cult-
ural resources and clarify those historical hypotheses already
gathered.
Literature Bibliography
Anonymous
1973 . ' Let ' s Look Back , Mar. 31 , 1906- in The Suffolk
Times , March 29.
Bayles , Richard M.
1874. Historical & Descriptive Sketches of Suffolk Co . .
Richard M. Bayles , Port Jefferson .
Cottral , George E.
1959. History of Orient" in Historical Review : A Word
& Picture Journey into Orient ' s Past . the Histor-
ica Society s Formation , Activities & Museum .
Oysterponds Historical Society , Inc . , Orient .
Lain & Healy
1897. Brooklyn & Long Island Business Directory , Lain
& Healy . Brooklyn .
Parker , Arthur C .
1920 . "The Archaeological History of New York- in the
N . Y . S . Museum Bulletin , Nos . 237 , 238 . Sept .-Oct . .
the University of the State of N . Y . , Albany .
Billadello ?nd Johannemann
-11 - OR 60
Pelletreau, William S.
1882. -Southold" in History of Suffolk Co. . N .Y. , W.N.
Munsell & Co. , New York.
Southold Town, Suffolk Co. . L. I . , N .Y. 1636-1939t Southold
Town Board, 1939.
Suffolk Co. Archaeological Association
1979. Suffolk Co. Cultural Resources Survey , Stony Brook.
Van Li:ew. Mrs . Harry R. , ed.
1967. "Orient Pt . Inn" in Preservation Notes. A.c.tober,..
vo-L.- . III . No. 3 . Soc . for the Preservation of L. I .
Antiquities, Setauket .
1979. "Historic Orient Inn" in Preservation Notes , Fall/
Winter 1979, Vol . XV, No. 3. Soc . for the Preser-
vation of L. I . Antiquities , Setauket .
Wick, Steve
1981 . " Developers Buy Tip of Orient Pt. " in Newsday,
October 21 .
Map bibliography
Atlas of Suffolk Co. . L. I . . N.Y. . Sound Shore, E. Belcher
Hyde, Brooklyn . 1909.
Beers . F.W.
1873. Atlas of L. I . , N .Y. . Beers . Comstock & Cline, New
York.
Chace, J . Jr.
1858. Map of Suffolk Co. , L. I . . N .Y. , John Douglass ,
Philadelphia .
Map of L. I . . E. Belcher Hyde, 1906.
Map of L. I . . Hyde & Co. , Brooklyn, 1896.
U. S . Coast & Geodetic Survey
1884. Sound Shore of L: I . Sound , Oyster Pond Pt . to Inlet
Pt .
U. S . Coast Survey
1838. Part of the L. I . North Shore from Col per ' s Hill
to Oyster Pond.
U. S . Dept . of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service
1975. Soil Survey of Suffolk Co. . N . Y. , April .
Billadello and Johannemann
U.S .G. S.
1904/9. Gardiners Island Quadrangle (15 ' series) .
1956. Orient . N .Y . — Conn . Quadrangle (7} ' series) .
Sources
Society for the Preservation of L. I . Antiquities
North Country Rd.
Setauket , N.Y. 11733
516-941-9444
Contacts : Ms. Trainer
Ms . Barbara F . Van Liew
S.U.N.Y. Stony Brook Libraries —
SpeciaL Collections , Mr . Evert VoLkersz , 516-246-3615
Map Library . Ms. Barbara Schupp , 516-246-5975
Stony Brook, N.Y . 11794
s
•.r
Billadello and Johannemann
jJy
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f�
OR 60
:t
c
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GRIFFIN'S JOURNAL. 51
v nuticed here- John Tuthill, where they were to be kept until needed.
Two of thein were placed on the top of what was then
called Pasture Ilih. We well remember seeing them
there in the year 17T1. The other one was placed
escril•ed, in the within three ur four rods before Richard Brown's door,
A building ono Five of the ten guns u$ noticed, wore directed
,y uo mean$ of to a Mr. Miller and D. Gardiner, of South or East
uhd htonus. It Hamptuu. We have been informed that there were
which any$ the three more of [Lose ordnance sent to Ovsterhotrd1 ./ r
d i so with this int but we never knew of any until Col. Livings- 7 t 4 F
!carne a wreck, ton built a small fort there in 1775. That breast-
ck was erected work was soon it andoned and the guns sent to Say-
il1aW. lhhn tat- brook. They have Rover been returned to this town,
ndred feet lung. as they ought in justice to have been.
rtuerh and boat-
Stairo:d a char- Acre I present a coley of the identical advertisement
I shares of fifty pot$j ing the sale of the south part of the farm of the
Dyer's title to late Captain David Webb, on which Greeuport is built.
lances, they set AUCTION.
i secure for vev-
a fnua its come "Will positively be sold, at auction, on Thursday,
hon,,Rud thirty 23d March, instant, at nine o'clock A. M., on the pre-
rial$ entirely of mises: the valuable lnessuage, farm and outlands of
,tended by that Capt. David Webb (deceased). The said farm is divi-
'iucent Youngs. ded into lots and accurately'surveyed for the better
convenience ofpurchusers. Whoever isdesirous o£spec-
ulation it i$presumed would do well to attend said sale."
nance, what we ELIZABant Wenn, EXeCU1PiX.
o the towns of SAMUEL TERRY, 1tors. '
hem to the first JEREMIAH M"x, S
Three of them AuausTus Gaurirm, Auctioneer.
Brown, Jr., and Dated Sterling, 3d March, 1520
A.uguatua Griffin' s JOurnAl . 1857
r
a
156 GRIFFIN'S JOURNA-L.
counterfeit deserters were dcrlratched from the English had no mea:
en'a silent it Ov�tcr loud Point to the holl'tr •.f •.+ Li-
m�ce Gri$iI stt•r ec tc, nut Stephen Vail. 'F,i_ .nus. •x;
t� first with much permrasi0m, ❑Hayed Mr. `'ail t,- tale hill. .,..rat
in. The second, Capt. Beebe Admitted into his Lara.
The third deceived his wicked Superiors, and ranaw:n :hie 1,
ill easiest—this one ryas directed to go to illy thtltcr's. laps wluc
At midnight, two files of soldiers, were scut to rt- tarda et Si
! take these pretended deserters, and the nten, who lctd rascality, a
harbored them. One file of men went innnediately w uuLt iLc
' Vail's, Rud Beebe's, where they found their two cmu uc•l w rk
rales, after which they bound 11lessrs. Vail and Bccl,e, Pike, were
a by tying their hands behind them. When Mr. "ail, About t
who was a mild,coin pat-siouute utnn, gave them it gent le 1lnwel, it
rebuke, by reason of their unnecessary oaths and Lias- b„oil ,-f
phentous threats, one of then „ave hint a severe LL,w• Auterican
with a broad sword. Atter thus eceuriug these ttc,L ill- again-t th
L', offensive men, they, in seat•chile the chumbets, found Igo just r
an infirm old geutlenan in Led--aged and trembling, Lound hii
on the verge of seventy-five years. With heartle•es gave hint
(, threats,they ordered him out. This man, yeas StcpLt'rt naked La
Vail, Sr.,on at visit to his son, and was detained Ly the His frieu
severe storm, then raging, from returning to his h"o"e. from this
This old man, with the son, and Capt. Beebe, the} our Led,
drove like cattle, before them to the Point. Next day one of rc
they were conveyed to Riverhead. A choice was then
given them for thirty days inprisomeut, and five-hun-
dredlashes, or £i0 in money and their liberty. Lester
Mr.Stephen Vail and Capt. Lester Beebe were men of a man or
middle age, with some property, mrd young families. the you
�:. They, with some assistance, soon raised the money for Oysterpt
i;
their freedom. But the elder Mr. Vail was poor, and
it
Au�untus Griffin' s Journal. IP,57
l
•
OR 60 '
SantMar on. This little fishing and farming hamlet has a fen
n century and early federal houses along the main road.
Vote the paired doors of at least two, the fine doomAye of
!� several.
1. Just went of the village, near old Sterling, the Yotmi-Wiggins
house; built by Jacob Yo,uig in 1818. Residence of Ernest Wiggins.
2. (Cane-Schneider. Excellent example of small federal.
'R PONDS S. The Grandma Dadls house, some alterations. Yrs. A. Halsey
Brown, o"ner.
4. Rankntt-Schneider "Down-Lot" hones, Co. 1050 with recent
no�..i - addition in keeping. ,
e 5. Grlffing- Nowell house, circa 1775. erred by
E N T `" ' No
P. Sanders A 11.
tB• ThRamon Tuthill house, Co. 1800. Magnlfl-
6. e rm
Q•-.ad `� o. cent Amon Tabor III doorway. owned by Mrs.
>i' rl.•�. Otto Schafer.
7. *inters-Oakes-Fisher
house. Note narrow door.
8. The houae with the well- rn
a .\
sweep. Owned by Mossback.
�• ,� `� - mp9. Joshua 'Fournier 4
C frt{�� �OYSTER(�V�S now Limouze.
POINT U]
� ort
2� 11 6 OR(e NT- PONT ca
T..,.,rC.w•'. L•}I�r.w. :� VST ER PONO3
Po.wr u\
6'y
RT .tri
O
AR DINERS BAN
Orient, the second of Southold's "colonies".
IT.--j;uttonworxd Tree, planted by early settlers, perhaps as m-rker.
11: Hackett- Newman house, moved from highway. Ca. 1750. Owned by
Harry Shaw Newman.
12. Historic Constant Booth Inn, now called "Webb HOusc". Shen at
original, site. on Sterling Creek George Washington, then comms -,
and George Whitefield were entertained here. Later none of Webbs
and Youngs. Moved to Ring's highway at Sterling long ago, re-
- cently to Orient by barge. Owned by Geo. R. Latham; open to public.
Ancient Terry house, once home of Col. Thomas Terry. Built ca. 1006.
Later home of Mulfords and Dr. Reath. Additione7•3n rest.
'14. PuUel Tuthill homestead, mid I7(RSs, altered rei*ntly.
` Jonathan Teou
Terry hse, circa 1730, east part poasibly earlier,
' Dined by Mrs. Spencer Terry.
to Orient Point Ian, part late 10th century. Here James Fenimore
Cooper wrote "Sea Lions" and here Grover Cleveland and W4'_t
Whltaan were gu9sts.
•-^'* Co.e 7. Home of Augrietus Griffin, now museum and headqua rtera of Cyster-
ponds Historical Society. Also on grounds: Old Point Sch•jol house
and Hallock'Cook House. All open to prlblic.
`otet There are other early houses of note in East Marlon
��- and 'Orient. F,eper.ially attractive are seven,l
•�, - - pre-Clvll Vr • flat r"nfed h,iusea with 1"1 1LY1'ev
-OR 60M
--------------
.........
34 GRIFFIN'S J111 CA
As early as i]I,- N,�ar I T-,t). -, I
the bay, solall of 1,It
pied by a Mr. Pay il e. '11,
Old Barn Lot. Tlj,.i,t; Nva, tm,,
believe, for proviou, t.t Tkm.t 1- 1. it,
sension thert, N%:L, ;it, uId 1,,,i.. .... :b. I
stalolillg a, late zt 1;7" S. it- .1:L. L
6picuoub and Valliallk lWar tr.,- k- -t r-
bial throuL-111 :ill the di,11itAt, -1 ILc 1II.-t A
assuredly (11,4161111A. Tb., thit"1-114ftll 6-r 1111, 11
in the sea",IL of froil, wL'Jjld 11, IILUIIII:[N. It �1 �r
Payor", ]'Call." TILI; fruit C lhi� ill'
and >,,wdit after by the CIWPIUu allli-111:ttl:.
our 111111d]ed N, :it, after I, tll. It, C ljml 1-,
by Mr. Pal-n '. 11 1, I,VW ilill it h IN tl-
place which kjLe.%v it s11 1111W ki..,I\ , it i,". n. .1, 1'.
]low tmeonciuris Mr. Pacnr imi,l !Ia, lc
planting that tree that 1W NNa, lkcLri1I'_' :1 1. ]illr TIN
it IN aq. The dv�cendantbof Mr. Pavijuaro L
Wading River in this C.11111tY. M r. I I ihila Allilh,llI 11 %V
o%%iii the old barn lot.
As previon.ly stated, Jonathan F. Latham eaiiw in
possession of his late luuidsoine and privileged i,irni 11
about the near 1800. In l-S31and IS35 he built a large
ur
000,010�and convenient. boarding housv� which for coml�'IrL acid
situation and its inviting prospects, was not surpn,ovd
by any such establishment oil tlJ6 part of the Mand.
His table was at all times well furnished With
some, substantial food, and ever), reasonable attention
was extended to his numerous guests. Captain Latliani
died in 1852 intestate, by reason of which his handsome
Augustus Griffin' s Journal , 1157
OR 60
t
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• 6Itlt'MIN'S JOURNAL J5
lJ-1 ing
d , :clr- Iv J,.crn,L I n, his Iva rhildreit dually. Four
liii Jay of hi, sons, namely, J,,svph, Glin.:, Daniel and Moses,
err wo arc now living ori :wd mar the home farm. 'file Lugo
in
)os- boardinZ linos. %%ilh the acre, Of lalldd ad'oi v' 0
It nas havo convcvcd o,lr of the t:uuily. ft is, however, still
a un_ oprn to couil.:my wbu (III-it-0 :1 rural rosidcuca dul•iug
'er- the heat A"tilluuor.
ity Old The facilities for balhin", fishing, Ac., &c., render
al'.' and this hltaati ll absnl'Odly iuvitirig.
ink hIr
dni red
ac rly In die year L7010, which %vas litly ye:.rs atter the first
het gut sotrlcmcut of our till«-e there wm•c not 1111.170 twain
cc :he - tWe11tY411LIV famili"S, and which ucc•ul-icd about the
'urc er. saute numlwr of renemems. The head.; uP Inose f:uui-
t w He lies were, connnenciug at the west end, viz. : Israel
lOriT to Drown and his ?un JOSeph. if at. the lime a married
Ira .so mall; _hl. Santucl Brown; :hl, Richard Brown,Jr. The
vin at father, Richard Brown, Sr., died 16S6. 4th. John Tut-
-d
ut-d I nv bill, Jr.; 5th. Samuel Bing; Pith. his fit her Jvhs Kir.g,
Sr., who unist at this time have been It very arcs maul;
tme in 711h. Edward Petty; Sth. Juhu Tuthill, 3d ; Ot.h. John
I fa m Pain aria his son John ; 10th. John and Nathaniel
I la Moore; lith. William Kiug, father of J��scph, Jere-
rt I A inialt, &e., &e.; 12th. John Terry, Jr. ; 13th. Jeremiah
l.ti A Vuil, .Tr. ; 14th. Samuel Glover; 15th. Caleb or John
iAa d. Curtis; lath. Willialn Kiug, Sr.; 17th. King;
A-111 o- 18th. Samuel Beebe, Jr. ; 19th. Jereu,itdl Vail ; 20th.
David Youngs; 21st. Gideon Youngs, Jr., (the father
est >n having died in 11199); °3d. Daniel Tutl ill or his father
Atli: le John, Tuthill, Jr..
saes re Now, allowing five per8ens to each family and say
Augustus Griffin' s Journal. 11359
TTTT
i
ti g s'2--
Orient Point Inn
Orient OR-60
r, .
Dov®o _.-" 'r
IITITlA00(iG __
666 106 NI Ia> a e
rti y AP
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-
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ORIENT POINT NOUSE,ONIENT VONT 5p,l GLx GQ. TY,LONG ISLAM-. v
4 G PARSONi PPpngiETOa
Preservation Notes—Society for the Preservation of L wW Island Mtiquitics
ORIENT POINT HOUSE IN 1882
[he
— `The accompanying view of the Orient Point House is an excellent '
entation of one of the forest watering plain in the United States.-
Seethe
tates."
he ewer of thisissue oiPieastatioa Notes J 7t is the eldest summer
on Lang Island laic],having a continuous record to the year 1810.
t Point received its present mme-about 30 years ago, from its
ful view of the eastern sea. 771e first buMng was erected by the
of Joseph Latham Daniel 1-tham kept the place forty years ago.
ouse as it now stands was purchased in 1860 by MB. Parsons, its
t popular proprietor, who enlarged it mod made the reputation of
t Point first-cam in all respects."'— This quaint description, which was permed m 1882 may leave
iring to he desired as far as the pre-1810 history of this historic
ark is concerned, but perhaps the charm and enthusiasm of the sales
will inspire some business man or preservationist to rescue the old
ng which currently elands vacant and vandalized."
'History o/Swffolk Coaaty, New York, W.W. Mo�B 6 Co., Ne.' York. 1882.
"Town of Southold",page 35.
'See Preaeroltaan Norc; Vol. 111,No. 3,pagr 1 and Vol. Vll,No. 3,pagc 5
Preservation Notes , SPLIA, Vol . IX , no. } , October 19� pp 1-2 .
Orient Point Inn
Orient OR-60
c��p�
Orient Point Inn
This amazingly large and remarkably intact old hotel invites
careful research by architectural historians. It is said that the
building dates in part from 1672, that it was enlarged in 1796,
and that its original stone cellar floor and heavy beams are still
visible. The gambrel-style roof on the western part of the 3!/2
story structure has two well proportioned dormers with nicely
executed round-topped windows in the gable which appear to
date from the early 1800s,as do the 8/12 windows on the 2nd and
3rd floors. Later in the 19th century the roof on the center and
eastern sections was raised, a porch was added across the front,
and refurbishing of the interior brought new stairs.
Historians write that early marine activity resulted in the
building in 1672 of this historic inn on what is now the end of
Route 25, east of the unspoiled picturesque village of Orient.
,During the Revolution, in 1776, there was an old fort nearbN.
and the inn was used by the British troops as a garrison. Benjamin
F. Thompson, in his History of Long Island, states that in 1796
Jonathan F. Latham enlarged the building. Famous visitors to
the hotel included Daniel Webster, Washington Im ing. President
Grover Cleveland, and James Fenimore Cooper who lived here
while he wrote of Orient in The Sra bons.
Preservation Notes , SPLIA, Vol. III , no. 3 , October 1967 .
Orient Point Inn
Orient OR-60
Preservation Notes—Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities
ORIENT POINT REZONING r..
Is it taps for the ancient r
Orient Point Inn at Orient
Point which now stands for-
lorn
orlorn and vacant? Allegedly s F � V V-1
built in part in the 17th cen-
tury, during the Revolution
the Orient Point Inn served as -
a garrison for British troops.
After the War it was report- "
edly enlarged in 1 796 and Orient Point Inn
then rebuilt ca. 1834. The historian, Benjamin F. Thompson.
described it in 1843 as "the extensive hotel of Jonathan L.
Latham, which, in many respects, is not excelled by ani hotel
or watering place in the Union." [n spite of sonic late 19th
century enlargement, the building is a remarkably unspoiled and
unusual example of a hotel-type unique in the earl years of
this country. Located opposite the New London Fern landing.
the Inn is at the end of what is now Route 25. Along this road.
which was once known as the Ding's Highway, many of the old
milestones have been preserved, the farthest east—marking all
mi. to Riverhead Court House — still standing near the ferry slip.
This very far-off tip of Long Island is a charming and unique
agricultural area, and for the arriving travelers on the ferry from
New London the scene as they disembark is like a breath of
fresh air. Conservationists and preservationists are suggestinl.
that the whole point be designated an agricultural district under
recent N.Y. State enabling legislation, with the historic [tin in a
special historic district catecory by itself receiving tax abate-
ment to encourage it restoration and Continued operation in
sonic appropriate manner.
Preservation Notes , SPLIn, Vol . VII , no . 3 , October 1971 .
Orient Point Inn
Orient 04-60
r
rl. w
R
fill
�( } z
IRT,
IT WAS LIKE THIS,OFFICER: Richard M.Lane.26•of 111 Elm Avenue,Riverhead,Is explaining to Patrolman Robert Hulse
how It was that be and his wife,Barbara,were found removing 70 pieces of jalousie window from the old Orient Point Inn,Sunday
afternoon.The patrolman took the couple to Southold Police Headquarters where owner Ernest Wilsburg of 3995 Ole Jule Lane,
Mattituck, settled for the value of the windows, $20, which he then donated to the Mattkuck Youth Group. Charges were not
t pressed.Police News on page 27. Staff Photo
Suffolk rimes , 3/1/73 .
i
f
' 00
' K 1
r•r•
m m
::% �
h h
`U
O
w
7
h
H
7
flan for Orient Point Park- Re'in"g evl
ly Mike Quinn would authorize county acquisition of the 48 acres, in- mended acquisition of 93 acres at the tip of Orient
Orient Point—An hast Fnd nnmty legislator in. eluding the crumbling remains of the_defimct,Orierttl Point. After the community opposition, fl developer,
"Ild.v to submit a resuh lion In the Suffolk County Point 1 a t rec-s'Try rams to mg, wouici not received permission to build a 35.5-acre subdivision
,•gi..Aature .lune 25 to aullmri7v .spxmding approxi- te to soe ouses and a subdivision there," he said. in the area proposed for the county park, despite
:ih1v g6W.W) to acquire almiit 48 nc•re, at the tip of The triangular parcel is (rounded on the north by heated objections from Orient residents.
trient Point as a county park. Long Island Sound and the south by Block Island Local opposition has decreased, Demarest said. '.
Two years ago, when the county announced plans Sound, where it extends almost to the property of the "Local people have been used to open land," he said.
a Mlluire the land and 45 more acres for park pur• Orient Point ferry. The land is owned by Richard "I think that they.just didn't realize that it was going ',
,,e,es, the Orient community opposed the proposal so Cron of New Suffolk and Ernest and Harold Wile- to be developed some day."
irongly that the comity dropcped the plan. But now, berg of Mattituck. Tomorrow night, the Southold County Executive Klein said of the aaluisition,'
.;iJon Ls have chang,Kl their mind., ammrding to Town Planning Board is scheduled to hold a public proposal, "I put it in the capital program last year
.:itis_Derr
tnast,_the s_uu_lhmor_old Tui Bwrd mumher hearing on an application by the owners to subdivide and the legislature took it out—I had a pretty goods .�
1i6 lives in 0rienl. --- the property. The owners could not be reached foe idea it was just a matter of time before the cornmu- --I
Legis. Norton W. Daniels !R-Fast Hampton) said comment. pity did a 180-degree turn—that they opposed it tmtil' 1
�',tordav the, he k havingfl� n-x,hit.ion drafted that In 1972, the county planning commission recom- they knew it was going to be subdivided." 1
i
,
I
O
T I
m �
f o
d
Orient Point Inn
Orient , OR-60
The Orient Point Inn was originally a small house built
about 1672. During the Revolutionary War the building was
enlarged and a garrison for British troops was buill nearby.
Materials from the two structures were put together to form
the Inn, and it was opened to the public in 1796 by Jonathan
F. Latham, the first proprietor. The Inn became a mecca for
Connecticut honeymooners and was often visited by city
folks, who were fond of"rusticating" here in the summer-
time. Among the famous visitors were: James Fenimore Cooper,
who wrote "Sea Lions" with a locale in Orient; Walt Whitman,
who conceived part of his "Leaves of Grass" in this area; Daniel
Webster, the oratorical patriot; President Grover Cleveland, the
fisherman; and Sara Bernhardt, the actress.
Unfortunately, at the time of this writing, the huge building
that was Orient Point Inn is a ruin. It was closed in the 1960s
as uneconomical to renovate or operate in its deteriorated con-
dition, and since then vandalism has accomplished almost total
destruction. Any day now, only the site will remain as a
landmark.
Historic Orient Village, Oysterponds Historical Society, 1976, p• 40.
Orient Point is the eastern extremity of this peninsula It
in a beautiful, level plain, and about twenty-five houses are
located along the road which runs to the point. On the
mouth aide of the point is a steamboat wharf, and near it is a
`' !arae summer boarding hones which is largely patronized
during the summer season by throngs of people who are at-
tracted by the retirement, beanty, and varied privileges of
this location. The house was built in 1831 and 5, and having
been several times enlarged is capable of accommodating two
hundred and fifty guests.
Richard bl. Bayles , Historical anc Descriptive Sketches of
Suffolk County, 1874 , P. 388 .
i
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Orient Point Inn
Orient ' OR-60
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ORIENT POINT INN File photo
Water: Key Question on Point Plans
i� ORIENT–The problem of fresh water Mr.Tasker also questioned the wetlands Mr. Raynor said the planning board has
supply looms large in the plans of a designation on the land. "There's no received no communication as yet from
Manhattan real estate developer to con- wetlands out there," he said. "There is a Mr. Schick, whom he said "has a lot of
struct"quality homes"on a 44-acre parcel beach." homework to do" before presenting pro-
at Orient Point.The property was purchas- "If they paid $2 million, they'll find a posals to the town and the county. "They
. ed in August for$2 million. way," said North Fork Environmental have to determine if it's feasible to
Town officials said this week that they Council Presi en ) Rum Oliva of develop," he said. "We don't know how
are not sure if there is a potable water o u ton- anywa erpro em many rooms of the Inn even had bath.
short a eve and eventual development of the area. rooms or how much the ground water level
ment plans of Nicholas Schick of blanhat- Though the land "can't be saved" from may hace changed over the years." Mr.
tan's Schick Realty International, who Raynor added that "We don't even know if
Vilpf—' w�.s'�� on which the des development, Mrs. Oliva said the NFEC they want to develop. We heard Robins
ed Orient Point Inn sta� was working on recommendations n the P
mmed-
The property was purchased from Ern- town to "leave a lot of the land open" by Island was going re ee developed iyet."
P � y P clustering or deeding.She said the council lately. But we're received nothing yet."
est Wilsberg of Mattituck and Richard was compiling a questionnaire to give the
Cron of New Suffolk,who had purchased it town as a whole a chance to comment on
nearly 20 years ago for$M.000. the development of the property, some of
Mr. Schick said this week that his firm which was recently being farmed. "It's
has begun the water studies as the first
step toward presenting the Southold Town such a shame to see it developed," said
Mrs. article
pointing to a recent New York
Planning board with a proposal for the
construction of "quality homes." How I Timess artaticle which named the east and
many homes,he said. would be determin• "'est coast as the best and only places for
ed by the results of the tests, which he growing fruit. "It's not just a matter of
expects by the middle of November. local interest," she said. "but one of
"Nobody knows said planning board national importance."
chairman Henry Raynor of the amount of
drinking water available on Bir. Schick's
property. Mr. Raynor said there were too
many unknowns to be able touess what
kind of development could be sustained by :llffOlk T1Cin" , 1021/81 , p. 2 .
the land. but he added that there were"all
kinds of alternatives" open to Mr. Schick, _
including desalinization and hooking up
with the Greenport water system, though
he said the cost would be "astronomical."
Town Attorney Robert Tasker agreed
that there is no proof of a water shortage at
Orient Point He pointed out that "there
was enough water to support the Inn"
whose t00 rooms probably accommodated
more people than a development would.
"Things that are said often enough become .
facts be association V%e never seen an
proof that there's not enough water out
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Orient Point Inn
Orient D OR-60
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The Orient Point Inn on Long Island
;Tip of Orient Point Is.-Sold
Sia Manhattan investors have had not been used in almost 20 years. , for summer yacatiOners who cannot
bought the tip of Orient Point on Long Any application for development afford to tent houses in the Hamptems,
Island's North Fork and are consider- would have to persuade the board:he the fashlefiable resort communities on
ing demolishing the onto-elegant Ori- said,that there was an adequate water Lonk Island's South Fork.
ent Point inn, where Walt Whitman supply. But whether buyers are ready for
wrote poetry and Daniel Webster and The dilapidated inn,which dosed in Orient is another question,Mr.Schick
President Grover Cleveland vaca- the 1960's and lately has been ravaged agrees.
tioned, to make way for condorninl- by vandals,is located in the center of it's far out,it's true,"he said,"but
ums. the property and has unobstructed I think people are looking for a place
views of Long Island Sound and where there's not much congestion
The buyers paid R million for a 47-
acre tract that is more than 100 miles G Itsoolldeest section is 309 years old,but ret." JAMES BARRON
tram New York City and is actually Mr. Schick said, "The whole thing is
i closer to Boston than to Manhattan. ruined and I don't think it could be
The parcel runs from the Orient-to- remodeled."
New London ferry slip inland as far as Local historians agree with Mr.
Lands End Road. Schick,although they said they would
Nicholas Schick,president of Schick be sorry to see the inn go.One of them
'Realty international of Manhattan, is Joy Bear, a local author, who said
declined to identity the partners in the that Walt Whitman wrote a portion of
transaction, which his firm is han. "Leaves of Grass" there and that
dling,but did say that all the investors James Fenimore Cooper also stayed at
are New Yorkers. the hotel.Washington Irving's name is
He said that plans were still In the on the register,she said,and after the
preliminary stages and that the.group lutBattle of Long island during the Rete
was thinking about applying for a garrisoned
am onary War, British troops
change in the oneacm zoning. The gan aonedohere.
Ar-
partners, he said, hoped to have the In addition, she said, Benedict
project underway early next year. nold reportedly organized his forays
against the colonials across the sound
"we have to settle about water and from Orient,using as his headquarters
environmental matters," he said. two buildings that later were con-
"we're just at the beginning of this." verted into the Orient Point Inn.
Henry Raynor, chairman of the The purchase comes at a time when
Southold Town Planning Board, said brokers farther inland on the North
that there was some question about the Fork say that their area is becoming
water supply because the inn's well an increasingly popular alternative
!-e Yorl, Times , 11/8/81 , _ 10 ii L . I .
Orient Point Inn
Orient OR-60
Iii33fFrnSar ORIE POINT — An inter-
� '�, nation real estate developer,
_
owes `propo ng to build "high-class"
c " 11III70G®8A hom on what is now covered
® wit seasonal crops of string
be s, has purchased the
r
4 ti nt.
Nicholas M. Schick of Schick
- Realty International in New York
City paid $2 million for approxi-
= �matel 4�4 a •PC Ail he Point sill
or an b ndoned hots on 2'/.
acres. He told the Traveler-
[ Watchman this week that he
would "probably"build a "high-
- ' -t'^�'Tj # +t -`• =' class development." But he
i Artist's view of Orient Point House in its heyday added that he had made not
definite plans, and offered no
solution to the Point's lack of an
:,Preserve a Part of LF s Past adequate fresh water source.
Regarding the article"Historic Orient Inn Faces "We don't know yet how Ito
Demolition" (Dec. 41: First, I must say that I do not provide fresh water]." he said.
relish the idea of developing our precious farmland Schick, speaking with a heavy
here on Long Island.It is far too valuable to be wast- European accent, said his corpo-
ed on condominiums for the upper classes.However, ration was based in New York.
I since the inn is in such poor condition that it can't be When contacted Tuesday, he
I restored and will have to be taken down,I have two repeatedly asked why there was
Propositions to make concerning the site. so much interest in his plans.
First,this inn dates back to the early days of our Schick took over the property in
country and saw almost continuous use after 1672. late August from its previous
A wealth of information about our heritage lies in co-owners. Ernest Wilsberg of
the ground around the building. I propose that an Mattituck and Richard J. Cron of
archeological dig be sponsored,perhaps by the State New Suffolk. Wilsberg and Cron
University at Stony Brook, the purpose of which had paid $225,000 to George and
twould betoreconstruct the somewhat sketchy facets Benjamin Latham of Orient Point
iof life frgm 17th and 18th Century Long Island. (both now deceased)for the same
Second, if the inn is anything at all like most parcels in the early 1960's. In the
early inns on Long Island, it was probably built in early 1970's Wilsberg and Cron
stages, much like the Peace and Plenty Inn here in filed a plan with the Southold
West Hills. If this is the case,the section that dates Planning Board to build 38
back to 1672 would have consisted of no more than homes, but their proposal fizzled
-three or four rooms (about the size of an original after the board cited the need to
'Levittown house).It would be relatively inexpensive prove an adequate source of
for the "developers" to reconstruct a copy of the potable water without endanger.
'original building and set aside two acres of land sur-
,rounding it as a historic site.Two acres of land out of developments.
48 acres is not asking too much, and this compro
mise would make this whole development idea a lot
easier for the residents of Orient Point to swallow. LI Traveller-Watchman
The owners of the land and Nicholas Schick,who
represents them.have a golden opportunity to show
that they too can be civic-minded guardians of our
_heritage and not just another group of greedy land
speculators out to make a fast buck and leave, be-
cause if they are,a part of our Island goes with them.
William Fantini
Huntington Station
Nc,.rdaVr I2/78/31 . .-
Orient Point Inn
Orient "-60
` But officials expressed doubt
Orient Inn about the ability of anyone to Orient
restore the building to its original (Continued From Page 1)
Renovation condition. tnew sbppdrts
Weintraub, speaking on behalf
are placed on on the
four-story inn's o c tck's request for the
Plan Cited bottom levels, says building extension, said that immediate
inspector Curt Horton, it may demolition of the inn would
ORIENT—When it was in its soon fall. "It's like jack straws." destroy any chance of preserving
prime, its sharp, stately lines he said. "One goes down,they all or duplicating its heritage since
overlooked an open lawn at the go dowrn." there are no measured drawings
easternmost entrance to New "I'd like to see the building avadable to dent hs•original
Y-- -- construction.
York. rstored_''Few n Southold
Larry "We may have to take it down.
The old Orient Point Inn, now -1G{��dock. "Few in Southold know
falling apart at its seams and of its history. I don't want to see save some materials from the
18th Century and use them to
given
considered by many an its heritage destroyed." Weintraub said.
ment at best. is being given the he a discounted t e likelihood reconstruct it,"
chance to return to its splendor. that it ever could be restored, and He added that Schick would
The town board this week added, "but if the owner thinks need the six-month period to do
agreed to give the inn's newhe can. I'll back him u several investigations into the
owner, Nicholas Schick, sis p' feasibility of renovating or re-
months to study--_the feasibility of (Continued On Page q) building the inn and operating it
renovation. An architect repres- once again. "Mr. Schick doesn't
enting Schick before the board .want to make any promises until
Tuesday said complete recon- .he knows (the) cost," Weintraub
struction of the inn was also a said. "(and if) there is a market
possibility. for this inn in this location."
Schick was issued a building In addition to being considered
code violation notice in November an eyesore, the inn has been a
and given 30 days to either board dangerous carrot for trespassers.
up the inn or make suitable At the hearing. Judy King. who
repairs. Because of his failure to lives in Orient. testified that local
comply,the town board conduct- youths often pried among the
ed an administrative hearing inn's deteriorated walls and
Tuesday. at which it granted floors.
Schick a 15-day extension to "I've lived there for 27 years,"
±enclose the ion with a fence; an said Mrs. King who said her
i additional 15 days were allowed grandson also lives in Orient.
I to make temporary repairs to "and 1 thought somebodv should
prevent collapse. Schick's archi- know that there have been
tett. Myles Weintraub, said the children playing in the inn for
fence would be six feet high and years. Kids find it very mvster-
include barbed wire. ious, interesting to go to.
In six months, the inn will Schick, president of Schick
either be refurbished or recon- Rcaliy Ihteffiafio'naliti Nfantiaitan
strutted, or demolished. buugu, mu u... an. , or vv
Town officials generally sup- adjacent acres last summer en-
ported preservation_of the inn, compassing most of the eastern-
which is said co have -been most tip of Orient Point. He paid
Constructed in the 18th Century, $2 million for the entire property.
partly with materials from a subsequcntic selling pan of his
pre-dated structure built in 1672. interest to tnree other New York
It was known as a special resort investors. He is also investigating
frequented by celebrities, its the construction of "high-class"
clientele including such notables hnmes on the Point__
as Ben Franklin and Walt Whit-
man.
LI Traveller-.,atchrr.an , -4/2 . _ .
�0 3 OR-6o
ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE INVENTORY FORM FOR OFFICE USE ONLY
DIVISION FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION UNIQUE SITE NO.
NEW YORK STATE PARKS AND RECREATION QUAD. _
ALBANY,NEW YORK SERIES
518 474-0479 NEG. NO.
REPORTED BY: Barbara Dan Liew
93 . oun ry Road
YOUR ADDRESS: Setauket , L.I . 11733 TELEPHONE: 516-941-9444
ORGANIZATION (if any): SOC. for the Preservation of L.I. Antiquities
DATE: March 1983
• . . . . . s . . . . . . • . . • • . . • • s • • .
L SITE NAME: Orient Point Inn & Revolutionary Fort
2. COUNTY: Suffolk TOWN/CITY: Southold VILLAGE: Orient
3. LOCATION: Route 25 opposite Orient Point Ferry to New London
4. PRESENT OWNER:
5. OWNER'S ADDRESS:
6. DESCRIPTION, CONDITION, EVIDENCE OF SITE: A later structure built in 18th & earl;
19th centuries - now occupies the site
M STANDING RUINS 11 CELLAR HOLE WITH WALLS
❑ SURFACE TRACES VISIBLE ❑ WALLS WITHOUT CELLAR HOLE
❑ UNDER CULTIVATION ❑ EROSION ❑ UNDERWATER
❑ NO VISIBLE EVIDENCE ❑ OTHER
7. COLLECTION OF MATERIAL FROM SITE:
❑ SURFACE HUNTING BY WHOM DATE
❑ TESTING BY WHOM DATE
❑ EXCAVATION BY WHOM DATE
® NONE none known
PRESENT REPOSITORY OF MATERIALS:
8. PREHISTORIC CULTURAL AFFILIATION OR DATE: Not Known
HP-�
9. HISTORICAL DOCUMENTATION OF SITE: History cf Suffolk County, WW Munsell & Co.
1882 "Town of Southold" p.35 ; History o on s and , BF Thompson, Vol.
1843 p.386; Preservation Notes , 1 Vol-iiio. 3 , Oct. 1967 ;
Vol.VII No. 3 , Oct. 1971,--7617. IS" No . 3 , Oct. 1973 ; Vol.XV No.3 , $/W
1979.
10. POSSIBILITY OF SITE DESTRUCTION OR DISTURBANCE:
Destruction imminent
11. REMARKS: Reportedly this inn was first built in 1672. No archeological
research has ` been conducted at this site as far as is
known.
12. MAP LOCATION
7 % MINUTE SERIES QUAD. NAME:
15 MINUTE SERIES QUAD. NAME:
U.S.G.S. COORDINATES:
D.O.T. COORDINATES: (if known)
ATTACH SKETCH, TRACING OR COPY OF MAP
SOURCE OF MAP: NYS DOT
13. PHOTOGRAPHS (optional) I U w 1 ,\n >J� GCUAD
(ATTACM
ra
Onent
State Park+ SUFfOLM-r, •"tai
f
Nessaaylrwm N.Cos eYJr Nr..r,aerr WCOse
Helen Proud.president of the Orient Association,and County Executive Patrick Halpin view pan of 48 acre parcel just purchased by the county
Orient Point Acres Go in Space Bank
By Catherine Woodard Halpin drew cheers yesterday when ended years of lobbying for preeerva. county is closer to a deal.County offs.
Suffolk County has added the tip of he assured the crowd that the land tion of the point. rials also have been frustrated in thew
Orient Point to almost 3,000 acres it would be left unchanged.•'let me just "The only thing left to rill our efforts to buy 263 scree along Moriches
as
hstashed away in the $60-million soy something about what the county Christmas stacking is what you've got Bey in Brookhaven.In both casae,the
open space preservation ro plans to do with this parcel.We're not u
p grim. pp your sleeve for Robina Island," owners haver thew multi-mi8ion-0ul-
'l'be county Puralhautl the 4N-ecre going b ea anything tete it. We are Wacker told Halpin, who teak once ler offers from tgo, the f
parcel for$4.1 milliov from four pri-
going r leave it a its natural state."of
Jan,1. Two years ago, the fate of Orient
vete annexes.including a Manhattan de- For Ronnie Wacker,president of the iHalpin said the county is still nacre Point was as much to doubt.The own-
veloper who once planned to build 20 =itNorH Fork Environmental Che Ori. tilting for Robina tetanic, a435-acre ere rejected the county's fust offer lin
homes on the easternmost point of ent Helen Proud,president of the Ori- Bay,but h o that sits in evidence
that
the
Long Island's North Shore. ant Association, yesterday's ceremony Bey,but he offered no evidence that the Please see ORIENT on Page 37
"Great Point is that part of Suffolk
GOULD stu les ttmfl'ita%chin out
-� Q
nck HHalpin told more than W Fa.t
Enders who crowded the Onent Pout (Orient Point Acres Bought
ferry terminal to watch him sign the y
avtracr. "It would have been a real ORIENT frum Page 7 --y
tragedy to have that chin warted by --- �
condos or some other type of develop 1986. Sgroi would not disclose the price. At the
tet.. time, Manhattan developer Nicholas Schick had M
With the addition of the Orient preliminary approval from Southold Town For a 01
tl lot
Point acreage, Suffolk has purchased Willit
William Eaeka, the attorney for the owners, x<i
about 3,000 of the 5,000 acres county could not be reevhtd for comment yesterday. In
olldels approved for the open apace 1986, E.ks shad contracts averaging $300,000 I�
=program in the su�vg�4'of 1986.Robert per waterfront lot had been signed for at least 11 \
SuHoik's rw 6I{We communion- purrele. He se,d the value of the land was$6 moi- N
W,said the county bes''kwtd with 106 lion,not the$2 million discussed by Suffolk. O
owners, including a Michigan judge The six month approval expired and was not rr \
who did not mow he had inherited a nvwed,said Valerie Scop e. Southold town plank CO
small phut(roan his mother.The county ner.Schick never obtaned water and sewage per- OD
has spent about$22 million of the$606 _ mita tram the coup health d
Millihad owned the land with Paul on. Warner
Orimt Paint had base targeted for Caadeke and Hurst Schulenbtwg.
patches as early as 1971 in the true- said lProud,who othought comes was
to the shore.
ty's fund warier plan.Buthen residents
id buy
the lend were dropped who ownership
"1 never gave ed hope."
might br n that aunty ownership She presented Halpin with a thick,white binder
might bring too many visitors a the that held epos of the hundreds h lettere the also-
P�t _ dation cent i natpublic,in 9 0 The gaup also cob
canted the asking loti^ewemoave Merry ofthe
sere a the parking lot spotted Save Orient Point 0
bumper stickers.
"We just kept on writing and hoping,'•she said
after boarding a ferry that moved out. onto e
gleaming turquoise era
The ferry rounded a stubby black-mad-white
lighthouse just offshore and returned Halpin and
an entourage of reporters and public ofriaals to
the parking lot
. They drove away, leaving the �
,.....,,,.a..,.,,.�..................., n