Dans Papers - June 1, 2007 - Exploring Main St. In The Oldest Town In N.Y.

The East End is not only rich with natural splendor and cultural refinement. It is also a place deeply rooted in history. In a world where Panera breads are snatching the identities of local bakeries, we are blessed to live in an area that treats its history with respect. The Shinnecocks trace their ancestors as far back as 8,000 BC in this area and Southampton is the oldest English settlement in New York State, except for Gardiner's Island. The first boat arrived at what became known as Conscience Point carrying eight men, a woman and a little boy in 1640. The crew was aided by Native Americans as they carried their cargo to what is now the village of Southampton, setting up a camp near the ocean. A meeting house was quickly erected on the hill where Southampton Hospital stands today. All of these details are known because of the records that have been kept in Southampton since its founding days.

Even though that original meetinghouse is long gone, there are quite a few buildings in Southampton that have stood the test of time. The Southampton Historical Society continues to fight for the preservation of historically significant buildings, so we don't lose sight of how it all began.

The Halsey House is one building that stands as a testament to the town's history. Located at 249 Main Street, this house was built when Main Street was first constructed. Thomas Halsey was among the first English settlers to trade with the Shinnecocks in 1640 and the house is thought to be one of the oldest English-style homes in New York State. Even though you find it in the heart of a bustling modern town, it is kept as it was. Inside, you can still find textiles and ceramics of the era. The fireplace is surrounded by tools used at that time to keep an open hearth. The grounds are so well-preserved, with their herb gardens and old orchards, that it seems almost like a family is still living there.

Another example of a gorgeous old home that, instead of giving way to modernity has gone the way of historical preservation, is the Albert Rogers Mansion. This home was built in 1843 by Albert Rogers, a local whaling captain, in the heyday of the whaling industry. It is located at 17 Meeting House Lane in Southampton. Today, the mansion is home to the Southampton Historical Museum. It has been functioning since 1898 to collect and preserve documents and artifacts that contribute to Southampton's history. The museum is a complex of buildings that recreate the area in the post-Civil War era. There is a one-room schoolhouse, a paint shop, a blacksmith shop, and other small shops that capture the essence of small-town life in Southampton.

Since long before English settlers arrived in Southampton, people thrived on the natural bounty of the area. The Shinnecocks, as well as other Native American tribes, lived here for thousands of years. Even though only a few hundred Shinnecocks still live on the reservation, their history is a significant part of Southampton's culture. When Thomas Halsey arrived with that first crew of English settlers, Shinnecocks met them and taught them how to live off the land. They taught them about local foods like corn and traditions like whaling. Without these lessons, the settlers would not have survived long. The Shinnecock Nation Cultural Center and Museum only just recently opened its doors to the public. In 2001, they hosted "A Walk With the People," when everyone was invited onto the reservation. The museum, which is the only one owned and operated by Native Americans on Long Island, houses artifacts from the Shinnecocks' whaling history in its traditional longhouse building. Exhibits about their cultural history give insight into the development of English settlers as well.

The Parrish Art Museum stands in downtown Southampton with an air of authority. It was built in 1898 in an Italianate style by Samuel Parrish. Parrish, originally from Philadelphia, had recently moved to New York. He began visiting a family summer home in Southampton, which had already become a popular resort town. Parrish quickly became invested in the development of Southampton. In the 1880s, Parrish began collecting art seriously. In the late 1880s, this civic-minded collector had just returned to Long Island from a trip to Italy, where he fell in love with Italian Renaissance painters. His hope was to "fulfill my attempt to transplant to a small, once Puritan village on the eastern end of Long Island a delicate exotic in the form of an artistic collection that would express at least something of the spirit of the Italian Renaissance." The museum was designed by architect Grosvenor Atterbury over the period of about 20 years.

Southampton has a beauty about it that is at once rustic and refined. The combination of respect for history and love of progress has made it what it is today -- a beautiful, modern town thriving in the 21st century, with a touch of history that just won't fade.