Dan's Papers - September 14, 2007 - 300 Years of Whaling, War, Trade & the Underground Railroad

When Southampton and East Hampton were founded, Sag Harbor was still an Indian Village named Wegwagonock. The Town of Southampton has a document recording its purchase of Wegwagonock from the Indians in 1664, which often refers to the area as the Harbor at Sagg. The first official mention of Sag Harbor as an entity was in a 1707 document. Therefore, the accepted date of the founding of Sag Harbor is 1707, making 2007 Sag Harbor's 300th anniversary. This weekend, there are many splendid events planned around the Village's annual Harborfest, including the 300 Stories of Sag Harbor play, which will be presented on Friday, September 14 at 8 p.m., Saturday, September 15 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, September 16 at 4 p.m. at the Old Whalers' Church on Union Street.

The whaling tradition of Sag Harbor dates back to the first three families in Sag Harbor - James Howell, James Foster and Nathaniel Fordham, who were granted the right to build the first whaling dock on the wharf in Sag Harbor. The second whaling dock would not be built until 1770. James Howell and Nathaniel Fordham, Jr. were granted the first legal permission to construct the first "Try House" in which to process whale oil right in the harbor, in 1761. From there, the town grew and by the early 1800s, the three homes existing in 1710 were surrounded by more than 100 buildings in the town. By 1800, there were four working windmills in operation in Sag Harbor.

Sag Harbor was bombarded by the British Fleet in the War of 1812, after being occupied by the British during the American Revolution. Huge fires destroyed the town three times in the 1800s, but whaling money brought the town back to life quickly. In 1800, Sag Harbor had nine slaves, who were brought in to perform the tedious tasks of boiling blubber. By the 1840s many freed slaves were employed in the whaling trade and these citations set the groundwork for Sag Harbor's reputation as a stopping place for the "underground railroad," which was pioneered there by the worshipers of St. David AME Zion Church. The voices and spirits of those who hid, toiled and suffered will forever be remembered by the Village's residents.

In November of 1861, John Wallace Burke, a Sag Harbor resident, put together a group of 23 East Enders to fight in the Civil War. They left the town on Nov. 20, 1861 to join the Union forces. He actually witnessed the historic battle between the first two iron-clad warships, the Monitor and the Merrimack.

In keeping with Sag Harbor's celebration of its 300th anniversary, Stephen Longmire's new book, Keeping Time in Sag Harbor, recently hit the bookstores. This masterpiece brings the reader through 300 years of Sag Harbor's history, with dazzling portraits of the Village's existing historical sites juxtaposed with historical photos of Sag Harbor in the past. Also included are journals and other literary writings of Sag Harbor residents living through the vivid history the photos portray. This book is now available at local bookshops and in the Sag Harbor, East Hampton, Southampton and Bridgehampton public libraries.

Another noted event celebrating both Harborfest and Sag Harbors's 300th Anniversary is The Secret Whale Young Artist Exhibit, to be held at the Whaler's Museum in Sag Harbor on Saturday, September 15 and Sunday, September 16. With young artists from all walks of life exhibiting paintings, sculpture, jewelry, photography, prints, performance art and fabric design and many other amazing ways to express one's self, it is a must see. There will also be live performances on Saturday night by bands like Too Busy Being Bored, The Valentino and Gabriella Crespi.

Being Sag Harbor has experienced a myriad of events, from the sounds of British troops marching and cannons blasting to huge fires, the hiding of slaves, the Patriotic fever of the Civil War, the demise of the whale trade, the immigration of watchmakers from eastern Europe and two World Wars. On a Saturday morning, there is still nothing more charming than strolling down Main Street to the historical wharf to view the famous harbor, 300-years old and still going strong. Congratulations!