The Triumph

Stony Brook Southampton Celebrates With Christmas Lights

By Alan-Michael Braveman

Dr. Shirley Strum Kenny, the President of Stony Brook University, said the magic words “Light up the Windmill” on a very cold blustery winter night at the First Annual Windmill Lighting ceremony on the Stony Brook Southampton campus.

The Historic Windmill, built in 1719, has had a variety of identities and owners since it was initially built to grind wheat and be a central meeting and gossiping place. When the property it stands on was called the Tucker Mill Inn, the Old Windmill was some times used as a summer residence for Tennessee Williams. The Tucker Mill Inn was one of the most famous summer “Hot Spots” in the Hamptons in the late 1940s. The Inn closed in 1962 when the owners brought Long Island University to Southampton and sold the University the property that would later become Southampton College. During its heyday, Southampton College used the Windmill as a Dean’s residence, for Sunday Teas, and other grand celebrations and parties. Prior to the sale of the Tucker Mill Inn, Mrs. McCarthy told this author, the Inn had been a favorite stopping spot for the famous Hollywood star Rita Hayworth, the Aga Khan and their daughter, Princess Yasmin Khan.

More than 40 years later, the spry and still elegant 85-year-old Mrs. Laurie McCarthy, the widow of Herb McCarthy, joined an enthusiastic but freezing cold crowd of over 200 people to celebrate the lighting of the Windmill on Dec 8th. Also in attendance was the trio of politicians most responsible for seeing that Stony Brook Southampton became a reality New York State Senator Ken LaValle, State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr., and Southampton Town Supervisor Skip Heaney. Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus made a special trip on their sled to help out with the famous festivities and they led a group of children in a rousing chorus of Christmas Carols while they waited for the Windmill lighting ceremony to begin. The Stony Brook University mascot, “Wolfie,” all 7 feet of him, also attended.

After Dr. Kenny and the crowd gathered round the old Windmill and posed for pictures on the wind whipped hills of the College, Dr. Kenny invited Sister Margaret to give the invocation. Upon the completion of the invocation, Dr. Kenny threw the switch to light up the night sky with the beautiful glow that is created by the decorated Windmill paddles.

The reception afterwards, in Chancellors Hall, was highlighted by the beautiful Winter Wonderland decorations, a beautifully decorated Christmas tree, and very unique Menorah. Alongside was a mountain of diet destroying cookies and cakes and the most mouthwatering, giant Gingerbread house that left everyone assembled clamoring for a piece of it. The creation of the truly unique Windmill cookies with a picture of a windmill on them drew rave reviews from the crowd. The craft tables and goodie bags of gifts for the children were a big hit and the Jazz trio and amazing hot cider were applauded by everyone. According to all, this was the most fun filled Windmill Lighting ceremony in memory. They all stood around, happy to be inside, warming up from the harsh weather.

Kathy Bishop wife of Congressman Tim Bishop, was thrilled to see so many of her students in attendance and explained that her husband would have loved to be there but was still in Washington working to solve some of the government’s problems. Congressman Bishop had been very influential in keeping the big box stores and Mac Mansions from buying the campus. He is also a former provost of Southampton College.

The Alumni of Southampton College also gathered for the event. All agreed that Stony Brook University and Dr. Kenny’s staff had indeed done an amazing job and far exceeded all their expectations and desires. They also had high praise for Wolfie, the University mascot, as they all cheered him as a welcome and charming addition that they hoped to see a lot more of in the future. All the children shared the happy feelings about the gentle Wolfie that graced their presence and helped make them feel at home. Many had their pictures taken as they were engulfed in the soft paws of the giant mascot.

The lights from the Windmill paddles could be seen gracefully lighting up the dark sky with their calming winter presence as we drove away from the campus along Montauk Highway. The Windmill’s Lights seemed to shimmer more brightly than ever before as if to say, “at least for a few moments all is finally right with the world and peace be with you.”

Dr. Burke would have loved it.