Montauk Pioneer - July 4, 2008 - The Library Presents

Last Friday, Carolyn Balducci, Program Director of the Montauk Library introduced Henry Osmer to about 40 attendees. Most were locals (except for Henry and his wife Terri who came 60 miles from Shirley, NY). Many were Henry's coworkers at the Montauk Point Lighthouse, including myself who were there to give him support for his new book "On Eagle's Beak: A History of Montauk Point Lighthouse." Henry, in return acknowledged most of the people who helped him write the book.

Osmer spoke about the history of Montauk and two developers; Robert Moses and Carl Fisher. Moses acquired land for state parks at Hither Hills and Montauk Point and built the Long Island Expressway (LIE). Carl Fisher, who after his success in creating Florida's Miami in the 1920s, wanted to create the "Miami of the North" in Montauk. Many of his works still exist today; such as the 63 miles of road, channel between Lake Montauk and Block Island Sound, polo fields, railroads, tennis courts, trotting tracks and Yacht Clubs. His Tudor style buildings - Montauk Manor and the seven-story skyscraper located in town are a testimony to Mr. Fisher's great talent. However, due to the stock market's crash of 1929, his dreams were foiled. "Lucky for us," the author said, "If Mr. Fisher had succeeded, Montauk would not be as beautifully preserved as it is today."

Throughout the lecture, Henry showed slides of the many changes that Montauk Point Lighthouse went through. Starting from a 1796 watercolor to the present photo taken by the author. Henry 's first slide was the author at age 6 taken in 1957, sitting on the wooden fence in front of the Light. Captioned underneath read, "Thanks to Mom and Dad."

Henry reminisced about the summer of 1970 when his then girlfriend, Terri and their four college friends drove to the Light in an old Ford Falcon. The same group, now with children and grandchildren are planning to celebrate their fortieth reunion in 2010.

Another slide that caught my eye was an 1884 photo entitled "Looking West" taken from a location that no longer exists. The Light, authorized by George Washington in 1792 and built by the architect John McComb four years later originally stood 297 feet from the cliff. Now it stands only 60 feet. The surveyor of the site, Ezra L'Hommedieu knew then the problems of erosion. The Lighthouse ground was loosing a foot a year due to the severe storms that came to Montauk.

In 1967, Dan Rattiner, editor of Dan's Papers and Montauk Pioneer, got a lot of attention to save the Light by printing a picture of the Shinnecock Lighthouse falling on the ground after being destroyed by the US Coast Guard. According to Henry, Mr. Rattiner created a contest to come up with ways for saving the Light and staged a "Montauk Point Lighthouse Light In" after hearing of a plan to destroy the Light. "1,500 people showed up and the preservation movement was born." Word got around and entertainers such as Paul Simon, Billy Joel and Ray Charles held concerts at the Ranch across the 1990's. I was fortunate enough to see Mr. Charles perform back then for only $35.00. Thanks to the concerts, about a half million dollars were donated towards saving the Light.

A lot of credit went to Georgina Reid the 4'11', photographer and textile designer. " A mite of a woman" who in 1970 at the age of 61, along with her husband, Donald and volunteers, single handedly saved the Light by coming to the Point almost every weekend for 17 years. Mrs. Reid used her patented "Reed Trench Terracing" method after her successful attempt to save her Rocky Point Home from erosion. She was able to convince the Coast Guard to apply her method by showing the book she wrote called " How to Rob a Bank." Ms. Reid passed away in 2001 and Greg Donahue took over the Erosion Control Project.

When Henry mentioned the 1996 Bicentennial celebration of the Light, I recalled meeting Ms. Reid and other VIP's such as Dick White, Dick Cavett, Mary Fullerton, Montauk's eldest native born daughter. Jazz Musician Percy Heath played his bass while Miss Terie Cox sang the song he composed "It's a beautiful Day In Montauk." There was also a reenactment of the period of President George Washington by Frank Borth escorted by the Huntington Militia Color Guard and Fife and Drum Corps.

Henry's book covers the development of the Montauk Point Lighthouse in great detail for over hundred years, accompanied by 79 pictures including the 150lbs Newfoundland dog Maggie "Thunderpaws" belonging to the present "Keeper" Marge Winski'. Records of Lighthouse Keepers, Coast Guards and the Montauk Historical Society show the enormous responsibility that went along with their position. "It also gives an insight of how life was in Montauk during the American Revolution, threats from World War II German submarines, warnings of nuclear attacks during the Cold War years" to name a few. Shipwrecks were also mentioned and how the keepers saved many lives and properties. For those who love Montauk and the Light, this book is an exciting read and a definite 'must have'.