A Sneak Peek Inside The Long Island Collection: Gardiner’s Island

The Long Island Collection of the East Hampton Library will hold its next event, Thursday, May 16, from 4 – 7 pm and will run through Saturday, May 18. Andrea Meyer, Head of the Long Island Collection, will be presenting a new series of drop-in, pop-up exhibits titled “A Sneak Peek Inside The Long Island Collection: Gardiner’s Island.”

Ms. Meyer, reportedly stated, “We encourage patrons to come by to informally learn a little more about Gardiner’s Island and the history of this unique, fascinating place that is part of our community.” She added that, “Gardiner’s Island is a perennial topic of interest, since you can see the coastline in the distance from our community, but the island remains entirely private and preserved.”With Gardiner’s Island being an endless curiosity, people may enjoy seeing photographs of what the island looks like. Included will be material from Robert D. L. Gardiner’s tours of the island, along with maps that show Gardiner’s Island. East End History lovers should attend.

It’s all so personal, being the reasons for one’s love of the East End. It can be just one thing or maybe the sum of everything. Almost everyone can instantly point out something they truly love about the East End, and then easily add to the list. It is always fun to imagine who was the first human to see the East End. Someone had to come first from somewhere and most likely by boat, raft, or canoe. Many believe it was a group of Native Americans coming from Connecticut. It’s possible someone just kept walking west until reaching the tip of Montauk. The possibilities fuel the imagination but we do know in 1640 a group of Lynn, Massachusetts settlers landed at Conscience Point, Southampton a year “after” David Lion Gardiner procured himself what we now call “Gardiner’s Island.”

Ms. Meyer stated the exhibit will include, “… a little bit about the Gardiner Family, and some items related to the farming and production activities done on the Island.”

It is hard to conjure up a scenario with no one living on the East End except animals. There are no reports of dinosaurs existing on Long Island. Yet there is debate about bears but many confirmed reports of wolves. It’s hard to envision packs of wolves and coyotes roaming all over the Hamptons, but they did and were eventually killed off by the early 1900s. The stories of how the Native Americans taught the early settlers to use fish as fertilizer and plant corn are accounted history in the East End history books, but who taught the Native Americans? It might be fun to drop in and interact with the Long Island Collection staff, who will be on hand at the East Hampton Library to share information and answer questions about Gardiner’s Island, and the items on view. There is no need to register for the event.

Besides the Library event, there are also new enterprises to explore. A favorite pastime to many is to view the new artwork at the galleries the Hamptons are famous for. Every year new works of art are displayed in gallery windows on the Main Streets in all the hamlets.

Somehow, in the end, it becomes a story of getting back to the sea somehow. Utilizing the ocean and the bays are perhaps the main event of summering in the Hamptons. Some individuals proclaim they go to Gardiner’s Bay in the summer, insisting they just park their car in the Hamptons. The variety of expression via personal yachts is always interesting. For boat lovers, visiting a marina is like going to an art gallery.

Looking, one sees old classic masterpieces, new innovative vessels, a few oddities and then those multi-million-dollar expressions of massive wealth!

Others love the paths through the wilderness that have sea views or lead to a beach. Part of the joy of owning a pet dog is watching them rejoice when they get to the beach. Watching a dog run along the ocean is always a magical sight. The Deep Hollow Ranch beach rides on horses are a favorite for many especially in the early fall season.

One can only wonder how many ways there are to enjoy a summer’s Hampton’s day. They can do car drives, bike rides, boat rides, kayaking and of course surfing. Or, on a cozy beach chair with a book, playlist or podcast or catching up on texts and emails. We all pay or have paid a price for our free time. It’s the time one can choose to do whatever one wants to do and with whom. However, some believe it all comes back to understanding the ability to appreciate and then grow to love the important things that make up a long, successful life. On this subject one votes with their feet, meaning who they love to stand next to, where and why.