Landmarks Luncheon 2025 to Spotlight Historic Freetown and Cultural Preservation Efforts
On Saturday, October 18, 2025, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the Landmarks Committee of the Ladies’ Village Improvement Society (LVIS) will host its annual Landmarks Luncheon at the Maidstone Club, bringing attention to a deeply significant chapter in East Hampton’s history: the story of Freetown.
Nestled just north of East Hampton Village, across the Long Island Rail Road tracks, Freetown is a historic neighborhood rooted in Montaukett Native survivance, African American community-building, and the resilient Bonac working-class spirit. The neighborhood stands as a testament to generations of cultural continuity and quiet resistance.
This year’s featured speaker, Dr. Allison McGovern, will present new findings from the Mapping Memories of Freetown Project and the Freetown Neighborhood Cultural Resources Survey—ongoing initiatives that weave together oral histories, archaeological evidence, and archival research to preserve and elevate Freetown’s enduring legacy.
Dr. McGovern, a cultural resources manager at Brookhaven National Laboratory and a leading figure in Long Island preservation, will offer insights into how local voices and lived experiences inform broader efforts in historic documentation and preservation advocacy.
The lecture will be followed by a luncheon in the oceanfront elegance of the Maidstone Club on Old Beach Lane, one of East Hampton’s most treasured historic venues.
Tickets are $150 per person, with proceeds supporting the Landmarks Committee’s ongoing work to safeguard East Hampton’s architectural and cultural heritage. For over 50 years, the Committee has led efforts to protect the town’s historic fabric, playing a key role in the establishment of the East Hampton Village Historic Districts.
Event Details:
Landmarks Luncheon 2025
Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Location: The Maidstone Club, Old Beach Lane, East Hampton, NY
Tickets: $150 per person
Speaker: Dr. Allison McGovern, Anthropological Archaeologist
Hosted by: The Landmarks Committee of the Ladies’ Village Improvement Society (LVIS)
To purchase tickets or learn more, please contact Tia Burns at [email protected] or visit lvis.org.
Join us in celebrating East Hampton’s layered history—and in supporting the preservation of the places and stories that define our community.
