Support Hamptons-Based Historical Society By Dining Out

The Hampton Bays Historical Society is hosting a Benefit Dinner at Villa Paul in Hampton Bays on Sunday, January 21.

From 4:30 to 9 p.m., stop by to enjoy a delicious full course meal and support an essential community organization.

“The proceeds will be used for acquisitions for our historic sites: the Prosper King House, and the newly restored Canoe Place Chapel and Lyzon Hat Museum,” explained Brenda Sinclair Berntson, Hampton Bays Historical & Preservation Society President.

The Prosper King House has been situated in the same location since it was built in the 1700s. The house was purchased using Community Preservation Funds in 2005 and landmarked by the Southampton Landmarks and Historic Districts Board. During restoration, it was discovered that the building dated back to around 1790 – making it one of the oldest buildings in Hampton Bays.

The Lyzon Hat Museum dates back to at least 1896. After Elisha King purchased it from Barney Smith, King used the building as a general store. A fire in 1910 partially ruined the building, but using fabric that survived the fire, Elisha’s son, Walter Howard King, started designing hats. Unfortunately the workshop deteriorated throughout the years, so much so that the Town of Southampton required its demolition as an unsafe structure in 2006. The Historical Society took on its restoration and it now showcases a collection of those original Lyzon Hats.

The Historical Society acts as a steward for the Canoe Place Chapel, which was restored a few years ago. The meetinghouse has served generations.

The Hampton Bays Historical & Preservation Society’s mission is to enrich pride and community connection to Hampton Bay by preserving the area’s historic past, “restoring historic structures and sites worthy of preservation efforts, inspiring Hampton Bays to record its history and preserve its heritage for future generations, developing positive attitudes towards archives and libraries as places for life-long learning, and educating the general public and students about the area’s ‘unique’ heritage through the Society’s monthly lecture series, quarterly ‘Good Ground Newsletter,’ special events and exhibitions.”

Admission to the Benefit Dinner is $45 for adults and $12 for children 12-years-old and under. Tickets will be available at the door and take out will also be offered.

Villa Paul is located at 162 West Montauk Highway in Hampton Bays. For more information, call 631-728-0887 or visit www.hamptonbayshistoricalsociety.com.