Letter From Georgica: Independence Day in the Hamptons
I recently attended the graduation ceremony and “moving-up” celebration of the Ross School, where I know some of the kids, a grandniece among them. Because the school has grown so much in the past year, the ceremony was held for the first time in an auditorium at Southampton College. Christie Brinkley, looking very pretty—and pregnant—sat in front of me. Billy Joel was on her left, Peter Cook and their son on the right. It was fun to see all of them together. The most interesting part of the evening for me was an eloquent address by Courtney Sale Ross, the founder of the school. She spoke of the importance of individuality and independence--of not producing cookie-cutter scholars. Students will have to break out of cultural and technological molds and think in many disciplines.
That’s a splendid ideal, and it seemed so timely to me, with Independence Day—that most American of holidays--just around the corner. Our Founding Fathers had the kind of minds Courtney described. You can see it in the documents they produced, most notably the Declaration of Independence. You can see it in their fascination with the technology of the time. I’ve recently been reading the letters and autobiographical writings of Benjamin Franklin. He thought radically about politics and science. If Jefferson and Franklin had not thought that way, we might have remained a British colony for many more years.
The people of East Hampton and Southampton displayed their own independent streak right from the start. While Kings (Breuckelen) and Queens counties, at the western end of Long Island, were decidedly Tory, the East Enders were early and strong in declaring their support for the Revolutionary cause. But it was not easy. The British, from warships anchored in Gardiner’s Bay, raided the local towns for cattle and supplies, and they later quartered troops here. After the Battle of Long Island, local residents were forced to swear an oath of allegiance to the Crown, but contemporary documents indicate it was done with great reluctance. An interesting local expression, “...afraid of the British,” survived from Revolutionary times well into the twentieth century. It metaphorically means to dread someone’s coming.
The Continental Convention of 1776 urged local patriots to flee to Connecticut, at least in part to deprive the British of provisions. Many did so, leaving from the wharves at Sag Harbor, some so hastily that it is said that bread mixed in East Hampton was baked in Connecticut.
Only one important military operation took place here during the Revolutionary War. In a raid launched from New Haven and aided by local patriots, Americans seized the British garrison in Sag Harbor, killing six and taking ninety prisoners. Twelve British warships and large amounts of ammunition and supplies were destroyed. And in what may be a unique footnote in military history, Southampton Village raised a company of grandfathers, some in their seventies, who joined the Revolution.
I like the idea that our communities have links to the Revolution, and I try to remember these bits of history during the holiday weekend. I want my Independence Day to make sense and have significance beyond all the parties and eating and drinking. And while I want to have fun, I also want to pay tribute in some way to those Southampton grandfathers and all the others who made this possible.
Along with all the celebration, the Fourth is a little plaintive for me. It’s the end of the local strawberry season, and it will be another year before I can eat a ripe strawberry still warm from the sunshine in the field. But it’s nearly the start of the corn season, and that cheers me up. The Fourth also means that the golden days of summer are here--and it will be Labor Day before we know it. It’s the season for us to enjoy life
I always used to celebrate July Fourth by watching the fireworks at Main Beach in East Hampton. I later moved the picnic to Georgica Beach, where it is quieter but you still have good view of the fireworks. People now seem to give annual parties, and for me that’s become a new tradition. I start by seeing lots of friends at Richard and Renee Bernstein’s party at the Poxabogue Golf Course, and I finish up by dancing at Marnie McBryde’s rock ‘n roll party. In between, I watch the fireworks with Judy Licht and Jerry Della Femina--and more friends. Judy and Jerry live very close to Main Beach. Their view of the fireworks is spectacular, and they have The Star-Spangled Banner and Ray Charles singing God Bless America booming from the loudspeakers during the display. For me, it’s one of those perfect East Hampton moments, with the past and present magically wrapped together.
We have so much to celebrate here in the Hamptons. Happy Fourth of July!