History about SAG HARBOR
A good place to begin your visit to Sag Harbor is at the Chamber of Commerce Windmill, located at the foot of Main Street near Long Wharf. Here visitors can find some friendly help, gifts and additional information about events and ways to enjoy the village and surrounding areas. The windmill is a scaled-down replica of the Beebe windmill, which once stood on a hill on Suffolk Street, and is roughly on the same spot that the first windmill in Sag Harbor stood.
A stroll up Main Street, or a turn down a side street brings you past shops and restaurants rubbing shoulder to shoulder with each other, or nestled in cozy nooks. Here you can see how the village, birthed by the whaling industry and shaped by a series of tumultuous fires, grew up from the harbor.
Today in these stores it is still possible to find scrimshaw and antiques, possibly made by the hands of the same whalers who brought ashore whale oil, along with quality-crafted pottery, jewelry, clothes and other items wrought by the hands of today’s artisans. From modern art and classic books, to fresh flowers, fine wines and fishing tackle, shop keepers in both Sag Harbor and Noyac, the sister community across the cove, take pride in providing for visitors, the way their ancestors set up provisions for men sailing off to sea.
There are many ways to view Sag Harbor and the surrounding countryside. A walking tour through the village’s historic neighborhoods takes you past the homes of whaling captains and captains of industry, farmers and inn-keepers, early settlers who built simple cottages and wealthy businessmen who built grand and elaborate homes. A bicycle ride can take you out over the wooded moraine, down long country roads, and out into fields and farms that stretch across the sea.
And, of course, as men from Sag Harbor have done for hundreds of year, you can go down to the sea in ships. Boats of all size and purpose are available, or you may want to arrive aboard your own vessel. There are public and private marinas that can accommodate you. You can venture out into the bays aboard ship to view a sunset or just let the wind set a course.
HISTORY OF SAG HARBOR, NORTH HAVEN AND NOYAC
The settlement of North Haven dates back to 1665, and was settled partly by men from Shelter Island and partly by men from Southampton. Encompassing most of the “great meadows,” Sagg Harbour-as it was originally called-could lay claim to an excellent deep-water harbor. While Southampton used Norht Sea Harbor and Easthampton used Northwest Harbor, the people of Sagaponack had no harbor of their own. Roads were cut throught the woods from Sagg to the great meadows and Sag Harbor started its spectacular climb to fame as a whaling port. The year was approximately 1707, but some of the older homes in Sag Harbor date prior to this.
By 1770 trade with the West Indies had been established, and Sag Harbor ships plied the oceans of the world. During the Revolutionary War, Sag Harbor was occupied by the British, and while no great military operation took place, there was much havoc and misery in the area. The people suffered greatly.
In 1777, British domination of the area was over and peace returned, after Lt. Col. Jonathan Return Meigs landed on present day Long Beach, and marched over to Sag Harbor and captured the British fort. In 1789, Sag Harbor was named the official port of entry for the State of New York, and within a few months Henry Packer Dering was named Collector of the Port, with his home at the Custom House.
During the War of 1812, a British fleet anchored in Gardiner’s Bay, their aim to invade Sag Harobr and capture arms and ammunition stored in the arsenal. When the attack was made however the British were completely routed by General Rose, who commanded the Sag Harbor garrison.
While the British never again invaded Sag Harbor, their naval fleet preyed on Sag Harbor shipping, finally leaving the area only after they had completely destroyed the Sag Harbor fleet. With the end of the whaling era came hard times. However, economic growth was provided by the Fahys Watch factory, and when the Long Island Railroad extended its service to Sag Harbor in 1870. Families moved to industrial Sag Harbor from western Long Island, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut with other business firms locating here as time when by. The “town with the million dollar harbor” was once more on its way.
The hamlet of Noyac nestles on the northeastern hills of Little Peconic Bay, and on the blue-green waters of Noyack Bay. Its boundaries are North Sea to the west, and north of Ligonee Brook in Sag Harbor. The name Noyack-meaning a point of land-is derived from an area of land granted to John Jessup in 1679, called Jessup’s Point or Jessup’s Neck.
The early residents of Noyack (mostly Indians, including a segment of the Shinnecock Indians called the Wickatuck) farmed and fished. Their main encampment was Trout Pond, formerly called the Mill Pond when a grist mill operated there. The early settlers were mostly of British decent who followed in the footsteps of the Indians, farming and fishing for a living, and selling their produce in nearby Sag Harbor. In the early 1920s one area, Pine Neck, developed very rapidly and is today the most densely populated place in Noyac. Nearby are excellent beaches, boat stations, shops and markets-cottages are always available for summer rental.
