Our Hamptons

Esperanza and Irwin return to 1950's Sag Harbor, and continue the incredible story of the sisters Maude Terry and Amaza Lee Meredith that led to the Azurest subdivision.   We try to take you back through the words and tales of past and present residents including the late William Pickens, a patriarch and pillar of the community.  We bring it into the present day, the efforts to try and gain historic recognition from Sag Harbor Village.  And of course,  the familiar story line of how excessive development pressure threatens the fabric of this special community.  

Esperanza and Irwin touch on Sag Harbor's rich history as a whaling port, and the diverse workforce employed in that industry, and at the Joseph Fahys Watchcase Factory in the 19th century.  It all leads into Eastville, a community ahead of its time as Native Americans, African Americans, Europeans lived together in apparent harmony.  We close in 1940's/50's Sag Harbor, and the extraordinary story of the sisters Maude Terry and Amaza Lee Meredith.  The vision, the foresight, the courage to pursue a dream led to the founding of Azurest, the first of the three communities along with Sag Harbor Hills and Ninevah, that make up S.A.N.S

Esperanza and Irwin discuss the Shinnecock Monuments in both real and metaphorical terms.  The monuments were installed in 2019 and 2021 to bring a much needed source of revenue to the Shinnecock Nation; 60% of the Reservation lives below the poverty line.  Yet despite being a sovereign nation, the Shinnecock's and their monuments drew the wrath of local and state governments, not to mention much of the east end community.   After this episode was recorded, we discovered the Parrish Museum was opening an exhibition on July 23, Another Justice: US is Them.  The museum activated the Monuments with digital billboards by indigenous artists, including Jeremy Dennis of the Shinnecock Nation.

Esperanza and Irwin continue to delve deeper into Wainscott.  The Wainscott Chapel, overlooking Wainscott Pond, and the Osborne homestead.  The Wainscott Sewing Society, and their good deeds for the community.  The Walker family, Wainscott's first African American family, the Conklin House, and of course, the iconic Georgica Association, one of the most unique enclaves on the east end, or anywhere for that matter.

Esperanza explains why she is "all in" as a Wainscott resident, and why she feels it's so important to raise her children there.  She then joins Irwin on a virtual walking tour of the hamlet.  Stops include the former Wainscott Post Office on Main Street, the general store on Hollow Road, and farms, vistas and viewsheds that have stood the test of time.

 Esperanza and Irwin look back on the abstract expressionist movement that thrived in Springs in the 1940's and 50's, and James Brooks and Charlotte Park's place within it.  The abundance of art spaces with public access in Springs, including Pollock Krasner House, Duck Creek and the Lieber Collection.  A virtual exploration of the 11 acre property replete with hiking trails, and the efforts to preserve and restore the Brooks Park home and studios, and reimagine it into an Art and Nature Center for all.

Esperanza and Irwin discuss The Fulling Mill Farm, a dairy farm in full operation as late as 1959 in East Hampton's Georgica, now an underutilized nature preserve.  A few short blocks away is The Apaquogue, an early 19th century boarding house with an extraordinary history and uncertain future.  The lack of proper lodging in East Hampton in the early 20th century led to village residents renting and leaving their homes for summer "camps" on the shores of Three Mile Harbor.  Finally a brief intro to all things Bonac!

Esperanza and Irwin discuss development pressures in Amagansett's Poseyville.  The conversation was inspired by architectural critic, writer and east end resident Paul Goldberger's recent letter to the East Hampton Star.  The letter then led to a look back at Goldberger's iconic 1983 NY Times article, The Strangling of a Resort.

The introductory trailer for OUR HAMPTONS.   Neither Hamptons tabloid podcast, nor Hamptons news in review podcast,  OUR HAMPTONS is dedicated to eastern Long Island history and folklore, an embrace of preservation, and an absolute celebration of our rich sense of place.   Longtime East Hampton residents Esperanza Leon and Irwin Levy engage in conversations you'll want to eavesdrop on.