Sag Harbor - Representatives from the Southampton Town Council, Sag Harbor Historical Society, and Foster family reunited Saturday morning to rededicate a South Fork favorite.

Known affectionately as "Long Beach," the sandy crescent along Noyac Bay has for 60 years been a staple of summertime fun. Even before being donated by the Foster Family in the winter of 1949-1950, it has been a local mecca for swimming, sailing, and surfcasting. It is also the site of frequent youth-oriented gatherings, and is part of Pierson High School's annual homecoming festivities.

"Everyone comes to Long Beach," began Councilwoman Nancy Graboski, kicking off the 10 a.m. festivities at the Rock. "It's been a very special place for me and my family. My kids took swimming lessons here, and I used to run the length of the beach - Now I walk it," she joked.

Clifford Foster, a Sagaponack farmer, acquired the approximately 13 acre Long Beach property in January 1925.

Clifford J. Foster, a Sagaponack farmer who was later President of Sag Harbor Savings Bank, acquired the approximately 13 acre Long Beach property on January 27, 1925. He paid just $16.24 to Suffolk County to settle the unpaid taxes of the Charles Lamont Estate. A year later, on April 5, 1926, Foster purchased the triangular parcel that borders Payne's Creek and Noyac Road from Lamont's son Gerald for $100.

Upon Foster's death in 1943, he bequeathed the land to sons Charles and Everett, who on January 19, 1950 deeded it to Southampton Town in accordance with their father's wishes. It was then officially named Clifford J. Foster Memorial Park "for use of the people of the Town of Southampton and Village of Sag Harbor." A boulder was placed at the site commemorating the occasion, listing the Fosters and the Town's elected officials from 1949 and 1950. However, according to Graboski, because of the cold weather, a formal dedication ceremony was not held at the time.

In 1950 the land was deeded to Southampton Town and officially named Clifford J. Foster Memorial Park.

Even as a series of bridges were erected starting in 1799, the beach remained the surest route to North Haven and Noyac, allowing Sag Harborites to bypass the often unsound structures and the cost of the toll. Even after the current bridge was opened on December 26, 1936, motorists continued to travel directly along the waterfront (the former County Road 38A), where the current parking lot is located. In 1950, the Town widened it from 22 feet to 67 feet, but when that was deemed inadequate, the Town paid $24,800 for additional property. Filling in the adjacent marsh with dredge spoils, the ground was solidified and widened to make room for a new thoroughfare, the current Long Beach Road (CR 60). Still called "the new road" by many over a certain age, it was opened on December 17, 1965 and is the maiden voyage of both newly licensed drivers and new car buyers alike.

Reading from the Town's official proclamation, Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst recounted the area's broader history beyond the beach itself. Early among the hallmarks were the events of May 23 and May 24, 1777, when Lieutenant Colonel Return Jonathan Meigs landed in the vicinity with 234 men in 13 whaleboats. During the next several hours, they attacked British forces in Sag Harbor, killing six, capturing 143, burning 12 brigs and sloops, and making off with an abundance of goods - without losing a single life.

Filling in the adjacent marsh with dredge spoils the ground was solidified and widened to make room for the current Long Beach Road.

At the beach's opposite end, near North Haven, another contribution was made to military efforts before and after World War I. Beginning in 1891, the E.W. Bliss Company ran torpedo tests near Short Beach, where the water's depth, minimal tidal currents, and isolation proved an ideal setting for more than 30 years. Manufactured in Brooklyn, assembled in Sag Harbor, and tested in Noyac, Bliss torpedoes such as the Whitehead-Schwartkopf model employed up to 125 Sag Harbor men a year and over 15 boats, barges, and launches.

To celebrate the anniversary of the Foster Family's donation, the Sag Harbor Historical Society has unveiled an exhibit detailing the history of the Long Beach property since 1774. Arranged at the Annie Cooper Boyd house on Main Street, the two front rooms of the Society's headquarters feature numbered displays of the beach's history.

To celebrate the anniversary of the Foster Family's donation, the Sag Harbor Historical Society has unveiled an exhibit detailing the history of the Long Beach property since 1774.

"As a Noyac resident, I have the privilege and pleasure of seeing Long Beach everyday, but I was unaware of its rich history," said Throne-Holst. "I cannot think of a greater gift a family could give to its community, and I thank the Historical Society for creating a wonderful exhibit so that we can all share in the history of this beloved place."

Replete with photos collected from Sag Harbor natives, as well as from the group's archives, the exhibit begins with the Indian dwellings at Wickatuck, the approval of a passing "highway" across the beach, and the colonial tradition of gathering seaweed, which settlers used for insulation and stuffing. Accounts of Meig's expedition and the days of Bliss are also touched upon, along with the development of Bay Point and the social activities that centered around the Noyac "casino."

Started as McNally's, the establishment was also called Orlando's (named for the family that owned it) and then Lenny's, where patrons could find food, friends, and fun. In 1973 it was sold to Sag Harbor attorney and current Town Justice Edward Burke, Sr. who re-named it the Salty Dog and later the Waterside. It remained a Hamptons haunt and hotspot until 2004, when condominiums were built on the site.

Historical Society President Nancy (French) Achenbach advised the exhibit will remain open for viewing through the month of September.

"There are a lot of memories in these rooms," remarked State Assemblyman Fred Thiele, referring to the "then and now" contrasts of the exhibit. Emblematic of the changes at Long Beach were the photographs, signs, and menus from businesses like the Shack, which was opened by then Ideal stationary store owner William Birs, Sr. Birs ran it for a decade until 1959 when Herman Boettels took it over and renamed it the Oasis. Subsequent owners came on in 1965 and kept it open until the 1980s.

"Southampton has an immense history to be preserved and retold for future generations," said Councilman Chris Nuzzi, who also presented the proclamation to the Fosters. "The generosity of the Foster Family and this rededication have allowed us to do both."

According to Historical Society President Nancy (French) Achenbach, the exhibit will remain open for viewing through the month of September from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and by appointment.

For further information or to arrange a visit, call 631-725-5092.