Growing up, my mom’s younger brother, my darling and daring Uncle Robert, would visit us in his hometown of Sag Harbor with his wife and young daughter every summer. He was living in San Francisco at the time, and before settling and starting a family, had traveled all over. He was the first one that I remember telling me just how special the beaches of the Hamptons are.
California, Hawaii, Portugal, Bali, Mexico — all these beaches he had visited located in these (what I considered) exotic places didn’t hold a candle to the sandy-topped South Shore spots of his childhood. Funny enough, he was having this full-on conversation with me while we were both swimming in the ocean at Peter’s Pond, or “Left Left Sagg” as he called it, diving under crashing waves and picking up right where he left off as soon as we both came back up to the surface.
Photography by Doug Young
So, for our August issue, it seemed very fitting to highlight the history of local beaches of the South Fork, specifically the origins of their names. Some beach names have roots dating back from nearly 400 years ago, named for English settlers during pre-colonial times while some beaches bear the names of Native American people and practices indigenous to the area. Some are named for prominent local East Enders from the last century or so, like Sagaponack resident and farmer Clifford J. Foster (Foster Memorial Beach in Noyac) and former Southampton town supervisor Stephen Meschutt (Meschutt Beach in Hampton Bays).
Either way, for centuries now, one of the biggest draws for people to continually come to the East End, without a doubt, is its proximity to some of the most beautiful, pristine beaches found around the world. There’s something magical that happens when you live near the water. It’s a simple, calming force, one that can provide you with a great sense of clarity, assurance and peace. Living here on the East End is so incredibly special and being near the water is almost spiritual. It’s has been a contributing factor in shaping the person that I am today. My uncle was right. There’s no place like it in the world.
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