THE FOUNDERS' MEMORIAL

Celebration of the Two Hundred and Seventy-fifth Anniversary of the Founding of the Town of Southampton, N. Y.

Edward P. White, Marshal

In this two hundred and seventy-fifth year of the settlement of our historic town the question of a permanent memorial to those early colonists became paramount. Just what form this memorial should assume was a subject for much discussion on the part of the committee which had in charge the anniversary celebration. While several plans were in high favor, the committee were unanimous in feeling that such a memorial should lend its expression in some project of educational value rather than in a monument of granite or bronze.  

The Colonial Society had upon two occasions — in 1900 and again in 19 10 — held a Loan Exhibition, when a rare and beautiful collection of articles representing the earlier life of the village were placed upon exhibition in The Memorial Hall of the library. These exhibitions were enthusiastically patronized and proved our locality rich in treasures of the past. The society has for long looked forward to making permanent an exhibit of this kind —  something which historical societies everywhere are doing,  and often with a background of incident far less picturesque  than that which Southampton possesses.   In the light of a permanent memorial to the memory of those early heroes, it was felt that no monument more fitting could be established than to provide a place where the long cherished plan of the society could be realized.   Mr. L. Emory Terry and Mr. Samuel L. Parrish, both members of the Colonial Committee as well as trustees of the library, were instrumental in devising a plan which has met with enthusiastic approval and support. Since the building of the beautiful auditorium in connection with the High school the Memorial Hall of the library had fallen into disuse. Those associated in the work of the library had long felt the need of added reading and stackroom facilities. It was proposed to place in Memorial Hall a ten-foot ceiling, giving ample space below for a much needed children's reading room, and abundant height above  for a hall well suited to the needs of the Colonial Society.  

Plans for these were drawn by Mr. Grosvenor D. Atterbury of New York, the approach to the Memorial Room to be made by a Colonial staircase with an entrance to the west opening out upon the beautiful gardens of the Parrish Art Museum. So enthusiastically indeed has the plan been received that the $8,000 needed has been readily forthcoming. The village appropriated  $500 a year for five years. Friends who so generously subscribed to the expenses of the celebration fund, raised through the kind offices of Mr. J. W. Fletcher Howell,  subscribed at that time also to the memorial. Too much cannot be said in appreciation of the efforts of Mr. Samuel L. Parrish, interested always in all that makes for the uplift and advancement of Southampton. Mr. Parrish not only subscribed most generously himself, but has been instrumental in promoting an interest in the generous gifts  which has made possible this twin memorial — the children's  room, spacious and cozy, and the beautiful Colonial room.  Here youth and age have clasped hands in a memorial most fitting to the memory of those early heroes,  a memorial indeed which shall pass on to the future the  story of the past in no uncertain way — a past of which  we are all justly proud and which otherwise would be lost  in oblivion.   

--Lizbeth Halsey White |  June 12, 1915