With Love
From the SHM

Before the age of smartphones and social media, postcards were the original way to share our stories—each offering a unique glimpse into the past through striking images and brief, personal messages.

Join us every Thursday as we highlight different cards from the museum’s extensive permanent collection. From the iconic Shinnecock Lighthouse to the bustling streets of Main Street, these postcards capture the charm and spirit of Southampton over the years.

We invite you to be part of the fun and help bring Southampton’s history to life, one postcard at a time by sharing your own vintage Southampton postcards and recollections in the comments on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

Conscience Point

Did you know Southampton's first English settlers landed at Conscience Point 385 years ago?!

In June 1640, a small group of English colonists landed at a quiet shoreline, home to the Shinnecock people for thousands of years.

This place, known today as Conscience Point, was named—so the story goes—after the words of an English woman who exclaimed "For Conscience sake! Dry land!" upon reaching the shore.

To stand at Conscience Point is to look out over the same waters those first settlers crossed. From here, we also look back, contemplating the gravity of this event for those who landed, those who met them, and the unimaginable changes that followed.

Conscience Point reminds us that history lives beyond archives—in the landscape, in memory, and in our commitment to telling the fullest story we can.

Southampton's past is one of courage and conflict, of community and consequence, and of the many voices that shape our world.

The Fresh Air Home

Founded in 1901 by a small group of visionary women who believed in the restorative power of sun and ocean air, the Fresh Air Home welcomed just ten children with physical disabilities that first summer.

Over the decades, it has become a sanctuary of belonging, possibility, and joy for thousands of children and young adults.

This vintage postcard shows the original home in Shinnecock Hills, where barrier-free summers unfolded against the backdrop of Long Island’s natural beauty.

What began as a modest idea blossomed into a year-round organization fostering independence and mentorship where the heart of their mission remains beautifully unchanged: creating a world where every child can explore their full potential.

The Irving Hotel

Originally a modest boarding house operated by Smith Phillips in the 1880s, the building stood beside a dusty wagon road. It changed hands when North Fork native Henry Terry, yearning for a more sociable life in town, swapped properties with Phillips. Henry expanded the inn, yet it was his son Irving who transformed it.

Now known as The Irving Hotel after Washington Irving, Terry began adding wing after wing to the original structure upon his father’s death in 1910. A gregarious and generous host, Irving became a fixture of Southampton society, elevating the hotel to one of the liveliest social centers in the Hamptons.

Among the guests were some of the most powerful families of the 20th century. Teddy Roosevelt (post-presidency), the Vanderbilts, Wanamakers, DuPonts, Fords, Kennedys, and Bouviers are all said to have appeared on the register. Many stayed for a week while their grand summer homes were being opened.

Despite its elite clientele, the hotel was known not for opulence but for its effortless charm. Rooms were simply furnished with iron beds, white bureaus, a wicker chair, an old rug, and a shared bathroom at the end of the hall. Guests were meant to feel as though they were "roughing it," which was part of the draw. In fact, one couldn’t always get a room—or even a reservation for dinner.

What's remarkable is that the hotel's century-old guest telegrams in our archives read exactly like today's text messages—filled with the same abbreviated, witty shorthand that proves some things never change. The need to stay connected is timeless, and the shorthand language of these vintage communications feels surprisingly familiar to anyone who's ever sent a quick text about dinner plans or room confirmations.

Irving was known for his community service during both World War I and World War II, when he would raise money through Liberty and War Bond drives and help organize local food relief efforts, including a community canning kitchen. During the 1938 hurricane, many residents took refuge inside the hotel, and Irving marked the event every year afterward with a commemorative "hurricane dinner party."

During the 1920s–40s, the Irving served as a seasonal base for some of America's most prominent families. It was a place where power, privilege, and relaxed informality shared the same parlor.

Yet time took its toll. The Depression, two world wars, and a shifting social scene led to the hotel's decline. By the 1950s, it had become known as home to the "Rocking Chair Set." After Irving's wife Mary died in 1970, the property was sold, briefly reopened as a cocktail lounge and discotheque, and closed for good after the 1971 season. It was demolished in 1974.

What’s remarkable is that the hotel's century-old guest telegrams in our archives read very much like today's text messages—filled with the same abbreviated, witty shorthand that proves some things never change. The need to stay connected is timeless, and the shorthand language of these vintage communications feels surprisingly familiar - proving that history is always alive in the present.

Memorial Day

Some memorials are made of marble. Others are made of memory. In Southampton, they often exist in both.

As Memorial Day approaches, we turn to the memorials that quietly tell stories of service and sacrifice among those from our village.

At Agawam Park, the World War I Memorial stands for the 325 Southampton men and boys who served in the Great War. Designed by architect William Edgar Moran and dedicated on August 19, 1923, the Indiana limestone monument offers views of Lake Agawam through its open colonnade. Eagles and poppies mark the exterior panels, while gilded names line the interior walls. The memorial faces structural challenges today.

A restoration project is underway to return it to its original condition and ensure all who served are properly honored — including those whose service was not originally recognized.

The nearby Soldiers and Sailors Memorial honors those who served in the Civil War and earlier American wars.

Memorial Hall, Samuel Parrish's gift to the village, was built to honor local veterans. Once a place of reunion and civic gathering, its name itself serves as remembrance.

These places invite reflection — on war and more importantly on the lives lived around it.

In honor of Memorial Day and the service of Southampton's own, we invite you to "Homefront to Battlefront," a new pop-up WWII exhibition opening this Saturday, May 24, at Veterans Hall (25 Pond Lane). Curated by Timothy Van Wickler and Stephen Gould, the exhibition features photographs, letters, and personal histories that highlight the individual stories behind the larger history.

Opens Saturday, May 24 | 11 AM - 4 PM | And will continue to be open every Saturday through December.

Sailing Southampton:
From Local Waters to Open Sea

The world is watching Oliver Widger as he embarks on a captivating solo voyage from Oregon to Hawaii, having boldly left behind his corporate career and invested his life’s savings to heed the call of the open sea. His modern adventure reminds us of Southampton’s rich sailing heritage, embodying the same spirit that has defined our local nautical tradition since the late 19th century, when, as now, wind power and craftsmanship inspired sailors at every level

The Shinnecock Yacht Club (est. 1887) organized the first formal racing in Shinnecock Bay, popularizing the Shinnecock Sloop class vessels designed by Benjamin Hallock in 1908.

A half-century later, in 1937, the Southampton Yacht Club formed with 44 adult and 33 junior members who contributed $30 annually toward their vision of a permanent clubhouse.

These color postcards offer rare glimpses of mid-century wooden, and older boats, still popular with many collectors and avid sailors today. Despite advances in construction, the essence of harnessing the wind remains remarkably unchanged.

Herb McCarthy's at Bowden Square

For half a century, Herb McCarthy's at Bowden Square was the gathering spot for Southampton's exclusive summer crowd.

From Memorial Day 1936 to 1986, locals and summer visitors came together for "hot music, cold drinks, and tons of action," as Louise Grunwald remembers.

It was the unofficial club of the weekend crowd, with its clatter and clink remembered as "magic" by interior designer Judy Hadlock.

The scene sparkled with distinguished guests, including royals such as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, actors Ginger Rogers and Gary Cooper, and writer Irwin Shaw.

Inside, Florence Fabricant of The New York Times once noted that the well-done lamb with mint jelly "matched the blazers worn by the gents," and the Irish soda bread — though even longtime patrons admit, "It was never about the food."

At the center of it all stood Herb McCarthy, otherwise known as "the Man in the White Coat," presiding over Southampton's social scene.

By the mid-1980s, the glow had dimmed. The building changed hands and is now the Union Cafe.

Yet for many, the spirit of McCarthy's lives on in memories of the famous horseshoe bar packed three deep, when Southampton nights were marked by the distinctive glamour of a bygone era.

The Penny Candy Shop

For much of the mid-20th century, the little white building with the red door in Water Mill was known as the Penny Candy Shop — a treasured spot for children with pocket change and grown-ups who couldn’t resist a sweet treat.

It hardly needed its sign — everyone simply knew where it was.

Opened in September 1961 by June and Harvey Morris, the shop quickly became a beloved landmark. Inside, the counter was lined with licorice, jellybeans, candy buttons, Tootsie Rolls, Bazooka gum, Mary Janes, root beer barrels, licorice whips, and wax bottles from glass jars filled to the brim.

One didn’t just walk in and grab something — one took time, considered, and counted change before making a decision. And always, there was June: calm and kind, guiding choices with a soft voice and a bright smile. Parents and kids adored her.

At a time when Water Mill still moved at a slower pace, the Morrises’ little store was more than a place to buy candy; it became a community hub where neighbors and friends connected and shared information, found a babysitter, and bought tickets for the Southampton Hospital fundraiser.

The shop drew everyone in — from those who lived here year-round to summer visitors.

Occasionally there were celebrities — Howard Cosell, Gilda Radner, even First Lady Pat Nixon — yet it was the regulars she remembered. And they remembered her.

Though the shop closed in the 1990s, well before June’s passing in 2024, its spirit — and that of June and Harvey — lingers in the hearts of those who remember. Sticky fingers, paper bags, and the quiet joy of enjoying a small delight — memories that still bring delightful joy.

And in a lovely full circle, a postcard showing the once-red door and Santa in the window — sent years ago by June to Mary Cummings, the museum’s archivist and research manager — now lives in our permanent collection.

It’s a powerful reminder that the sweetest parts of history are often found in the smallest moments we share.

The Elms Trees of First Neck Lane

When settlers first arrived in Southampton in 1640, they encountered a landscape dramatically different from today's lush streetscapes. Historical records reveal that much of what would become the village center consisted of open plains, meadows, and sandy expanses—a treeless terrain shaped by coastal winds and native grasses. It's difficult to imagine now that Southampton once stood largely bare against the Atlantic sky.

The Dutch elm emerged as the quiet hero of Southampton's environmental transformation during the late 19th century. These magnificent trees became the cornerstone of a deliberate village-wide beautification effort that forever changed Southampton's character. Beginning in the 1880s, community leaders implemented a strategic tree-planting initiative throughout the village’s public spaces. The elm's appeal was multifaceted—its distinctive vase shape created natural archways over roadways, its rapid growth provided visible results within a generation, and its remarkable resilience to coastal conditions ensured long-term success.

First Neck Lane exemplifies this transformation. Once a simple sandy path, it evolved into a grand corridor framed by elms, earning its reputation as one of the most beautiful streets in Southampton.

But the beauty didn’t last unchallenged. The Dutch elms that redefined Southampton's landscape faced an existential threat in the 20th century. Dutch elm disease—a devastating fungal infection carried by bark beetles—arrived in North America in the 1930s as an accidental import. This microscopic invader attacked the trees’ vascular systems, cutting off their water supply and causing rapid decline.

By the 1960s, a particularly virulent strain had emerged, decimating elm populations throughout the Northeast. The very features that had made the elm such an elegant choice—long, continuous rows forming shaded canopies—now allowed the disease to spread with devastating efficiency. Streets that had once bloomed into leafy cathedrals were left bare and skeletal.

Southampton, like many communities, saw the gradual loss of many of its oldest and grandest specimens. Yet through vigilant monitoring, prompt removal of infected trees, and treatment of healthy ones, the village preserved more of its elm heritage than most. The surviving trees along our historic lanes are living testaments to natural resilience and human care.

As Southampton prepares for its Annual Arbor Day Gathering on April 25th, this vintage postcard captures a moment when First Neck Lane stood beneath a full canopy of Dutch elms—offering shade, symmetry, and quiet elegance. Though this great arching corridor has thinned over time, many of the original plantings remain.

Trees in Southampton

Easter Week

Did you know that Southampton is home to more than 11 churches, a Chabad, an Islamic Center, and a Unitarian Universalist Congregation?

We only have a handful of postcards highlighting a few of Southampton's beautiful churches and religious centers.

Among these architectural treasures that have served as spiritual homes, and community gathering spaces for generations, is a chapel adorned with Tiffany windows, as well as one of the oldest congregations in the country, dating back to the 1600s.

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The First Presbyterian Church, organized in 1640, is recognized as the oldest Presbyterian congregation in the country.   

The Basilica of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, with its white marble façade and twin spires, was completed in 1908 and elevated to basilica status by Pope Benedict XVI in 2011.

St. John’s Episcopal Church, founded in the 1700s, anchors the north end of South Main Street with its quiet beauty and colonial roots. And nestled among the dunes, the picturesque

The Southampton Methodist Episcopal Church, established in the late 18th century, was among the earliest houses of worship founded after the colonial era. Serving farmers, tradesmen, and whalers, it quickly became a hub for spiritual and civic life. The congregation eventually moved into its current location on Main Street, where it continues today as the Southampton United Methodist Church, honoring centuries of community and continuity.

Nestled among the dunes, the picturesque St. Andrew’s Dune Church—founded in 1879—features breathtaking stained-glass windows by Louis Comfort Tiffany, blending artistry and worship in one unforgettable setting.

The First Baptist Church of Southampton, Unity Baptist Church, and Southampton African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Zion Church have provided spiritual guidance, mutual aid, and civic leadership for over a century. These institutions remain vital pillars of cultural continuity and social justice in the village.

The Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons, officially known as the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, was established to serve the area’s growing Greek community and today welcomes parishioners with its iconic dome and deeply rooted traditions—offering Greek language, dance, and faith education alongside its liturgical life.

Also part of Southampton’s spiritual fabric is Our Lady of Poland Catholic Church, which has long served as a cultural and faith center for the area’s Polish-American population. With its origins in the early 20th century, this church reflects the waves of immigrant labor and community-building that shaped Southampton’s development through the decades.

Southampton is also home to Chabad of Southampton Jewish Center, which offers year-round services and Jewish educational programming. Located near the village center, it brings a vibrant dimension to Southampton’s multifaith landscape, particularly during holidays and summer months.

The Islamic Center of the Hamptons, located in Water Mill, serves a diverse and growing Muslim community across the East End. While relatively new compared to some of the town’s older institutions, the Center's presence adds an important contemporary layer to Southampton’s evolving spiritual landscape, underscoring the town’s cultural richness and inclusion.

From modest chapels to Gothic Revival marvels, these institutions reflect the layers of spiritual, architectural, and cultural history that have shaped this town.

And while Easter Sunday brings many congregants together this week, all of these sites have long stood as quiet witnesses to the everyday lives and extraordinary legacies of those who’ve called Southampton home.

The Scotch Mist Inn

This week's historic postcard highlights the once-glamorous Scotch Mist Inn that graced Shinnecock Hills with its distinctive thatched-style roof and commanding views of both bay and ocean.

On April 8, 1968—57 years ago this week—a spectacular blaze reduced this legendary landmark to rubble, bringing a fiery end to what had been the Hamptons' premier destination for high society throughout the 1950s and '60s.

This landmark stood on the ancestral lands of the Shinnecock Nation, which stewarded this territory for thousands of years before European settlement.   

Built in 1918 by Dr. Albert H. Ely, one of President Harding's physicians, this architectural marvel required European carpenters specifically imported to create its simulated thatch roof.  

From 1954 into the '60s, the Inn reigned as the Hamptons' premier destination for high society before meeting a catastrophic end.

Exactly 57 years ago this week—on April 8, 1968—a spectacular blaze reduced the landmark to rubble

This devastating fire illuminates Southampton's rich emergency services history.
The Southampton Fire Department began in 1881 when volunteers responded to church bells using hand-drawn equipment. This was later complemented by the Southampton Village Fire Department with its three strategically located firehouses, and the North Sea Fire Department founded in 1934.

Emergency medical response developed separately, starting as a 1950s Veterans of Foreign Wars ambulance club before evolving into the Southampton Village Volunteer Ambulance and Southampton Volunteer Ambulance services, both providing advanced life support today.   

Together, these dedicated volunteer organizations form a comprehensive emergency response network, equipped with modern technology and specialized training that continue to protect our community just as their predecessors did when flames engulfed the historic Scotch Mist Inn over five decades ago.

Cedar Island Lighthouse

This week marks 186 years since the historic Cedar Island Lighthouse began guiding mariners safely into Sag Harbor in 1839.

Our museum collection features this rare night-time postcard showing the lighthouse beam cutting through darkness—once essential navigation for dozens of whaling ships and fishing vessels in Sag Harbor's bustling port.

Though built on Cedar Island, the lighthouse became mainland-connected after the devastating Hurricane of 1938 created a natural sandbar linking it to East Hampton.

The lighthouse served until 1934 before becoming part of Suffolk County's Cedar Point Park in 1967. Despite weathering vandalism and a significant 1974 fire, the original New England granite lighthouse structure still stands as one of Long Island's most significant maritime landmarks.

Preservation continues through the Long Island Chapter of the United States Lighthouse Society's "Relight the Lighthouse" campaign. Recent restoration milestones include rehabilitating the historic oil house and careful removal of the lantern room for specialized conservation—critical steps in preserving this irreplaceable piece of our local maritime heritage.

The Breakers

For centuries, the Atlantic Ocean has drawn people to the shores of Southampton with its immense power and beauty. This week's edition of With Love From the SHM celebrates the enduring relationship between our community and the sea.

These hand-colored postcards from 1906, 1907, and 1925 capture Southampton's coastline in all its wild beauty. The waves, frozen in time yet eternally in motion, reflect our ongoing captivation with the allure of the sea. These postcards not only documented Southampton's natural coastal beauty but also helped promote its newfound status as a seaside retreat for visitors from near and far.

The ocean, which has been stewarded by the people of the Shinnecock Nation for thousands of years before the arrival of settlers, has shaped Southampton's identity and economy from 19th-century whaling and coastal shipping to 20th-century fishing, surfing, and vacation culture. While our relationship with the sea continues to evolve, these waves have remained constant and unpredictable.

Today, the Surfrider Foundation's Eastern Long Island Chapter continues our community's commitment as stewards of the Atlantic. Their mission is "dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world's ocean, waves, and beaches, for all people, through a powerful activist network." For over 15 years, they have been advocates for public access and environmental preservation along our shoreline.

While our vintage postcards capture the timeless beauty of Southampton's waves, Surfrider, organizations like it, and the Shinnecock people remind us that our relationship with the sea requires not just appreciation, but continued mindful awareness as well.

The Port of Sag Harbor

March 26, 2025, marks the 179th anniversary of the Port of Sag Harbor's incorporation—a formal recognition of what was already a vital American maritime center.

Before Europeans arrived the Montaukett and Shinnecock stewarded these lands. They called this place Weg-wag-onuch, which was derived from the Algonquin phrase Weg-quae-and-auke, meaning "the land or place at the end of the hill." Their protection and preservation of this harbor and the surrounding areas spans thousands of years.

First mentioned in town records in 1709, the area was settled by English colonists between 1707 and 1730, many arriving by water from New England. The first land subdivisions in 1738 and 1745 accelerated the village's growth.

Sag Harbor's maritime importance was recognized in 1742 when Southampton appointed a committee to establish a wharf. The port's significance grew dramatically by the time President Washington approved its designation as a Port of Entry in 1789.

During the Revolutionary War, the harbor's strategic value made it a target for British occupation. In 1776, its wharf became crowded with residents seeking passage to Connecticut to escape British forces.

In May of 1777, Connecticut-based Colonel Return Jonathan Meigs led a successful surprise attack against the British garrison. Known as the Meigs Raid or The Battle for Sag Harbor, this offensive resulted in the death of six Loyalists and the capture of 90 others, with no American casualties.

From 1760 to 1850, Sag Harbor thrived as one of the premier whaling ports in America.
This maritime legacy continued even as whaling declined, with developments like the New York and Montauk Steamboat Company in 1875.

Today, the harbor continues its maritime tradition as the Sag Harbor Village Marina, serving as a bustling destination for recreational boating and local tourism, while preserving its historical significance in the region.

The port's official incorporation in 1846 simply formalized what history had already demonstrated—Sag Harbor's enduring significance to American maritime heritage.

The Shinnecock Windmill

These historic postcards from our permanent collection reveal the many lives of the Shinnecock Windmill—a structure that has graced our landscape since the 18th century and has become one of Southampton's most beloved landmarks.

The windmill's journey began humbly in 1714 as a Dutch-style mill on Mill Hill at the intersection of Windmill Lane and Hill Street. Built for practical purposes, it ground grain for the growing community.

Finding the windmill neglected, Mrs. Janet Hoyt, patron of the Shinnecock Hills Summer School of Art, purchased and relocated it to a Shinnecock hills in 1890, where she meticulously restored it.

Six years later, New York textile merchant A.B. Claflin acquired the property and transformed the surrounding land into "Heathermere," a gilded-age summer retreat.

Mr. Claflin reimagined the windmill as a playhouse for his daughter Beatrice, which included new windows offering panoramic views of Shinnecock Bay.

By 1946, the property evolved into the Tucker Mill Inn Resort. The windmill itself became a unique guest apartment. In the summer of 1957, playwright Tennessee Williams rented the three-story mill where he wrote, "The Day on Which a Man Dies," a one-act play inspired by his friend Jackson Pollock. This creative connection led to the windmill’s designation as a National Literary Landmark in 2013.

March holds special significance in the Shinnecock Windmill's story as this month marks both the 1963 acquisition by Long Island University to create Southampton College and, by remarkable coincidence, Stony Brook University's integration of the campus into its educational system in March 2006. As March is also Women's History Month, we honor Mrs. Janet Hoyt, whose foresight in championing and preserving this structure has allowed it to endure through generations.

The Rogers Memorial Library:

Harriet Rogers' Enduring Legacy -

Women's History Month Spotlight

With Love From the SHM: Rogers Memorial LibraryThese handcolored and photo-postcards of the Rogers Memorial Library showcase Victorian Gothic splendor in its first home at the corner of Job's Lane and Main Street, where it stood as our village's dedicated center for books and learning—a lasting reminder of one woman's enduring gift to Southampton.

As we celebrate Women's History Month and the library's 133rd anniversary, we honor Harriet Jones Rogers, whose generous vision brought this landmark to life when she bequeathed $10,000 and a plot of land in 1892 to create Southampton's first dedicated library. When it opened in March 1896, the R.H. Robertson-designed building served both as a community resource and as a loving memorial to Harriet's mother, Clarissa.

The original library housed 20,000 volumes initially, including special collections like the 400 books donated by William Pelletreau. As readership flourished—reaching a hundred books borrowed daily by 1916—the library expanded with Grosvenor Atterbury's thoughtful addition in 1915.

After serving the community for over a century the library relocated to its current Coopers Farm Road location in 2000. Its purpose remains unchanged: to connect people with knowledge and with each other. What began as one woman's vision has evolved from a Victorian reading room to a modern community hub, with its commitment to fostering learning and gathering remaining steadfast through 133 years of Southampton's evolution.

Today, the original Victorian Gothic building that once housed the library has found new life as the home of the Peter Marino Art Foundation, continuing its role as a cultural landmark in Southampton.

Tracks Through Time:
154 Years of Southampton Railroad Station

These rare postcards of the Southampton Train Station capture its evolution through the decades - from the horse-drawn carriages of its earliest days through the dawn of the automobile era.

As we celebrate the station's 154th anniversary, we're reminded how this vital mode of transportation has connected our village to the wider world since its grand opening in February 1871. Though the original structure was rebuilt in 1902, its purpose remains unchanged: to connect people and their stories across time.

This station, which once saw soldiers departing for war, foreigners arriving with hope, and summer visitors seeking rest and relaxation, still serves as a magnet for travelers today.

And while the whistle of the approaching train—a sound that once marked time and embodied the rhythm of community life—no longer holds the same significance, the Southampton station has remained unchanged.

Stony Brook Southampton Hospital:
Celebrating 112 Years

These hand-painted postcards from the 1930s capture Southampton Hospital just after the completion of its east and west wings.

Though the building has transformed over the decades, the spirit of compassionate care and dedication to our community's health remains unchanged. What started in 1909 has grown into the vital healthcare center we know today.

As we celebrate the Hospital's 112th anniversary this February 22nd, we are reminded that Southampton's greatest strength has always been its community. From the local physicians who dreamed of better healthcare, to the neighbors who donated their time and resources to build our first hospital - community support has been at its foundation for over a century.

Want to learn more about this remarkable journey? Pick up One Hundred Years of Healing: Southampton Hospital 1909-2009, by our own Mary Cummings, the Museum's archivist and research center manager

Greetings From
Southampton, Long Island, N.Y.

We are beginning 'With Love From the SHM' just in time for Valentine’s Day where Southampton's heart beats strongest – at the ocean's edge. These cards, like all the artifacts in the museum’s collection capture moments in time celebrating the rich, diverse character of our local history and community.

On the back, two names tell part of the story:
Arthur W. Tunnell of Southampton – who donated this card to the museum, where it now resides as part of our permanent collection, and Pub. By A. Biren, 1252 Decatur Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. – likely the creator or distributor of the card.

The image appears to have been painted, possibly by an artist, before being reproduced on this card. We don't know the exact date it was created as there isn't a message or postmark.

Postcards surged in popularity after the Private Mailing Card Act of 1898, which allowed private publishers to produce and send these cards at the same postal rate as government-issued postcards opening the door to what became known as the "Golden Age" for this type of communication. We can't wait to show you more from the museum's archive.

What do you think? We'd love to hear from you! Be part of the fun and share your own postcards and favorite Southampton images with us using the hashtags #WithLoveFromtheSHM and #WLSHM.