We know a great deal about the history of Sag Harbor from reading the words that people left behind-letters, diaries, archived newspaper articles. The Sag Harbor Historical Society’s headquarters is located in the home of Annie Cooper Boyd. Born in 1864, the 11th child and youngest daughter of ship builder William Cooper, Annie left behind not only her paintings but also a diary filled with her experiences growing up in a very young Sag Harbor. Her house is filled with her original watercolors-she even painted on walls and doors in the house. Her memories of growing up in this once quiet village, live on in her artwork and her diaries. Words are important!

“I have spent my summer mostly in rowing, bathing, sailing, crabbing, fishing, ‘minoing’, riding horseback, sewing buttons on shoes, mending stockings, gloves and trimming boating hats, tanning my arms and wrists as brown as a pancake, helping Mama in a few places, when I could, and not helping her in a thousand different ways when I could, and so forth.” Diary-August, 1880 Sag Harbor

"... One day I was riding on horseback, through West Water Street in back of my dear old 'Home Sweet Home'. At High tide the water was so high that the horse (whose name is Jenny, how I love that horse) could scarcely keep from swimming. I just put my feet up over the animal. Almost in my lap, and sat there just as if I was in a rocking chair at home. ... Many and many a times I have rode in the 'Bay'.. I am nearly the only girl here that rides all year around. "Diary - August 30, 1880 Sag Harbor

“ I have nearly every thing that could make me happy, viz the best of Fathers and Mothers, and Sister and four kind brothers, a beautiful home, surround by Nature in all her glory, pets viz, hens, chickens, cat and a horse that we all almost love to pieces, and which we, I especially ride, in the beautiful woods which surround Sag Harbor, to the vast ocean only 6 miles from here. (Oh! How delightful!) large nice grounds, trees, fruit by the- (all we can eat). Then we have boats, four in number. One is my boat with my name on it. Then Papa reads to us in the evening or I play chess with him and practice on the piano and get my lessons, read the papers, of which we have plenty.” Diary-April 8th, 1883 Sag Harbor

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A letter penned by a young cabinet maker to his mother, told her of his work helping to build The Old Whalers Church in 1843. This letter named Minard Lafever as the architect. This unintentional confirmation helped in the acquisition of financial support for the church's restoration, based on its architectural significance. Prior to finding that letter, the First Presbyterian Church was attributed to Lafever stylistically and through oral tradition, but after the letter was found it was verified that the church's design was indeed Lafever’s. Writing to his mother, Edward R. Merrall, stated:

“The church we are building will be a much more handsome edifice and considerably larger (than the Methodist). The steeple is to be 165 feet high. The original contract to build was $10,000. Since then they have added work to the amount of over $2000 more. Instead of my finding it enclosed as Mr. Lafever had told me, some of the window frames were not in when I arrived. The steeple was not boarded up over fifty feet high and there is sixty-five feet more of the form to go up yet. I do not expect the outside work will be done in much less than two months.”

There were seventeen men at work on it when I came, three have left, not much liking the job. The boss gives the old hands the preference for the inside work, all but two being from New York.” -Edward Merrall 1843

The words found in that letter helped the church to gain registry as a National Historic site. Words are important!

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My maternal grandfather, Raymond Lingwood (1883-1969), left behind a draft of a book he had written about his life, which he titled, “Five to Fifty-Five”. Though never having attempted to publish, this book lives on as an amazing part of our family history. A life of remarkable adventure in the midst of the development of the world as we know it-he helped to build the Trans-Canadian Railroad, went on expeditions down the Nile River, sailed several times to Australia and visited many ports around the globe. I would never know this unless he left his words behind.

“I still felt that I was not doing justice for what my heart longed for, and that was excitement, so I decided to leave this job, the South African War was on and this was one of the best chances I possibly could have so I decided to enlist in the Royal Marines, my father getting wind of where I was, ended that career for me, much to my disgust. Well, I was not to be out done. I had made up my mind long before not to be licked at anything, and the first opportunity, which was in a few short days, found me enlisted in the Scots Guards at Chelsea Barracks….in her Majesty’s Service. The day I was sixteen found me in Cape Town South Africa with the British Troops, and before my parents found out where I was, but it was too late…….After several months of service I got down with Typhoid and Enteric fever at the same time, with the result that I lost forty pounds.” Raymond Lingwood 1899

His writing paints a picture of a most brave and adventurous person. I may not have known any of this if he had not left these words behind. Words are important!

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While I was in college, my mother would send me letters-of course phone calls were very sporadic and far too expensive. I have many of these letters saved in a box and it reminds me of the thoughts and the life of my very kind and loving mother. Busy she was, raising six kids and nearly single-handedly operating the Whalers Motel. And yet she found the time to sit down and write to each of us.

“It’s after 11 PM and I am pretty tired (as usual) so I’m liable to make a lot of mistakes, I just put on my glasses and things are starting to look better. Chris and Dad are in bed and I have the dishwasher going to keep me company. Things are real quiet around here without you Nan and I really miss your singing. We had the gang over for scallops last night and a repeat with pork roast tonight. So I’ve been pretty busy…….. Well, I better close and get to bed. Take care and please be careful who you ride in cars with. See you soon. Love, Ma -September 26, 1976 Nesta Lingwood Remkus -

Words are important. Today we compose emails and texts and catch up hastily on our cell-phones. Our words are drifting off into the cosmos. Is it no longer important to leave some part of us behind?

We have just lived through a very challenging time-a pandemic that has shaken every corner of our planet. Will you remember what it was like to walk into the supermarket for the first time and see empty aisles, to stroll down Main Street donning a mask, to spend holidays alone. This is an opportune time to write about your experiences and preserve those words in a place that can be found for generations to come. How will your grandchildren and great grandchildren and future generations know you if you don’t leave some of your words behind-here and there. And within those words there you are-your thoughts and feelings-the things you saw, and what you believed. Words are important! Let’s write it down, before we forget.

Before We Forget