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Wednesday, March 20, 2013

A Village Time Forgot, AND Pink Is Not My (Eye) Color


I think I mentioned a couple of days ago that my husband Howard has been 
dealing with a both-eyes case of viral conjunctivitis, or Pink Eye.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ckpsEEaE7z321oFo-R_FqVPbgJdHZYUQtf0__0tXbRnSOplQdP1L9NV9zHO9FSsQas26_cHUWs6ElRxG9RQcnBll756SD0ean_AF4m6CEHaDLetymuWIcdbuvENSsE5qx3_h3U0iy1bf/s1600/VintageEyeGraphicsFairy2.jpg
Howard always shares so generously with me.
That's all I'm saying, except that Pink, in this case, is definitely not my color.

And now, today's post.  Don't worry - no pictures of me!  Or either of my eyes.

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There are places you visit that call you back.
Again, and again.

One of those places, for me, is the hamlet of Oysterponds
in Orient, near the very end of Long Island's North Fork.



Things change slowly, if at all, in Oysterponds.

The original 5 families who received their land grants from the
English King in the 1600s and settled the area still live there.

Well, their descendants live there . . . .

Salt air can do a lot to keep you healthy, but it has its limits.


Oysterponds is about a 20-minutes' drive east.
along a beautiful road, from our family beach house.

A tiny village with narrow roads, nearly every house is old.
17th, 18th, 19th century old.


The older houses are small and hug the earth; most are
Cape Cod style.  Like the houses built by the Pilgrims,
these houses were built to withstand the bufferings of ocean winds.


Turncoat Benedict Arnold staged raids
on Patriot controlled Connecticut from Oysterponds.



Peconic Bay nearly surrounds the hamlet.



In the far distance, Long Island's South Fork, home to the famous Hamptons.



One of the original families, the Tuthills, had a number of "little people" born in the 19th century.
 They were not hidden away, and they did not become sideshow or circus performers,
which was the fate of most Little People of their time.
Instead, they were part of the Oysterponds community, and the family built them houses,
on a smaller scale.  The women were seamstresses, and Addison (I think the only man)
was a farmer, and he was smaller than Mr. Barnum's Colonel Tom Thumb.
Addison turned down lucrative offers from Mr. Barnum, choosing a life of hard work and dignity,
growing his Brussels sprouts and potatoes and cauliflower in Orient, part of his community.

I just love the heavy moldings on this little front door.

My kids used to love to visit Oysterponds.  In fact, they still do.
There's a shop called The Candyman, just before you turn
off the Main Road onto Village Lane.  Stop if you go.

 I visit for the houses;
the homemade chocolates are just a bonus.

Oysterponds is on my list of
Places I Want to Live When I Grow Up.
 I think I better get going on that, huh?
Cass

And thanks to Karen, The Graphics Fairy, for the antique eye image!  

25 comments:

  1. Sigh, I could look at houses like these all day. That's quite an interesting garage too.

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  2. Oh.....how enchanting. Can I be your neighbor on Oyster Ponds?

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  3. Such a lovely town! I pinned the image of that grey garage.

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  4. I love these old historic homes. Beautiful! I would love to live in a town like that. I hope you and your hubby get over the pink eye soon. I remember the first time I had it was in high school. It was quiet embarrassing wearing sunglasses in class so I left them in my coat pocket in the cloak room and someone stole them! Take care. Blessings, Pamela

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  5. What a great place. I love the barn/garage. The window at the top of it. A place with such a long history always seems to give off a good vibe....chocolates don't hurt.

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  6. What a great place to visit. Wonderful old houses and buildings. Good luck with the Pink Eye- Hope you are not mistaken for a white Easter rabbit- (they do have pink eyes, don't they?;>) xo Diana

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  7. Looks like a fun place to explore.
    Candy sounds good too.

    M :)

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  8. Wow love all those olden homes and such charm. Would love to live there in that little village.
    Take care of your eyes.
    Happy Spring.
    Mary

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  9. Oh, I had that horrible viral pink eye...last summer. It started with one grandchild, and the rest was history! It took almost 4 weeks for my eyes to look normal...hoping yours are better very soon.
    The pictures are so pretty!

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  10. What a wide variety of houses, I love this post! Hope the pink eye clears up in your house soon.

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  11. Hi Cass, I loved the Tour of Homes, what fun! Missed you

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  12. I want to live there - in any one of those houses.
    I hope you are soon back to normal!

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  13. Thanks for the tour! You've inspired me to get my camera and scout around our neck of the woods (after all this nasty snow is gone!)
    Karen (http://www.quarteracreweedfarm.blogspot.com

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  14. Now I'd visit for the chocolate, the houses would be secondary, although there are a ton of really neat houses in that area. I loved looking at them.

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  15. such cute houses...there is nothing better then an old house...except for repairs that they always seem to need...Sorry Howard gave you pink eye...I missed how Howard got it...did he blame it on the dog??

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  16. Just gorgeous!!
    love those old houses..
    I think we all are getting more sentimental as the weather turns nicer..
    I'm revisiting the older homes of my town..
    documenting..enjoying the fresh air..and memories..
    love and hugs..
    Loui♥

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  17. The candy man is definitely NOT optional! Looking at the architecture is SO much better with a paper sack of cordials or fruit jelly slices! :)

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  18. Fantastic! I really love old houses, these photos are great.

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  19. Oh, I do love old houses. I cannot remember a time when I didn't love them. I love the character of them and I like to imagine the families who dwelled within them. Hope your hubby and you both are feeling better very soon. Thank you for sharing your wonderful photos and take care.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  20. Hi Cass, This is completely off the topic above, but I just wanted to let you know I was thinking about you. It's been a long time since you posted and I hope that all is well! Life can be so unpredictable, you just never know what could be going on! Here's a ((hug)) in case you need one!

    Mellodee

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  21. Keep checking back on your blog and notice you have not made any new entries. Hope all is well, but certainly miss reading your wonderful blog!

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  22. Hope you are ok and I miss your blog.

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  23. The old homes are so lovely and the little gothic? detached garage is just darling. I pinned it.

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  24. The house in the second picture was my family's summer home for 40 years! Oh how we hated to let it go! I still visit it from the outside and am glad it's being looked after.

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    Replies
    1. Dear Jane, How wonderful to hear from you -- one of the lucky Oysterponds familes! I'm sorry your family no longer owns that lovely home. Our house in Southold is on the market, and every time the realtor calls I am not sure what to wish for! It will be very hard to let it go, but it's really the only practical solution to too many owners now.

      Yes, "your" home looks very lovingly maintained.
      I just adore Oysterponds; I'd live there if I could!
      All best wishes,
      Cass

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