Montauk's Fort Pond House will soon reopen to the public
The rear exterior of the Fort Pond House, a home owned by East Hampton Town on Fort Pond in Montauk, is seen on Nov.16, 2015. Credit: Gordon M. Grant
Carol Morrison Park, a 4-acre East Hampton Town-owned waterfront property in Montauk, will be ready for visitors starting in January following years of efforts to save it from being sold.
The park, located at 128 Second House Rd. in the hamlet's Shepherd's Neck area, was named in honor of the late Carol Morrison, an environmentalist who lived in Montauk. Included is a single-story, wood-shingled bungalow built in 1925 that was known as Fort Pond House.
In more recent years it was the site of environmental education and art classes, and had been used by the Boy Scouts, The Third House Nature Center and the Montauk School.
The house and land will be available for public use now that a yearlong restoration and renovation of the house and grounds have been completed.
Councilman Peter Van Scoyoc, who led the restoration effort, noted recently that the much-valued property is one of the town's access points to Fort Pond, the second-largest freshwater body on Long Island.
"I felt very strongly when I found out it was scheduled to be sold that it was a terrific community asset that had been used by the Boy Scouts and other groups," Van Scoyoc said. "I felt there was no good reason to sell it. It's 4 acres of beautiful property. For the last two years we've planned to bring it back."
The town bought the property in 2003 from Lee Deadrick for $890,000. Former East Hampton Supervisor William Wilkinson wanted to sell it in 2010 along with other East Hampton Town assets to help address the town's financial woes, but Montauk residents vigorously opposed a sale. Van Scoyoc and Councilwoman Sylvia Overby were instrumental in eventually blocking the sale.
Van Scoyoc said the approximately $350,000 renovation included the donation of services from several not-for-profit groups and private businesses.
Work included restoring the home's foundation, replacing walls, refinishing the pine flooring, opening up the living area, removing old linoleum and carpets and reworking the interior layout to make bathrooms and hallways wheelchair accessible.
"I think the community's very excited to be able to use it again," Van Scoyoc said. He added that some of the house's original features remain, including a stone fireplace in the central room and a porcelain farm sink in the kitchen.
The house can accommodate about 50 people in the main room. Van Scoyoc said the plan is for the entire property to be available for use by the public for events ranging from educational activities, classes and meetings to birthday parties and weddings.
Rental fees have not been set, and arrangements to use the property will be made through the town's Parks and Recreation Department.
"I am proud that we were able to save the property from being sold off and to renovate it into a user-friendly place for future public activities," Overby said.
