Cherry Grove, New York

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Cherry Grove is an unincorporated hamlet in the Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York. It is located on Fire Island, a barrier island on the southern side of Long Island. The hamlet has approximately 300 houses on 41 acres, a summer seasonal population of 2,000 and a year round population of 15.[1]

Cherry Grove, along with nearby Fire Island Pines, is considered one of the most popular lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) accepting resort communities in the United States. Cherry Grove is reputedly the nation's first and oldest LGBT community.

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[edit] History

Cherry Grove dates its modern history to the 1868 purchase by Archer and Elizabeth Perkinson. They bought the land between Lone Hill (now Fire Island Pines) and the Cherry Grove Hotel from the ocean to the bay for 25 cents an acre and named the area for the Black Cherry trees in the area.[2]

The Perkinsons opened a hotel in 1880. According to local legend Oscar Wilde stayed at the Perkinson Hotel.[3]

In 1921 the Perkisons sold all the land East of Duryea Walk to Lone Hill, and then divided what was left, into 109 building lots. A lot 50 x 80 feet could be bought for $250 or less, and ocean front lots cost no more than a dollar a front foot. Buildings from the newly deactivated Camp Upton in Yaphank, New York, were ported over to form the core of the new colony.

In 1922 a post office was established at the site of where "Tides" (formerly “The Monster”) is today.

In 1929 the first boardwalks were built.

In 1930 Duffy’s Hotel replaced the original hotel and was only place with electricity and a phone. The Great Hurricane of 1938 destroyed much of Cherry Grove and discouraged mainlanders from coming. In their stead a new generation started coming from Manhattan including Garbo, Xavier Cugat, Paulette Goddard, Pola Negri, Arlene Francis and Earl Blackwell (publisher of the International Celebrity Register).

According to legend the gay aura of the town arose when Christopher Isherwood and W. H. Auden arrived dressed as Dionysus and Ganymede, carried aloft on a gilded litter by a group of singing followers.[4]

Duffy’s attempted to ban same sex dancing until after midnight.[5] Duffy’s burned on September 27, 1956, was replaced by the Ice Palace which has remained a popular destination.

Cherry Grove has become home to two massive homes -- Cielo E Mar (a song from the 1876 opera La Gioconda which translates to "Sky and Sea") and the Belvedere.

[edit] Recreation and sites of interest

Map including the names of the two major walks (Bayview and Lewis), which are generally parallel to the beach, and sixteen minor walks (Ivy, Sumner, Maryland, Aeon, Gerard, Greene, Duryea, Doctors, Main, Ocean, Holly, Surf, Beach, Sea, East and West), which are generally perpendicular to the beach. (South Walk (not shown) is parallel to the beach and extends between Surf and Beach Walks.)
Map including the names of the two major walks (Bayview and Lewis), which are generally parallel to the beach, and sixteen minor walks (Ivy, Sumner, Maryland, Aeon, Gerard, Greene, Duryea, Doctors, Main, Ocean, Holly, Surf, Beach, Sea, East and West), which are generally perpendicular to the beach. (South Walk (not shown) is parallel to the beach and extends between Surf and Beach Walks.)

Cherry Grove is accessible via two major walks (Bayview and Lewis), which are generally parallel to the beach, and sixteen minor walks (Ivy, Sumner, Maryland, Aeon, Gerard, Greene, Duryea, Doctors, Main, Ocean, Holly, Surf, Beach, Sea, East and West), which are generally perpendicular to the beach. South Walk (not shown in the map at right) is parallel to the beach and extends between Surf and Beach Walks. The businesses of Cherry Grove are concentrated on or near Ocean Walk. Businesses include real estate offices, casual dining restaurants, bars, clubs, a grocery, a theater, clothing and gift stores and a hardware store. Also, the Community House, located near the intersection of Holly and Bayview Walks, provides a wide variety of public services to the Grove. Generally speaking, unlike at many other resort communities in the United States, gay couples and activities are the norm.

[edit] Outdoors activities

The main outdoor attraction is the beach and the surrounding protected portions of the Fire Island National Seashore.[6] Clothing-optional sunbathing is acceptable at Cherry Grove.

[edit] Entertainment and dining

There are at least six restaurants that operate within Cherry Grove, varying from pizza and breakfast to seafood and fine dining. Also, there are at least four entertainment venues hosting plays, art shows, dancing, underwear parties, drag shows, and various community events.

[edit] Civic activities

Civic activities at Cherry Grove include charity events, the Awards Night, during which votes are taken and titles bestowed upon residents and local businesses.

[edit] Annual events

A major event in the Cherry Grove social calendar is the July 4th weekend "Invasion of the Pines", which dates back to 1976, when a resident of the Grove showed up wearing drag in the Pines and was refused service. In the 1970s, the Pines was a more conservative, more heterosexual community than the Grove.

[edit] Transportation

Sayville Ferry arrives at Cherry Grove. (40°39′38″N 73°05′17″W / 40.660601, -73.088092)
Sayville Ferry arrives at Cherry Grove. (40°39′38″N 73°05′17″W / 40.660601, -73.088092)

Cherry Grove is only accessible by water with most residents and visitors utilizing a passenger ferry or private water taxi. A small marina is also available. There are no private vehicles in this part of Fire Island, though police and service vehicles are seen on the beach from time to time. Cherry Grove has no paved roads and the cottages and beach are only accessible using a series of wooden boardwalks.

[edit] Sayville ferry

Cherry Grove can be accessed via the Sayville Ferry Service departing from Sayville, Long Island, across the Great South Bay. The Long Island Rail Road connects Sayville to New York City.

[edit] Fire Island Water Taxi

Visitors arriving by car may park at the Robert Moses Beach “Field Five” parking lot. After reaching the Fire Island Lighthouse, the Fire Island Water Taxi will ferry paying customers to Cherry Grove. The water taxi provides short distance transportation for those moving from place to place along the coast of Fire Island. The fare and schedule for the taxi service varies by season. [1]

[edit] Source

[edit] References

  1. ^ Journeys Weekender - New York Times - July 15, 2005
  2. ^ Cherry Grove: Before and After the Great Hurricane of 1938 – Fireisalndqnews.com – Retrieved November 1, 2007
  3. ^ History of Cherry Grove - Fairharbor.com – Retrieved November 1, 2007
  4. ^ Cherry Grove Fire Isla by Esther Newton – 1995 - Beacon Press ISBN 0807079278
  5. ^ Fire Island Chamber of Commerce Cherry Grove History
  6. ^ Map of the Fire Island National Seashore

[edit] External links

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