Amagansett

  03/21/08 View NE Photo/Archive: Mike McDermet

A postcard rear view of Amagansett Station when new (1911). While this postcard view was of the station when new, it wasn’t mailed until a year or two later as is evidenced by the cancellation on the back (see next image) George G. Ayling collection, Dave Keller archive

Back of same postcard, sent by Amagansett LIRR agent Ira Baker to LIRR block operator George Ayling at Central Islip and postmarked with an RPO cancellation in what looks perhaps like 1912 (cancellation is poor and hard to read). George Ayling spent some time working at Quogue and also under Ira Baker at Amagansett in 1910 and remained friends for many, many years. Ira Baker was a well-liked man and was the agent in charge in 1942 when the Nazi’s landed on the beach at Amagansett and attempted to take the train into New York City. George G. Ayling collection, Dave Keller archive

When the LIRR opened out to Montauk in 1895, very few trains terminated there. Most of them terminated at Amagansett, hence the terminal facilities. Many LIRR men boarded out there at a very popular boarding house within walking distance of the terminal. The woman who ran the house took good care of the men who stayed there, even providing them lunches to bring with them to work.

Some old timers upon marrying bought houses in Amagansett and East Hampton because their runs originated and terminated at Amagansett.

A valuation photo for the Public Service Commission by LIRR trainman Irving Solomon shot in September, 1958 when the idea of closing the agency and removing the building was proposed. This station was built in 1911 to replace the original one-storey structure that was destroyed by fire. The only photo I’ve ever seen of the original depot was a color postcard view shot from the rear. The 1911 Dutch Colonial structure with gambrel roof was demolished in 1964. Irving Solomon photo, Dave Keller archive