Archives
Pines Profile - Eric L. Sawyer (b. 1954)
“Eric is a true hero. What he did – and still does -- the sacrifices he makes and what he has accomplished for our community, is simply remarkable.”
- Jim Pepper, Former Board Member GMHC, and Founder of Stonewall Community Foundation.
Gaying the Pines
Today, Fire Island Pines is known as a Gay Mecca. LGBTQ+ people from around the world flock to enjoy its beaches, homes and entertainment in the full knowledge they can safely be their authentic selves here. But it wasn’t always that way. In a previous article Keeping The Gays Out: The Pines in the Late 1950s FIPPOA Board member and long time Pines resident Gary Clinton described the extensive efforts taken by some community members to keep gay people out of the Pines. As he noted, those efforts died down in 1959 after the largely gay population in Cherry Grove flocked to help the Pines fight the Memorial Day fire that destroyed the Botel. In this article, Gary describes when the shift occurred in the Pines and gays came to be in the majority.
“Welcome to Fire Island Visions of Cherry Grove and The Pines” by Jack Nichols.
Jack Nichols was Gay activist who spent his entire adult life working for gay liberation. He documented his life on Cherry Grove and a Fire Island Pines coming out of its own closet…
The CO OPs Est. 1960
The Home Guardian of New York who were developing the Pines initially zoned the Co Op area as business. They saw it as a hotel and retail spaces. After rethinking the plan they applied to Brookhaven town to modify the zoning and were approved, and so the relatvely new concept of the CO OP became part of the Pines community.
Fire Island Pines People- Doris Taussig
There have been many women who have been the pioneers of the Pines, however one of its earliest trailblazers was Doris Taussig. Daughter of the original landowners of the Pines Doris created her own path of history.
The Belvedere Cherry Grove Est. 1957
As you arrive by ferry to Cherry Grove to your left sits a castle like building that stands out with its white facade. Is it a palace of some long ago prince? I guess you could say it is. John Eberhardt created a fantasy here. His own. That he has left for all to experience…
The Radio Flyer Red Wagon Est. 1917.
The Radio Flyer Red Wagon was a symbol of Fire Island Life. Like everything life changes. Simpler times made the wagon the perfect vehicle to transport everything we needed for a Fire Island stay. Today’s society needs more, giving way to large carts to now transport more, making our little red wagon a thing of the past.
The Botel History Est. 1960
Standing the test of time is the Botel. Created from cinder block im 1960 after a previous fire, and named, and renamed its still here!
Fire Island Celebrity history- Barbra Streisand
1966. Actress/singer Barbra Streisand, just beginning her illustrious career arrives by seaplane in the Pines with her then Broadway show “Funny Girl” costar Kay Medford for lunch.
The Islanders Club Est. 1968
How does one get to Fire Island? Well Blue Flettrich had just the right idea. A luxury bus was the only way to go…
Fire Island Pines People- Peggy Fears
Peggy Fears was a former Ziegfeld showgirl who found her way to Fire Island where she invested in the then growing community by building her Yacht Club and Botel bringing her Broadway and Hollywood friends creating an aura of sophistication that continues today…
Fire Island Pines People- Arden Catlin
Many would be surprised to know the several women that played a role in the history of the Pines. Arden Catlin was one. She was a Pines pioneer who was one of the first Realtors, business owners, and the first Postmistress of the Pines.