Letters

We read with great interest your thoughts on the funding process for village museums [“Time To Talk,” Editorial, May 2]. We’d love to share our thoughts on the matter.

The mission of the Sag Harbor Whaling and Historical Museum is to protect, preserve and present the glorious history of Sag Harbor. We serve as the repository of some 3,500 rare (and often fragile) artifacts that bring the history of Sag Harbor to life.

We are also charged with maintaining the famed Benjamin Huntting House (which, of course, later became the summer residence of Sag Harbor’s great benefactress, Olivia Slocum Sage). This magnificent building is arguably one of the grandest on Long Island, a great expression of the splendor and riches of the whaling era, and has been recognized as a national treasure.

And, of course, for six months a year, we present a wide range of exhibits and programming that tell the rich, diverse and fascinating story of our village, which draw an average of over 5,000 visitors per year. (Please visit our current exhibition, “The Way We Were,” comprising photographs showcasing Sag Harbor in the 1950s — you’re bound to recognize familiar faces and places.)

This is the museum you know, but we hope to become so much more. We want to be open more days per week, and more months per year. We want to bring you even more exhibits, more programming, a full range of summer activities for kids and teens, and many other exciting new ideas. And, of course, we need to preserve and maintain our beautiful, iconic building so it remains the “jewel in the crown” of our village. In short, we want to serve our community at the very highest level we can.

Some may think we are asking for too much, but when spread across the full taxpayer base, our request comes to the price of one movie ticket per household per year. That’s it — one movie ticket. Think of it as your ticket to over 400 years of village history, pride and spirit.

Over the next few months, we’ll be reaching out to you to introduce our plans in greater detail. We’re sure you’ll be as excited about our ideas as we are. Let’s work together to take our history into the future.

Mallon FitzPatrick

President

Bob Weinstein

Vice President

The Sag Harbor Whaling and History Museum Board of Trustees

The letter also was signed by the rest of the Board of Trustees: Benjamin Dixon (treasurer), Annette Hinkle (secretary), Michael Carrol, Molly Channing, Roger Cooper, Richard Doctorow, Peter Drakoulias, Linley P. Hagen, Christina Hribar, Kathi Ruesso and Bettina Stelle — Ed.