Southampton Press Launches Contest Asking Residents To Redesign Town Seal

It’s an indisputable fact that the preservation of history requires a conscious effort to record it by those who are making it. It’s also a fact that the discovery of a “hole” in recorded history is frustrating.Such was the case when The Press, prompted by this year’s celebration of Southampton’s 375th anniversary, asked about the history of the official seal of the Town of Southampton. Although it’s existed for as long as a century, a search of archived material turned up no government resolution officially adopting the seal that appears on dozens of town vehicles, trash receptacles, letterhead and much more.

The current town seal depicts a happy-enough pilgrim with the rock at Conscience Point—where the first English settlers are said to have first landed—over his right shoulder, and a sailing ship over his left, signifying the ship that brought the colonists to the area. Rays of sun fill the sky behind the pilgrim, likely to evoke something of the divine.

The artist behind the line drawing also is a mystery, and the only clue to its timing is that it was likely created sometime after 1910 and before 1929. The year 1910 is derived from the fact that the plaque on the rock at Conscience Point is clearly visible in the drawing—and that’s the year the plaque was placed there. And the seal was featured on a town flag adopted in 1929.

While the history of the town’s existing logo is unclear, one thing is clear: It is a 20th century addition to the town’s “branding.” In a commemorative booklet published by the town 100 years ago for its 275th anniversary, there was no town seal, only a specially designed Founders Day seal. And in a pamphlet distributed for the 350th anniversary, there is a description of the seal but no information about when it was adopted or who drew it.

However, at the back of the same pamphlet there is information about the town flag: “On December 18th, 1929, it was resolved by the Town of Southampton ‘That the recommendation of the Southampton Chapter of The Daughters of The American Revolution for the adoption of a flag for The Town of Southampton be approved, and that … the design submitted, consisting of three vertical bars … arranged alternately with the Seal of The Town of Southampton … and that the Town purchase a flag of this design …’”

“After diligent research, we have yet to determine the actual origins of the seal presently used,” Southampton Town Historian Zach Studenroth admitted. “We are curious if any evidence survives about who may have designed it.”

Since the very first mention of a town seal—it simply gave the early settlers authorization to adopt their own Colonial seal—in the 1686 Dongan Patent, various seals were used over the years to designate an official stamp of approval, none of which included a pilgrim. At some point in history, a decision was made to create the current town seal as the symbol of town government, and approved the use of a pilgrim as the defining image of historic Southampton.

If only we knew who.

As the town gears up for the 375th anniversary of the 1640 arrival of English settlers in what is now North Sea, The Press is launching a logo redesign contest, in which anyone—artist, designer or napkin-doodler—may submit an iconic drawing to symbolize the Town of Southampton.

Logos should be in a circle and incorporate the words “Town of Southampton” and “First English Settlement in the State of NY,” and the year 1640. Beyond that, designers can let their imagination be their guide: Pick an image that captures the essence of Southampton.

Digital versions may be emailed to kim@pressnewsgroup.com. Original prints may be dropped at The Press office, 135 Windmill Lane in Southampton. The deadline is April 8.

This is not a town-sponsored contest, and so no official use of the winning logo is implied. The winning logo, however, will be reproduced in The Press’s 375th anniversary special publication in June.