Cherry Grove Archives Collection


Cherry Grove has been a growing community since the 1800's and its unique history makes it impossible to capture every special story, through the Archives we hope to share some of our colorful past.

The CGAC has embarked on a mission to take all the various archival materials that have been donated, preserved and catologued, and present them in a way that helps to bring the stories of the Grove to life.

Through our film productions, we believe that we can both educate and entertain viewers about Cherry Grove's rich history, through our Film Festival and Archives shows.

By learning about the Grove's rich history, we can fully appreciate the space that many of us call home today. Finding out about founders or being taken back in time to past decades through home movies, watching elaborate theater performances at the Community House and marveling at our ever changing beachtown environment gives us a sense of connection to our environment.

We aim to explore subjects of community, nature and adversity.

Join us as we journey into our history...one story at a time.

Below you can find the links to view our CGAC Production films on Vimeo.

Save the Past (5 minutes)

The Cherry Grove Archives Collection is working hard to chronicle, preserve and display the colorful history of our beach haven.

Cataloguing images, digitizing films and restoring damaged artifacts...theres a lot involved in saving the past and making it last.

LINK: https://vimeo.com/290596589

Founding Families (12 minutes)

Contrary to popular rumors, Fire Island was not founded by gay pirates.

Cherry Grove has a long history, dating back to the 1800's. It was the original families that came over from Long Island who turned their collection of seashacks into a true community where LGBTQ people could find solace and freedom.

LINK: https://vimeo.com/289604307

Historic Houses (5 minutes)

Cherry Grove homes are almost as unique as the community itself.

Who would have ever guessed that a small group of fishing shacks in the late 1800's would be transformed into a collection of quaint beach bungalows, to house the growing population of LGBTQ people flocking to the Grove for its natural beauty and personal freedom.

LINK: https://vimeo.com/295453864

Winter Groveland (5 minutes)

Many wonder what becomes of our beach heaven in the winter...though few people get to experience Cherry Grove covered in snow.

Archival home movies of the frozen bay, crisp white beaches and the usually unseen beauty of our natural sanctuary in a snowstorm give us a rare glimpse of this beach community in the off-season.

LINK: https://vimeo.com/290593270

Arts Project 70th Anniversary (14 minutes)

In 1948 the Arts Project of Cherry Grove was formed to produce shows as fundraisers to cover the costs of the new Community House.

And 70 years later the APCG is still going strong...community plays, fabulous balls, annual art shows and so much more.

LINK: https://vimeo.com/290595349

The Good Times: Volume 1 (64 minutes)

Singing and dancing...solos and chorus lines...from jungles to circus tents...the Cherry Grove Community House has be home to some of the most legendary theatrical shows since the 1950's.

Join us as we stroll, skip, Fosse and kick-ball-chain our way down memory lane, with a collection of production numbers from shows like Steppin' Out, Golden Girls, Last Drag Show, Legends and more.

LINK: https://vimeo.com/295457654

Bella's Dish (10 minutes)

Bold, beautiful, brassy, bitchy and ballsy...a lot of words have been used to describe Bella.

Her drag is legendary and her shows at the Ice Palace made her one of the top queens in Cherry Grove, packing the house each week with her outrageous and often scandalous "dish".

LINK: https://vimeo.com/295452042