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| Cherry Grove Timeline |
| 1868 |
Archer and Elizabeth Perkinson purchase land on Fire Island an name it Cherry Grove.
They run a fish shack for tourists. Karoly Maria Kertbeny (Hungarian) defines "homosexuality" as same-sex desire. |
| 1878 | Perkinsons purchases land for proposed beach pavilion and hotel. |
| 1880 |
Perkinsons build first Cherry Grove Hotel.
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| 1882 |
Oscar Wilde visits Sayville, NY on US tour (also allegedly Cherry Grove).
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| 1889 |
Cherry Grove is a bona fide resort destination.
The Cat Boat, Edward Preston, Sailed by Capt. Symes Baker establishes daily service to Cherry Grove. |
| 1893 |
Perkinsons builds cottage.
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| 1894 |
Perkinsons builds first permanent dock at Cherry Grove.
The Stein family provides transportation to Cherry Grove. |
| 1896 |
Theodore Witte builds private cottage at Cherry Grove
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| 1909 |
Paul Groh buys tract 'Cedar Grove Park'. Today's East and West Walks.
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| 1910 |
Groh develops lots with boardwalk at Cedar Grove Park.
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| 1912 |
Marquet cottage built (aka Carrington House).
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| 1923 |
Cherry Grove Association formed.
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| 1924 |
Forty cottages exist in Cherry Grove.
'Nudists' sunning and bathing reported at Fire Island. |
| 1926 |
Ronald Gerrodette (Jean Skinner's father) builds first family cottage.
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| 1928 |
Boardwalk grid system built connecting cottages.
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| 1929 |
First (and only) Air Mail delivery to Cherry Grove.
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| 1930 |
Removable dock built by Town of Brookhaven at Cherry Grove.
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| 1932 |
Five hundred summer residents reside in sixty cottages at Cherry Grove.
General store (today's grocery store) is built. |
| 1936 |
The New Yorker writer John Mosher builds cottage in Cherry Grove.
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| 1938 |
The Great New England Hurricane destroys all but 12 Cherry Grove structures.
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| 1944 |
Cherry Grove Property Owners Association is established.
Earl Blackwell, Jr. Art Project founder is a CGPOA board member. |
| 1945 |
Cherry Grove post office established.
Arts Project sponsors 1st first annual Cherry Grove county fair and costume ball. Carriage house floated to Cherry Grove (aka) Community House. |
| 1946 |
Photographer Richard Avedon summers in Cherry Grove.
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| 1947 |
Cherry Grove Volunteer Fire Department becomes incorporated.
Christopher Isherwood owns "Bective Poplars" cottage in Cherry Grove. |
| 1948 |
Cherry Grove Follies of 1948 first Arts Project production.
Theater legends, Cheryl Crawford and Frank Carrington are consultants. Cherry Grove Art Project Committee's "Roaring '20s Party" in NYC. Arts Project fundraiser. |
| 1949 |
Theater addition to Community House inaugurated.
Cherry Grove Follies of 1949, introduces the homosexual aesthetic of "camp" to its audiences. Mrs. Marty Mann, lesbian pioneer member of AA rents Cherry Grove cottage. Author Carson McCullers visits Cherry Grove. Coffee mogul, Burt Martinson, summers in Cherry Grove. Dr. Elmer Lindsay owns "Boat Deck", son-in-law is Jonas Salk. Norman Mailer is weekend visitor. "Let's Clean up Cherry Grove" anti-homosexual campaign by straight residents.
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| 1950 |
Varieties of 1950, the first show of the summer season.
Berthe of a Nation, declares Cherry Grove a gay space.
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| 1951 |
CGPOA accommodate police presence at Community House.
Hermione Gingold (Gigi, The Music Man) appears in Cherry Grove Follies of 1951.
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| 1952 |
Police and constables patrol beaches and east/west dunes of Cherry Grove.
Lone Hill tract purchased for Fire Island Pines development.
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| 1953 |
"Fire Island Pines" ferry inaugurated.
Police raids of "The Rack" begin. All-Male version of Camille completes filming in Cherry Grove.
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| 1955 |
Truman Capote pens Breakfast at Tiffany's in Carrington cottage.
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| 1956 |
"Doctors House" built.
Fire Destroys Cherry Grove Hotel. |
| 1957 |
Cherry Grove Hotel and Ice Palace built.
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| 1962 |
Jerry Herman (Mame, Hello Dolly) first rental in Cherry Grove.
Great Atlantic Storm destroys dunes and property at Cherry Grove. Robert Moses third proposal for highway though Fire Island.
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| 1963 |
Boardwalk Melody of 1963-All Singing, All Dancing, All Talking. Explicitly gay content.
Dorothy Kilgallen exposes Cherry Grove as "gayest resort" in her gossip column.
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| 1964 |
Arts Project of Cherry Grove, Inc. formally incorporated.
Fire Island National Seashore established to preserve Fire Island. "The Dunes Fund" is incorporated.
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| 1968 |
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defined homosexuality as a mental disorder.
Mr. Ladybug by Becky Crocker (pseud.); satire of a woman's summer vacation at Cherry Grove. The First Little Show-Sexpo 68 the word "F**K" first spoken on stage. Boys in the Band premieres on Broadway.
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| 1969 |
Stonewall Inn riots begin in New York City's Greenwich Village.
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| 1971 |
Wakefield Poole's gay porn landmark film, Boys in the Sand, cleared $300 at Community House fundraiser.
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| 1975 |
Charles Dickerson self-publishes monograph of history of Cherry Grove.
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| 1976 |
Thom Hansen and a group of protestors stage the first Invasion of the Pines.
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| 2013 |
Cherry Grove Community House and Theatre listed on National Register.
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| 2015 |
Fire Destroys Cherry Grove Hotel, Holly House and two private residences.
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