In 1840, many formerly enslaved Black people came to Sag Harbor to work in the whaling industry. The beachfront village was segregated but Black people still came looking for opportunity.
In the 1930s, sisters Maude Terry and Amaza Lee Meredith – who had been visiting Sag Harbor for years – came across an empty 20-acre plot of land. They immediately envisioned using the land to build community.
The Eastville subdivision of Sag Harbor soon became a safe haven from systemic oppression. And throughout the years, the sisters’ investment evolved into more land and more subdivisions.
Generations of residents in the community they helped launch still live on in the beachside area, making it the oldest historically Black subdivision in Sag Harbor and one of the most enduring Black beachfront communities in America. Sag Harbor remains a popular area for Black people and historians to visit.
Creating a safe space doesn’t have to be expensive or even bold. When we keep love, safety, and joy at the forefront, there’s no limit to the realities we can create.