INTRODUCTORY. 



PATRIOTIC citizens of the county of Suffolk conceived the idea of 

 celebrating the Bi-Centennial of the birth of the County, which was 

 organized on November i, 1683. The initiative steps were taken by Mr. 

 B. Van Dusen, editor of the Southold Traveler, who addressed to prom- 

 inent citizens of the different towns forming the county, the following 

 letter: 



Southold, Sept. 7, 1883. 



Dear Sir: — The matter of celebrating the Bi-Centennial of our 

 County has attracted some attention during the past few months. All, so 

 far as I am aware, who have expressed an opinion on the subject, assert 

 that a suitable observance of the event would be not only becoming, 

 but an advantage to the present dwellers in our venerable County, 

 inasmuch as it would attract more attention to it from the outside world 

 and, in addition, afford an opportunity such as it would obtain in no other 

 way, to disprove the too common opinion abroad that Suffolk County is 

 but little better than a "howling wilderness, " and that its inhabitants are 

 from fifty to one hundred years behind the times. 



As I have said, all agree that the event should not be allowed to pass 

 unobserved, but as yet no one has taken the initiative steps necessary for 

 its consummation. Therefore, on the suggestion of another — not from 

 choice — I take the trouble and responsibility of sending out this circular- 

 letter, and ask that the following named persons be a committee to take 

 the matter in charge, and meet to make the necessary arrangements, in the 

 Supervisors' Room, in the Court House, at Riverhead, on Tuesday, Sept. 

 1 8th (Court week), immediately on the arrival of the mail train from the 

 west, about 1 1 :30 a. m. : 



East Hampton, • — Brinley D. Sleight, Supervisor Baker. 



Southampton, — Henry P. Hedges, Supervisor Pierson. 



Brookhaven, — Richard M. Bayles, Supervisor Floyd. 



IsLiP,- — Seth R. Clock, Supervisor Vail. 



Babylon — James B. Cooper, Supervisor Titus. 



Huntington — Thomas Young, Supervisor Street. 



Smithtown — J. Lawrence Smith, Supervisor Bryant. 



Riverhead — James H. Tuthill, Supervisor Perkins. 



Southold — Rev. Epher Whitaker,.D. D. , Supervisor Reeves. 



Shelter Island — Dr. Nicoll, Supervisor Cartwright. 



This letter was accompanied by a sketch from the pen of Rev. Dr. 

 Epher Whitaker, giving a short outline of the formation and growth of 

 the County. 



In response to the foregoing letter the committee met at Riverhead 

 on the day named and perfected plans for the celebration. 



