Celebrate Southampton History at the Halsey House Gala

The Southampton Historical Museum is hosting the Halsey House Gala on July 8 from 5:30–8 p.m.

The ‘Sur la Plage’ or ‘on the beach’ fundraiser will be held at the Thomas Halsey Homestead at 249 South Main Street in Southampton. That’s not actually on the beach, but it is in Southampton’s oldest home (established in 1648).

Guests at the event will enjoy cocktails on the Halsey House lawn with beautiful landscape and gardens all around. DJ Twilo is providing the evening’s soundtrack and a silent auction will include art and artifacts, baskets of organic local produce, a cocktail cruise on a sailboat, and even a private meal inside the Halsey House.

Palm Beach interior designer, author and special events planner Steven Stolman has been named honorary chairman for this year’s gala. Stolman had a dress store on Jobs Lane for many years before he moved to Florida, and is recognized for boosting Southampton’s association with artist William Merritt Chase who had the first en plein air school here in the 1890s and strongly influenced the American Impressionists.

“This is a well-loved, outdoor cocktail party that mixes summer people with year round residents. It’s worked out beautifully in the 11 years I’ve been director,” Southampton Historical Museum Executive Director Tom Edmonds says. “Even when it rained one year, everyone got wet and still had a lot of fun.”

Dress is casual and tickets are $175 on the day of the event. Homesteader tickets are $150, Pioneer tickets for ages 16–30 years old are $50, and Yearling tickets, for ages 15 and younger, are $20.

Edmonds says the museum hopes to net $75,000, which is used to preserve Halsey House, the oldest English home in New York State.

For more information, call 631-283-2494 or visit southamptonhistoricalmuseum.org.