Construction

    On January 4, 1921, the Town Board met at its regular monthly meeting. Roscoe Cartwright resigned as Justice of the Peace and Charles S. Burns was appointed to fill the vacancy. The Board also authorized the committee on the repairs of the Town Dock and slip "to get plans and specifications suitable to work by." At a special meeting of the Town Board on January 10, they accepted the plans and put them out for sealed bids. The bids were opened on February 5 and were "put on the table" until the next meeting. The Board also authorized a letter to Mr. Raymond confirming his statement at the "informal meeting held in October" which had actually been held at the end of November.
    Mr. Baldwin, the Town Clerk, wrote the authorized letter on February 7:
 Dear Sir:
    The Town Board would like to write you a letter stating the conditions of running the ferry into Dering Harbor, the same as you said at the meeting we had last October, vis that you would run the Poggatticut or some boat similar that would carry autos, from the first of Oct. to the last of May. Some of the taxpayers are anxious to know what the Ferry Company proposes to do about running the ferry into the harbor. I have told everyone I have talked with what you said at the meeting. But we want something to show the doubting ones that you said it.

In this 1921 photo of Bridge Street, the arch is still in place. Note the telephone, David Harries Young's store on the right, and the first of Nathan P. Dickerson's stores on the left.
    Mr. Raymond responded the next day. He outlined the Ferry Company’s proposals: 1.) that the Town would build and maintain the ferry slip; 2.) that the Ferry Company would have sole use of the ferry slip and town dock for ferry purposes; 3.) the Ferry Company would run a double ended ferry from the slip from October to May and launches during evening hours year round and that it would pay the Town $100 per year for the privilege; 4.) That the lease be for 25 years, but that it be reviewed after five.
    He added:
    It is a strong desire with the present administration to establish a very cordial and appreciative relationship with the needs of the Town. For myself I wish no part in Town affairs, believing its administrative officials should be allowed to be very free of intervention, despite the fact we are large taxpayers. And the Town should likewise desire no part in ours. Once that is established there is the common ground of mutual interest we can met on and be helpful to each other. In no other way can the welfare and the ultimate building up of our Island be accomplished.
    There seemed to have been some concern on the Island when the Poggatticut ceased regular service from The Heights slip at the end of 1920 with the only service by the launches from the Town dock on Dering Harbor for the rest of the winter, for he concluded his letter:
    I desire to make a statement re the removal of the Poggatticut from service when it was. We were confronted with an insurance problem. There is a fixed lay up period, especially as it applies to gasoline boats. And also especially in navigation zones where traffic is light. Our waters are so rated in the winter as the highest hazard risk and prohibitive, due to there being no often crossing of OTHER boats which might go to assistance in event of accident. We had to consider if in the interest of anyone it was wise to risk the loss of the boat this particular winter, quite aside from insurance. Nothing could have been worse for the Town as well as ourselves to have lost the Poggatticut. The service would have been then dependent on our small boats all of next season, I trust broad minds will see this point and appreciate the problem of the Ferry officials. By the exercise of utmost influence between now and next season we are expecting to arrange insurance so we will be exempt from these provisions. And we are only so exerting ourselves in order to give the Town the service we shall contract for under the new lease.
    At a special meeting of the Town Board on February 14, Mr. Raymond's letter was read and filed. It was also moved and carried that Mr. Francis A. Myers' bid for the "improvement of the town dock" be accepted and a contract drawn. On February 18, "The contract for the building of the slip at the town dock was awarded to Mr. Francis A. Myers and signed."
    On March 4, the Town Board authorized the Supervisor to procure a lease "of the plot of land on the West Side of the highway at the Town Dock from Nathan P. Dickerson."
    The March 24 issue of the Suffolk Times reported: "Work has been started on the new ferry slip for the Poggatticut at the Town dock. Wagons and autos are being conveyed by scow from the Yacht Club dock while the changes are being made at the Town wharf. The Poggatticut is still in winter quarters in Dering’s Harbor."
    On April 2, the supervisor reported progress on the lease of the land at the North Ferry landing.

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