Dering Harbor’s Discovery Changes Shelter Island Forever Part 3 of 9 Compiled by Patricia Shillingburg

Rivalry   During this golden age of the late nineteenth century, there was a friendly rivalry between the Prospect House and the Manhanset House which faced each other across the harbor. One catered to the middle class Methodists of Brooklyn and the other was more upscale and less religious in orientation and attracted more wealthy residents from the Boston area. A certain class would speak of Newport and Manhanset in the same sentence. But, guests of one would happily row across the harbor and partake of the social offerings of the other.  Both hotels offered orchestra music for dinner and dancing nearly every evening with a special 'hop' on Saturday nights. Friday nights at the Manhanset House were usually given over to performances, largely by amateurs. Friday nights at the Prospect Chapel, however, were more circumspect, with select entertainments -- including organ recitals and readings.      From the very beginning, the two parallel ventures each had a distinctive character and a natural rivalry toward the other. How could it have been otherwise? Squire Chase had dreamed of an idyllic city of sobriety—to be called Sobrie—rising from his woodland acres; but he never lived to see it. The development of Prospect when it finally came would no doubt have pleased him. Apparently it was inspired by the example of Oak Bluffs, a cottage city on Martha’s vineyard in which Erastus Carpenter had been involved. Enterprises of this kind were an authentic part of America’s romantic and religious revival in the closing decades of the nineteenth century. Their most popular form, the camp meeting, rapidly became institutionalized in summer resorts, of which Asbury Park and Ocean Grove on the Jersey coast were outstanding examples.      This was not a staid puritanical environment, however; The Prospect House was a swinging place:    I should like to try and correct an impression prevalent in Brooklyn, which I am sure is an erroneous one, relative to the habits and customs of those living in and visiting this part of Shelter Island. The very name of Shelter Island has become almost synonymous for Puritanical restraint This is a great mistake... Those who landed at the Prospect Hotel pier suddenly found themselves in as gay a place as could have been found. The ladies had laid aside their croquet implements, sent their rosy~cheeked children away for the night, and were seated about the grounds and on the piazzas enjoying the cool evening air. Within a hundred feet of the pier was a well patronized bowling alley and close by it Major Schroeder stood playing at billiards (and losing), and Mr. President French at bagatelle ... It was up at the hotel, however, that gaiety had reached its height. The parlors were resonant with music and giddy with waltzing couples. I never saw more unalloyed enjoyment in my life at a seaside watering place. What the secret is I don’t know, but the 500 or 600 people now here are more like one family than 150 families.      The same writer said that the gaiety may have been because the camp meeting had just closed. It had been a two week event with preaching sessions in the morning, afternoon and evening. There were special trains that brought in additional crowd and preachers. Steamers from New Haven off-loaded a thousand people one August weekend in 1874 and 1,700 the next. Apparently, the revival leaders had caused the temporary closing of the bowling alleys which bring fresh blood and life to the brain, and strength and substance to the muscles. At the same time he noted with approval that no amount of money will buy any sort of strong drink in this settlement. Its members get along very well without. They have had no serious sickness among them, no drowning, or other casualties or accidents. In fact, after a day or two's discipline, the moderate drinker will find absolute enjoyment under this regulation. Some find it a little hard at first. I have seen Brooklynites go 6 or 7 miles by the Greenport ferry-boat, as they said, to get the fresh air. Now just think of that as an excuse made at a place like this.  Such was the nature of the great moral watering place which was fast becoming fashionable.