Stewardship Agreement Signed For Southampton's Iconic Tupper Boathouse

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — New adventures are on the horizon for the historic Tupper Boathouse on North Sea Harbor.

On December 1, Southampton Town signed a license agreement with the North Maritime Organization, a not-for-profit aimed at preserving the area's maritime legacy, to become the steward for the boathouse.

The license agreement comes after years of work by dedicated local residents to preserve the boathouse; under the stewardship, the North Sea Maritime Center will begin fundraising for the facility and planning the future programming for the community to enjoy, NSMC said.

The preliminary vision for the NSMC at the historic Tupper Boathouse includes a Maritime Museum, a wooden boat building program, and an aquaculture education facility to teach maritime history, water navigation, sailing, boating safety, and more.

NSMC members said they are thrilled to reintroduce and develop the iconic local landmark, which was damaged during Superstorm Sandy as both a destination and an opportunity for many to learn about both North Sea Harbor’s and Conscience Point’s past.

According to Southampton Town, the structure was built between 1929 and 1931 and served as a workshop for boats for the Tupper Motorcraft Boat Company before being transformed into a nightclub in 1959.

The nightspot was also called Conscience Point.

Southampton Town purchased the property in 2003 using Community Preservation Funds. Tupper Boathouse was lifted in June 2020 for renovation work. The town also runs the marina located at Conscience Point and the walking trail to the historic marker at the tip of Conscience Point, officials said. The “marker” similar to “Plymouth Rock” marks the location where the first settlers are believed to have landed.

“With the town of Southampton’s support, we are eager to move forward with the restoration,” said Mark Matthews, president of NSMC. “A special thanks to Jay Schneiderman, John Bouvier and Julie Lofstad who were instrumental in getting this stewardship approved, as well as town staff, Christine Fetten, James Burke and Frank Zapone.”

The vision for year-round programming includes embracing historic history, recreational water activities, and environmental programming in one community space.