It was back in
1833 that seven deer hunters met on the Quogue plains, between
Eastport and Riverhead, to sow rye for the deer then remaining in
that part of Long Island. This place was called Brewster’s Lots and
from that time to the present it has been the custom to meet and sow
rye. Later on a garden was planted in the spring and the produce
gathered in the fall was used for a dinner in the woods. Those
first seven hunters were Captain Josiah Smith, “Uncle” Wells Tuttle,
Ebenezer Jayne, William Gordon, Brewster Tuttle, Parshall Tuttle and
Salem Wells. They were organized in 1833 with Wells Tuttle as
president.
Twice a year on
the third Thursday of May and October the Hunter’s Garden
Association meets and the following item appeared in the Eastport
news of The Patchogue Advance May 23, 1894.
“The semi annual
gathering of the Hunter’s Garden met at Brewsters Lots May 17 and
proceeded to prepare eels and potatoes for the usual chowder, which
was ‘par excellence.’ This gathering is strictly a stag affair and
is a day of reunion and feasting. No one goes hungry as there is
plenty of chowder for all. The fees of 25 cents are small, but the
treasurer has a small balance on hand to pay for fall oysters and to
extend the tables, G. Frank Tuttle, is president and E. W. Tuttle,
secretary. No four year terms of office, but elected for life,
unless the chowder kills you before four years roll around.”
According to an
article in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle May 21, 1909, “Uncle Frank
Tuttle” a nephew of the original president, was still active at the
age of 87. This goes on to say that “yesterday was the third
Thursday in May and 99 of the old hunters and their descendants were
at the meeting place, Brewster’s Lots, which is in a grassy valley
half way from Eastport to Riverhead, four miles from village or
hamlet, a fit place for a hunting reunion.
“The dinner is a
primitive Long Island meal, eel chowder being the main dish.
Parshall Tuttle, one of the seven original men, presided over the
pot yesterday. He is a son of “Uncle Wells Tuttle” the first
president, and his son John Parshall, a lad of 60 is taking lessons
at each meet.”
Charles Robinson
of Speonk was treasurer of the association in 1909 and Eckford J.
Robinson was secretary. He was a Civil War veteran and was with
Sherman “on the march to the sea.” The 99 who responded to the call
for dinner in 1909 paid 30 cents each. Before this the price had
been 25 cents but “everything has gone up” said the committee. It
took 100 pounds of eels, a barrel of potatoes and 20 pounds of salt
pork to make the chowder.
A special meeting
of the Hunter’s Association was held back in February, 1884, at
Terry’s Hall in Riverhead, when a badge was presented to Wells
Tuttle, the president, with the inscription, “Presented to Wells
Tuttle, the oldest member and president of the Hunter’s Association
with the pleasant memories of 50 years, 1833-1883.”
Hunter’s Garden
day is still observed by a large group of men and eel chowder is
still the favorite dish.