Dune Alpine Farm

Welcome to Dune Alpine Farm of Somers, CT.

Dune Alpine Farm first originated in the opulent Easthampton area of Long Islands east end, often refered to today as "The Hampton's", or the playground of the rich and famous. Two hundred years ago the McAlpin family owned the land. The ocean had long since receded from the property, but it it left a dune. Hence the name, which evolved from McAlpin Dune Farm. The original land owner was George L. McAlpin, a New York hotel man who referred to the one thousand acre farm as his summer residence.

After Mr. McAlpin's death his estate was probated on December 11, 1922 and recorded to have been valued at that time of $3,000.000.00. Mr. McAlpin's final will was very specific, which describes the estate as being split into sevenths, with his widow to receive all household effects and one seventh of all income. Mr. McAlpin's daughters share was equal while Mr. McAlpin's son was to receive three sevenths of all income. 

The property was later sold in 1932 to the son of a dairy farmer from Hicksville, New York to a gentleman by the name of Abe Katz. Mr. Katz renamed the farm to be known as Dune Alpine Farm and over the years created one of the largest dairy farms in East Hampton with over four hundred and fifty head of quality holsteins, (milking cows) on the east end of Long Island. In 1964 Dune Alpine Farm was the first farm on the island to install an automated milking parlor allowing thirteen cows to be milked at once.

I was born in Southhampton, L.I., N.Y and grew up in East Hampton and was raised on Dune Alpine Farm by my grandparents. As a youth I grew up learning and doing many of the farm chores, and became fascinated with cows and farm animals. 

As a youth I remember getting up at four thirty in the morning with my grandfather and going to the barn to start milking cows. Back then cows were milked by hand and the milk was stored in metal milk cans packed with blocks of ice and later loaded on a skid and pulled by horses to the Charles A. Schwank Creamery down the road from the farm. I had the pleasure of feeding the cows and calves, cleaning the manure from the stanchions, and then grabing a pitcher of fresh cold milk for breakfast after the milking chores were done in the morning. I also remember sneaking into the cooler and helping myself to Abe's homemade Kosher pickles. I wasn't the only one, and Abe never seemed to mind, or never said anything.

Dairy farming is a seven day a week job between having to milk cows in the morning and then again in the afternoon, and that doesn't include the additional time spent riding the tractors and cutting, raking, and baling hay. At the end of the day or week the work may have been long and hard, but it was rewarding and enjoyable. 

Unfortunately, times change and the East Hampton, L. I., N.Y dairy farm ceased opration in 1969, which was once one of the most suscessful dairy farms for over 30 years. It was a very sad day when Abe Katz decided it was time to end the operation and sell off the cows and equipment. It was also a sad day for those who worked the farm with Abe for over 30 years, men like Merrick E. Davis, who was the first individual responsible for producing the first mowed and baled hay for the farm, Harry Lamonda, and Vernal LaFoe and their familes. However, the farm may be gone, but each and evry person who ever worked or visited the farm will always have very pleasureable memories. 

There was another farm down the road called Cove Hollow farm, which has been sold with the barn being renovated to a house. Then there was another older gentleman, Willard Nichols, who had ponies and was also guaranteed to be at every town parade with his ponies and pull cart.  

Abe Katz was also a member ofthe Lions Club and each summer would hold their chicken BBQ in the lower pasture adjacent to Cove Hollow Rd. and U.S. 27 (Montauk highway). People from everywhere would show up for this event and sit on bales of hay to get their half of chicken, corn on the cob and baked potato with watermelon for desert. Willard Nichols would be there with his ponies giving kids pony rides.

Eighty five acres of the farm was later operated by a lessee as a horse farm and later sold and converted to horse barns and later sold again for condominium and housing developments. For a short time horse shows were conducted on the farm and referred to as the "Hampton's Classic". Abe also owned a horse on the farm for years, he was called "Big Red".

The current show started in 1971 by the Topping Riding Club in Sagaponack, New York as a one-day show. In 1976 it became a five-day rated show held initially at Dune Alpin Farm in East Hampton (town), New York. In 1978, its name was formally changed to the Hampton Classic and in 1982 it moved to its present location on Snake Hollow Road Bridgehampton.

In December of 1981 a 135 acre parcel of the farm was sold to Stanley Harte Jr. (The Dune Alpin Farm Co-op). First Mr. Harte bought the 85 acres of Dune Alpin Farm, and then he bought 50 additional acres nearby, paying a total of $1,625,000 for all 135 acres. The co-ops are described by Mr. Harte as ''ultraluxury'' and have attracted buyers of commensurate means. Most have paid all cash. There is no guardhouse. Mr. Harte said he saw no need for that here. But what there will be is a maintenance staff to provide almost hotel-like services for owners. Do they want to phone ahead on a Friday night and be sure the refrigerator is fully stocked with food when they arrive home or have the fireplace lit and ready by the time the owner arrives?  The staff will take care of it. Staff will also prepare the house for arrival and clean up after departure.

The community began building luxury co-op community units on the original farm of Abe Katz. The fifty acres that included the buildings that once housed cows and later horses were kept by the developers and were planned for rehabilitated into what will be a "deluxe riding and boarding facility." An additional 50 acres has been dedicated to the town of East Hampton or village as scenic easements.

Many of the other dairy, potato, and duck farms in the Hampton's were closed and sold off, a few of them becoming vinyards today. The wine being produced by these vinyards has become award winning world wide.

Long Island Duck: "The Big Duck", in Flanders, N.Y.

And now years later as I decided to start a small farm raising and breeding goats and pigs, it was only natural and fitting that my farm would be named Dune Alpine Farm.