East Hampton in Suffolk County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Clinton Academy

Photographed by Jordan Romano

1. Clinton Academy Marker

Inscription. Founded 1784 By Rev Dr. Buell. William Payne Was First Teacher. It Was The First Academy Chartered By State Board of Regents.

Erected 1975 by Suffolk County A.R.B.C.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1784.

Location. 40° 57.51′ N, 72° 11.432′ W. Marker is in East Hampton, New York, in Suffolk County. It is at the intersection of Main Street and Edwards Lane, on the right when traveling west on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 153 Main Street, East Hampton NY 11937, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the New York City Metropolitan Area

and on Long Island.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as

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the crow flies: Town Church (within shouting distance of this marker); May Groot Manson (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Sheep Fold Site 1684 (approx. 0.7 miles away); Coast Guard Beach (approx. 3½ miles away); Indian Landmark Buc-Usk-Kil (approx. 3½ miles away); Town of East Hampton (approx. 3.9 miles away); Poxabogue Windmill (approx. 4.8 miles away); Spider Legged Mill (approx. 5 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in East Hampton.

Additional commentary.
1. Historical Information
The Clinton Academy was established in 1784 as a boys' pre-college academy named after Governor George Clinton. The construction was overseen by Samuel Buell, a Yale graduate. The three-story building features a gambrel roof, a cupola, and a flagstone porch. Classes began in January 1785, and by 1786, the school had approximately 90 students. The academy became co-educational in the early 1800s and lost its charter in 1881. From 1805, records for the school showed that there was a $1.50 fee for reading and writing, $2.50 for English and Grammar $5.00 for mathematics and bookkeeping, $5.00 for logic, rhetoric, and composition, $5.00 for

Clinton Academy image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Holly Okner, October 14, 2024

2. Clinton Academy

moral philosophy, and $5.00 for French

After its closure, the building was expanded and became Clinton Hall in 1886, serving various community roles, including a community center and library. In 1919, it was renovated for the East Hampton Historical Society, which now houses nearly 20,000 artifacts related to East Hampton and hosts local lectures and art shows.

— Submitted September 24, 2025, by Holly Okner of New York, New York.

Photographed by Holly Okner, October 14, 2024

3. Clinton Academy Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on September 25, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 17, 2020, by Jordan Romano of Kings Park, New York. This page has been viewed 363 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 17, 2020, by Jordan Romano of Kings Park, New York. 2, 3. submitted on September 24, 2025, by Holly Okner of New York, New York. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide angle photo of the marker and its surroundings. Close up photo of marker. • Can you help?