To better appreciate the beginnings of the North Fork, the best place to start is in the ancient burial grounds that dot the East End. These beautiful sites tell the tale of northeastern Long Islands early history, preserved in stone. The names that appearBooth, Conklyn, Corwin, Fanning, Hallock, Latham, Terry, Tuthill, Wickham, Youngsread like a whos who of the North Fork.

The ancient burial grounds that dot the East End of Long Island tell the tale of the North Fork preserved in stone with names like Booth, Conklyn, Corwin, Fanning, Hallock, Latham, Terry, Tuthill, Wickham and Youngs.

South Fork Cemeteries offers a historical tour of the southern stretch of the East End, from Southampton to Montauk. This leisurely stroll reveals not only ancient burial grounds filled with beautifully engraved slate and sandstone markers but also onshore whaling, famous shipwrecks, and fascinating people. The stones introduce the forefathers and their followers who lie in quiet resting places; the author fills in the biographical detail of the common and the famous, including whalers such as Capt. Mercator Cooper, who visited Japan before Commodore Perry did; writers such as P. G. Wodehouse, who created the unforgettable Jeeves; and artists such as Jackson Pollock, whose medium was house paint.