15.jpg

15.jpg

Dated July 17, 1897, this photograph shows an almost five year old Hoagland Gates summering at Shelter Island, New York. While perusing the morning’s paper, young Hoagland is seated on the front lawn in what appears to be a mid-18th century Hudson River Valley side chair. Shelter Island was an exclusive escape destination for New York’s most privileged families and both the Hoagland and the Gates families owned properties there. The waterfront location and impressive architecture of the houses visible in the image as well as Hoagland’s clean and dapper clothing and his family’s interest in expensive Colonial period antiques (or at least quality reproductions of them) all point to affluence and social pretentions. This photograph appears to show the houses along Summerfield Place and the walk overlooking Shelter Island Sound. Hoagland’s grandfather owned an impressive cottage on Summerfield Place but apparently sold it the year before this photograph was taken.