Soak Hide Dreen | East Hampton Town, NY

The Three Mile Harbor area has had an interesting and varied history, although intense settlement there, especially on the western shore and southern shore (where the Soak Hides Nature Preserve is located) is a fairly recent phenomenon. There is ample evidence that Native Americans frequented the harbor for centuries before the English settlers arrived in the early 1600’s. 

The local Indians established a settlement near Hands Creek, which they called “Ashawagh”, meaning “between the branches of the creek.” They named the creek “Copeces”, which transfers from Algonquin to “little place of shelter”. When it disappeared, the settlement left behind a large shell heap that has been the object of archaeological speculation, most of which points to an intense wampum manufacturing industry in the area.

Another area of known Native American activity is along Soak Hides Dreen (Tanbark Creek) which took its name from the use of the stream to soak hides in the tanning process. In addition, there have been many other Indian artifacts found along the western and southern shore of the harbor indicating its popularity as a hunting-fishing-camping location, though for reasons unknown, there were apparently no other permanent Native American settlements there.
 
(Source: Cathy-Lester-Watchtower-Management-Plan-PDF)