Imagine wrapping John Steinbeck’s home on Bluff Point with a gigantic red bow and presenting it to the literary world as a gift for the ages. This you could do today, February 27, Steinbeck’s birthday, with a cool $17.9 million, the asking price for the waterfront property where the Nobel Prize-winner once lived. In a more cultured world, that property and especially Steinbeck’s writer’s studio would be preserved for its world-wide literary value. Steinbeck wrote his last novel, The Winter of our Discontent, in that studio he named Joyous Garde, looking out on Sag Harbor Cove. His book Travels with Charley begins when Hurricane Donna kicks up those same waters and threatens his beloved boat, named for his wife, The Fayre Eleyne. So maybe we band together with half a million friends and split the costs, however that would work out? Maybe squat the property? Better yet, let’s get local, regional, national agencies interested enough to add their voices and their coffers to this worthy cause. Sag Harbor village prides itself on being a writers’ village. Steinbeck was deeply fond of our place, and even founded our first Whalers festival. Couldn’t the village, the state and beyond recognize the importance of preserving this literary treasure? We sure hope so. Happy Birthday, John Steinbeck!
Listen HERE as co-owner Kathryn Szoka joins the Southampton Press Group to discuss saving Steinbeck’s place.
SIGN this PETITION to SAVE his Sag Harbor home. Sign NOW. Share widely. Many thanks!
The Canio's Books Blog 
I am wondering whether you have contacted the natiinal registry of historic places and the natiinal endowment for the humanities for possible grant support
Good suggestion, David! We’re not certain if that step has been taken, but will look into it. Thank you!
Hello,
I wonder if anyone has reached out to the National Endowment for the Humanities (or Arts) for grants to support this cause. Have you been in touch with the National Registry of Historic Places? This should be a preserved as a museum, a la the Hemingway House in Key West.
Happy to get involved in any way I can.
Thanks, David. We’d love you to get involved. Please sign & share the petition as a first step. Then send an email elaborating on how you’d like to help. Looking forward … email: caniosculturalcafe @ gmail. com