Moran Trust Names Richard Barons Executive Director

The Thomas Moran Trust in East Hampton Village is starting the next phase of its restoration work with a new board. 

Peter M. Wolf, the founder outgoing chairman, and Arthur Graham, the incoming chairman, announced the new board elections on Tuesday. 

“The first phase has been successfully completed over the past five years," Wolf said. "The founding board acquired the property from Guild Hall, selected restoration consultants, engineers, and architects to develop the plans, secured significant financing, obtained virtually all rights and permissions required by the Village of East Hampton, and developed the vision for the property going forward.”

Richard Barons, who is the executive director of the East Hampton Historical Society, will replace Marti Mayo, as the trust's executive director. Mayo will remain with the trust as a consultant "to assure a smooth transition and assist Mr. Barons as required," a statement from the trust said.

In addition to Graham, the board now consists of Curt Schade, as vice president, Alan Mitchell, as treasurer, Maureen Bluedorn, as secretary, Barbara Borsack, who is the East Hampton Village deputy mayor, Bill Fleming, Frank Newbold, and Bruce A. T. Siska.

“We want to acknowledge the debt that the Town and the Village of East Hampton owe to Peter Wolf and the outgoing Thomas Moran Trust board," Graham said. "Without their tireless and unselfish work over the past five years this treasure could have been lost forever. The new board is grateful that so much has been achieved, which sets the stage forwhat will become a meaningful contribution to the region and to the nation with the restoration of this National Historic Landmark property.”

The condition of the Queen-Anne style shingled house on Main Street, where artists Thomas Moran and Mary Nimmo Moran created much of their work, had been deteriorating for quite some time and the trust was established in 2007 to restore and oversee the use of the National Historic Landmark.

The studio is said to have played a significant role in American art history, and the property "is vital in understanding East Hampton history and the social milieu of New York City and eastern Long Island in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries," the trust said.

The Moran family lived there for 63 summers. Mary Nimmo Moran died in 1899, but Thomas Moran stayed there for another 22 seasons. Their daughter Ruth Moran lived there until she died in 1948. Condie and Elizabeth Lamb bought the property at an auction, and had it  designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965. Elizabeth Lamb lived there until her death in 2004, though the property was given to Guild Hall when her husband died in 1990. In 2008, Guild Hall deeded the property to the the trust to assure its restoration of the studio, its four out buildings, and historic gardens, and ensure accessibility to the public.

Wolf was named the Honorary Chairman. “With considerable cash in the bank, the new board will proceed into Phase II, restoration of the studio, four out buildings and historic gardens. Phase III will include planning and programming for public enjoyment of the property."