Sag Harbor Watchcase Factory

A Brief History: The Sag Harbor Watchcase Factory is located at 15 Church Street Sag Harbor, New York.  Sag Harbor was at one point the biggest port in New York State due to the vast number of whaling ships that sailed out of its port throughout the 1700s and early 1800s. But due to the decline in need for whale oil, thanks in part to the discovery of petroleum in 1859, Sag Harbor’s industrial importance began to wane. Because of the financial pressures felt by the local community as whaling began to decline, some local whalers worked together to build a Cotton Mill. However, it would burn down in October of 1879.  But French born watchmaker Joseph Fahys saw this as an opportunity to bring his business to the area. Joseph had married Maria L’Hommedieu Payne, daughter of whaling Captain Charles Payne of Sag Habor, and built a new factory where the old Cotton Mill once stood. The Watchcase Factory building was completed an opened for production on October 21, 1881. For many years this building was a key source of production and income for local families. But after Fahy’s death in 1915 the business declined. But in 1937 the watch brand Bulova began to work out of the building until the 1980s when the factory was closed.

After nearly a century of constant use and the improper disposal of hazardous waste produced from the watch making business, the land under and surrounding the factory became dangerously toxic. The building was an eyesore for many years until in 2011 when a $40 million restoration plan began, turning the 1881 factory into luxury apartments and townhouses with multimillion-dollar price tags know known as the Watchcase Condominiums.

Haunted History: There have been claims of seeing shadowy figures in the windows of the building move through one side to another.  There have also been claims of seeing a light on in the 3rd floor window.  People have also claimed to have heard disembodied voices coming from inside the building when no one is there.