Nugent and Potter, Inc. is a fourth generation owned and operated business. The company was started by William Post Nugent in the early 1930′s. At the time, William was a civil engineer building golf courses throughout the northeast, including Southampton Golf Course in Southampton, NY. He saw a need for a local water well pump supplier, and in the early 1930′s began selling water well pumps out of his home. In 1933 he teamed up with Walter Potter to incorporate Nugent & Potter, Inc. with a storefront in Riverhead, NY. The business was put on hold during World War II, as both partners had to serve in the military overseas. After the war, Walter Potter was no longer involved in the business.
After William’s retirement in the 1960′s, his son, Lee Jagger Nugent, ran the business until his retirement in the 1990′s. His daughter, Constance Nugent Essay, and her husband, Richard Essay, then took charge. Their son, Lee Essay, is now a vital part of the company, along with the rest of their long-serving, knowledgeable staff.
In 1953 Nugent and Potter, Inc. moved to the present location at 1557 County Road 39 in Southampton, NY. Since then Nugent and Potter, Inc. has grown and diversified to include wholesale well, irrigation, swimming pool, plumbing, heating, drainage, filtration, and hardware supplies. In 2007 the present store was built. The old storefront is now a conference and training room, where classes are given on the various products and techniques that the company offers.