Historic Series: Prime House and Octagon House

29 Monday Oct 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Historic Places

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architecture, clapboard, ezra prime, Heckscher Park, historic, history, huntington, long island, new york, Octagon House, prime house

One of the prominent families in the history of Huntington were the Primes. Ezra C. Prime, son of Ebenezer Prime II, played an important part in the town’s industrial history with the business of his thimble factory. He returned from New York City in the 1840s where he owned a silver and jewelry business. Upon his arrival, he built his shop on Main Street and soon after moved the location across the street.

By 1860, Prime owned a significant amount of land from both sides of Main Street. His original house on Prime Avenue, built in 1855, sits across from Heckscher Park where Prime built his dam. The clapboard home is two stories high with a low sloped roof in the back. The rooms were fairly large and inside the home there was a common hallway with an apartment on each side.

The back of the home included slave quarters so it was used as housing for workers as well and is the only example of this type of residence. Its design showcases six-over-six sash windows and sidelights around the door. In 1920, it was converted into a single-family home and cellar fireplaces were added in 1951. All the original moldings, hardware and door are still in tact as well as the fireplaces and oven in the basement.

In 1859, Prime built the octagon house next door. No one knows for sure if it was housing for his employees or just another home for his family but it was lived in until the 1920s. The home was a two-story building with a stucco exterior and hip-roofed cupola. These were built to help with ventilation. And its front porch is a site to see.

The house also showcases a bracketed cornice with subtle detail work that surrounds the top of the house. Think of this as outside molding. It gives the home a little style to play off the hard stucco look. The home’s walls are also 18 inches thick. Here is another beautiful building that is the only one of its kind in the area.

Besides being smart and ambitious Ezra Prime was a creative man as well. He has definitely left his mark on Huntington and, like his homes, has created a history that will always stand strong and never be forgotten.

Historic Series: The Henry Townsend House

15 Monday Oct 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Historic Places

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historic, history, huntington, long island, new york, The Henry Townsend House, west neck district, west neck road

The Henry Townsend House is a beautiful site. Built in 1830 by Henry Townsend himself, this historic home sits on an acre and a half of land. It is part of the West Neck Historic Road Historic District with many other homes and buildings from the 19th century.

Surrounded by a picket fence the property includes a garage, smokehouse, well, shed and a privy which is an outside bathroom. You will see a lot of exterior toilets with older homes in this area. From 1858 to 1909 it was owned by the Scudder family and later the Conklins until 1911. The home was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 at which W.B. Young was the owner.

From first glance, there is a lot to take in. The house is very elaborate in its design and has a great amount of decorative elements that really bring it to life. With one-and-a-half stories, it features a center-hall plan and a one-story side wing. This wing received exterior alterations in the 1850s such as the overhanging eaves above the porch. The glass porch in the back of the home is a much recent addition.

The front porch is held up with posts that feature scrolled corner braces. This design element is continued throughout the entire home. You will notice it significantly on the street side in the carved rafter ends of the home. This Swiss-inspired detailing creates a doll house look and adds an artistic feel to the overall design.

The garage was originally a carriage house built with clapboard design as well. This too has exposed rafter ends included in its one-and-a-half story plan. The six over six sash windows are also very common for this time period.

Because it is part of the West Neck District, the Henry Townsend House is of great significance. It expresses a love for design that you can clearly see. It’s nice to know that the current owners have kept it in such amazing shape. With the colorful flowers and lush foliage, they have brought life to the home, making this historic piece of art a modern day dream.

Historic Series: Mill Pond Park

19 Wednesday Sep 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Historic Places

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animals, bellmore, bellmore patch, ducks, historic, history, lake, long island, mill pond park, nassau county, nature, new york, patch, photography, swans, trees

When I first starting writing for the Bellmore Patch, I wanted to write about a place with hidden beauty. I ventured out to the water in hopes of getting some nice views of the East Bay. I am sure anyone from Bellmore can understand my frustration when I realized those views were only blocked by private homes. I drove around for almost an hour and decided to head back. On my way home I passed Mill Pond Park. I stopped immediately.

Being that it was a nice day, I was excited to check out the lake and capture some nice shots. It was around 4:30 p.m. and the sun was just starting to set. The light that glimmered off the water and against the trees was really beautiful. The park had a sense of peace, which I found appealing. I found it interesting that when I turned back I could see the many cars that passed on Merrick Road yet I felt like I was in another world. This 54-acre preserve seemed like a nice place to walk, sit, read or just simply appreciate what mother nature has given us.

I slowly walked up the path to the right of the lake and fell in love with the trees. One of my favorite characters of nature, trees carry such knowledge and warmth. They see everything before them and hear the sounds that surround them. The detail on some of these particular trees were captivating. History was telling its story right in front of me and I was taking it all in.

Ducks, geese and swans call the Mill Pond home and they are such a delight to be around. There was a small group by the path I had to capture with my camera. They were so calm and comfortable that it almost seemed they were unaware of their surroundings. I soon realized that they noticed I was there and kept an eye on what I was doing.

On the other side of the lake it was slightly a different story. There must have been almost 100 ducks in the water and although they weren’t loud they were much more active. At some point they made me laugh because of their silliness. I find it amusing how they communicate and play. Just another reason to visit Mill Pond Park.

From what I have learned, this pond has been there for more than 100 years. After looking at a 1914 historic map, it seemed it was owned by the Brooklyn City Water Works like most ponds in the area. New York City received most of its water from these ponds during this time. Although the Brooklyn City Water Works is not there anymore, you can still visit the small pumping station northwest of the pond.

A 1927 map of Nassau County has it marked as Jones Pond. That, I assume, was named after S. J. Jones considering his name was listed on the map next to the pond. After some time it was also named after Thomas Jones. It was later acquired by Nassau County in 1967. Thanks to Clarence Anspake, president of The Historical Society of Bellmore, all my findings were confirmed as well as learning some new and interesting facts about the area.

As you look at my photos, try to imagine that this is the first time you are seeing the park. Take your own inspiration from what my lens has captured and gain a new appreciation for what it has to offer. A little peace and quiet is not all Mill Pond Park is good for. With its naturalistic beauty and a setting far from reality you can surely find a new and improved sense of self and unique view on the world around you.

Historic Series: Civil War Memories

02 Sunday Sep 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Historic Places

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british troops, burying ground, Fort Golgotha, historic, history, huntington, long island, new york, old burial hill, Old First Presbyterian Church, Soldiers and Sailors building

The historic Soldiers and Sailors building in Huntington, NY is one of the most noticeable on Main Street. It sits on Old Burial Hill, which is sometimes also called Old Burying Ground.

Established sometime in the 17th century, Old Burial Hill is the earliest known public cemetery in Huntington and bears witness to war, violence and hardship for almost seven years. Starting in 1776, Huntington was occupied by the British troops and the residents experienced change like you wouldn’t believe.

Upon this land stood Fort Golgotha. It was built by the British with wood from the Old First Presbyterian Church which was torn down against the towns wishes. Colonel Benjamin Thompson ordered this construction and forced local residents to help. Even the Huntington military was forced to follow British orders. Not only was the area being taken over, the lack of respect for the dead was clearly shown through the removal of over one hundred tombstones. These were later used in the fort to create fireplaces, ovens and stone floors.

If that wasn’t enough, Colonel Thompson blatantly showed no regard for one of the church’s ministers, Rev. Ebenezer Prime. He had the forts exit be built right on his grave so when he passed through he would walk all over him. This especially made the townspeople upset and angry. After the British troops left in 1783, Fort Golgotha was torn down and the Old First Presbyterian Church was reconstructed a year later where it still stands today.

The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building was built to be a memorial for the brave men who fought and died in the Civil War. In 1886, the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Association was founded by veterans and residents of Huntington and thanks to their fund raising efforts the building was finally completed in 1892. It was actually designed by the New York City firm of Cady, Berg and See which was very successful at the time. This proves that Huntington had picked itself back up and became an ideal place to live despite the war and its small population.

The building’s architecture depicts the Tudor Revival style of design. This style showcases natural elements and is created with simple and rustic elements. Although there is a good amount of detail it is not ornately presented like Victorian or Art Nouveau. It has heavy lines and looks more structurally sound. Most had high chimneys, pillars and pitched roofs and reflected the Earth’s neutral colors. It was also inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement which rejected mass production and focused on uniqueness and designs of the past.

For Huntington’s 250th anniversary it received the cannon on the side of the building. A gift from the federal government, this cannon once protected New York Harbor. Until 1958, the Huntington Public Library called the building home but later moved to its current location due to space restrictions. Since then it has been used for the town’s offices and is now the office for the Town Historian, currently Robert Hughes. To show their gratitude for their dedication it was donated to the Huntington Historical Society in 2000 for their many efforts to spread awareness of the memorial.

Since the completion of its restoration in 2008, the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building now showcases an exhibit gallery as well as a visitor center. It is open most days of the week to the public. For more information you can call 631-427-4075.