Archeological Site Inventory Form

Historical Sites

Archeological Site Inventory Form

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Unless indicated below, this is a transcript of the original Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities/Town of Brookhaven survey form. Corrections to obvious typographical and spelling errors have been made. Corrections to factual errors, updates or comments on the information are either enclosed in [square brackets], or will be clearly indicated as updated material. Since most of the surveys were conducted in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, much of the information reflects that time period. Included in this category are sites for which some documentation may exist but are no longer extant often with little or no modern evidence at the site.

Sites which have a suffix of “S” are supplemental sites not included in the original surveys.

Archeological Site Inventory Form

Joseph Carman / Carman Lush House (now destroyed)

If checked, this is a Supplemental Form, not in the original surveys.

Inventory Code: Br16.2-S

Prepared Date: 05-03-2004

Last Modified: 01-01-1970

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Photo

People

Submitter

Submitter Name:

John Deitz

Submitter Address:

7 Locust Rd.

Brookhaven, NY 11719
631-286-3178

Organization:

Identification

1-Site Name:Joseph Carman / Carman Lush House (now destroyed)

2a-County:Suffolk

2b-Town:Brookhaven

2c-Village:Hamlet of Brookhaven

Ownership

4a-Public Site

4b-Private Site

4-Present Owner:

5a-Address:Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge

Historic and Architectural Importance

6- Description, Condition, Evidence of Site

6a-Standing Ruins

6b-Cellar Hole with Walls

6c-Surface Traces Visible

6d-Walls Without Cellar Hole

6e-Under Cultivation

6f-Erosion

6g-Underwater

6h-No Visible Evidence

It is said that the basement foundation can still be found.

7- Collection of Material from Site

7a- Surface Hunting

By Whom:

Date:

7b-Testing

By Whom:

Date:

7c-Excavation

By Whom:

Date:

7d-None

7e-Present Repository of Materials:

8- Prehistoric Cultural Affiliation or Date

9-Historical Documentation of Site

From 1901-1906, the artist Frederick Kost leased the property (Patchogue Advance, 11 May 1906)

In May, 1906, the Carman estate with the adjoining Paul Cessman farm, in all 72 acres stretching over half a mile along the Carmans River, was sold to Carman R. Lush of Hempstead for $15,000. (LI Advance, "From the Archives of the Long Island Advance" One Hundred Years Ago May 25, 2006)

Mention of the "Swan Inn," a summer guest house operated by Mrs. Bernardine B. Michelsen. may be found in the Patchogue Advance from 1935 through 1948.

10- Possibility of Site Destruction or Disturbance

Destroyed by fire, some have said to have occurred "Easter Weekend 1965." The house was said to have "contained at that time 14 bedrooms and the piano used by Irving Berlin when he was at Camp Yaphank."

From Ron Kinsella, a former chief of the Brookhaven Fire Department: "I remember the house fire being on Easter and the chief being a James Winters. He served as chief 1966-1968.
"The fire had consumed too much of the house before the fire department was activated. No attempt was made to save the house.
"The house did have a fire prior to this one and the fire was extinguished leaving most of the house in relative good condition. I can not tell you the exact date of this event but I am quite certain that it was no more then a year before the Easter fire."

Easter occurred on April 18, 1965, April 10, 1966, March 26, 1967, and April 14, 1968. No record of this fire could be found in a search of the Patchogue Advance near these dates.

11-Remarks

12- Map Location

[If an original form, the source map images were not reproducible.]

12a- 7 1/2 Minute Quad. Name:

12b- 15 Minute Quad. Name:

12c- U.S.G.S Coordinates:

12d- D.O.T. Coordinates: (if known):

Other Maps:

13- Photographs

Supplemental Material

Patchogue Advance, 5 September 1946, p. 4.

"Mr. and Mrs. Dudley Hollister of Closter, N.J., who bought the Joseph Carman place on Beaver Dam road last year, spent the weekend there. They are making arrangements to remodel the house and eventually make it their home. Mr. Hollister is connected with the photographic division of the Fairchild Engine and Airplain company of Jamaica and he reports that George Washington, Jr., a former resident of this village, is also connected with that concern."

Prepared By

John Deitz