Unless indicated below, this is a transcript of the original Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities/Town of Brookhaven survey form. Since most of the surveys were conducted in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, much of the information reflects that time period.

Corrections to obvious typographical and spelling errors have been made. Corrections to factual errors in the original surveys, and updates or comments on the information are either enclosed in [square brackets], or are clearly indicated as updated material from the context of the comments.

Sites with an Inventory Code suffix of “S” are supplemental sites not included in the original surveys.

BUILDING-STRUCTURE INVENTORY FORM

Andrew Gildersleeve - Riker house

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

Inventory Code:   Br04 
Prepared Date:   1982-07-26 
Last Modified:   1970-01-01 
Original Submitter
Submitter Name:   Town of Brookhaven/SPLIA
Submitter Address:   Town Hall
205 S. Ocean Ave.
Patchogue, NY 11772  
Organization:   Brookhaven Community Development Agency
Identification
1-Building/Site Name:   Andrew Gildersleeve - Riker house 
2a-County:   Suffolk    2b-Town:   Brookhaven    2c-Village:   Hamlet of Brookhaven
3-Street Location:    
Ownership
 4a-Public    4b-Private
5a-Present Owner:   Kathleen Riker 5b-Address:   2527 Montauk Highway, Brookhaven
Use

6a-Original:   residence

6b-Present:   residence

Accessibility
 7a-Visible From Road

 7b-Interior Accessible
7b-Interior Comment:   by appointment
Building Materials
 8a-Clapboard

 8b-Stone

 8c-Brick

 8d-Board & Batten

 8e-Cobblestone

 8f-Shingles

 8g-Stucco
8-Other:   asbestos shingles
Structural System
 9a-Wood Frame Interlocking Joints    9b-Wood Frame Light Members:   9c-Masonry:
 9d-Metal
9d-Metal Comment:   
 9e-Other
 9e-Other Comment:   
Condition
   10a-Excellent   10b-Good   10c-Fair    10d-Deteriorated
Integrity
  11a-Original Site  11b-Moved If so, when?
11c-Alterations:   Front door moved and altered. Windows altered  «»
Photo & Map
12-Photo Photos and images
13-Map
Threats
[Threats were not evaluated in the original South Shore Estuary Survey.  They are an evaluation by J. Deitz]
  14a-None Known:   14b-Zoning   14c-Roads
  14d-Developers   14e-Deterioration
14f-Other:   
14-Comment:   
Related Outbuildings and Property
 15a-Barn  15b-Carriage House  15c-Garage
 15d-Privy  15e-Shed   15f-Greenhouse
 15g-Shop  15h-Gardens   15i-Landscape Features
15i-Landscape Features:   very close to road
15j-Other:   
15-Comment:   
Surroundings of the Building
 16a-Open Land  16b-Woodland  16c-Scattered Bldgs.
 16d-Densely Built-up  16e-Commercial  16f-Industrial
 16g-Residential 16h-Other:   
Interrelationship of Building and Surroundings
17-Interrelationships:  This structure is located in the Hamlet of Brookhaven, which was first settled in the late eighteenth century.  
Other Notable Features of Building and Site
18-Notable Features:    This structure was owned by Gildersleeve in 1858.  «»
Significance
19-Initial Const Date:   before 1858  
19-Architect:  
19-Builder: [Probably Andrew M. Gildersleeve. The 1858 Chace map indicates a B. Gildersleeve residing on the northeast corner of Old Town Road and Montauk Highway. B. Gildersleeve is likely Andrew's father, and the residence where Andrew was living at the 1850 census. Just to the east is a residence labeled A. M. Gildersleeve, undoubtedly Andrew. Since Andrew was a carpenter, he likely built the house in the interval between 1850 and 1858.]  
Historic and Architectural Importance
20-Importance:   1 1/2 story, five bay, gable roof house with high roof plate. 1 1/2 story gable roof wing on west. Five small floor-level windows under the eaves. This is one of the last of the old houses in the hamlet left on Montauk Highway.  «»
Sources
21-Sources: Map of Suffolk County, by J. Chase. New York: 1858. «»
Theme
22-Theme:    
Prepared By: 
  Ellen Williams, research assistant.  
Supplemental Material:
  Excerpt from "Field Inspection Report" dated 21 Jan 1982, by Barbara Van Liew: " Riker 2527 Montauk Highway Brookhaven A 1 1/2 story gable-roof house with one-story wing on west and [text appears to be missing …] small windows under eaves in the typical Long Island vernacular. This type of historic house greatly contributes to the visual quality of historic Montauk Highway which was one lined with such structures. Recommendation: Every effort should be made to preserve the exterior integrity of this house. Certain interior walls were formerly removed by the owner. This may have caused an internal structural weakness which probably could be corrected by introducing appropriately placed supports. Jacking should be avoided except where specially warranted as it will cause further damage.