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

Richard Corwin - Carl Olson house ["Willow Tree Cottage"]

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

Inventory Code:   Br05B 
Prepared Date:   1975-03-10 
Last Modified:   1970-01-01 
Original Submitter
Submitter Name:   Mrs. Paul W. Bigelow
Submitter Address:   7 Thornhedge Road

Bellport, NY 11713  
Organization:   Bellport-Brookhaven Historical Society
Identification
1-Building/Site Name:   Richard Corwin - Carl Olson house ["Willow Tree Cottage"] 
2a-County:   Suffolk    2b-Town:   Brookhaven    2c-Village:   Hamlet of Brookhaven
3-Street Location:    
Ownership
 4a-Public    4b-Private
5a-Present Owner:   Mr. And Mrs. Robert A. Keeler 5b-Address:   3650 Woodman Ave.?, Wantagh, N.Y. 11790
Use

6a-Original:   private house

6b-Present:   same

Accessibility
 7a-Visible From Road

 7b-Interior Accessible
7b-Interior Comment:   No
Building Materials
 8a-Clapboard

 8b-Stone

 8c-Brick

 8d-Board & Batten

 8e-Cobblestone

 8f-Shingles

 8g-Stucco
8-Other:   
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:    «»
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:   white picket fence
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:    
Other Notable Features of Building and Site
18-Notable Features:      «»
Significance
19-Initial Const Date:   [Late 18th century. By 1812, it clearly existed based on Town of Brookhaven Records]  
19-Architect:  
19-Builder: Richard Corwin (i)  
Historic and Architectural Importance
20-Importance:  

[Long Island Forum, December 1956, Edna Valentine Bruce, excerpt:
"On the first of September 1812 permission had been given by the Town Trustees to a certain James Homan Jr. to set a dwelling house on the common land between the houses of Richard Corwin [this site] and Robert Ellison [approximately at the location of the modern Brook House, Br06, 405 South Country Rd.].  James might sell his house but move it off the common land at 3 months notice by the Trustees. Rather an incomprehensible affair all around.  Apparently the Trustee forgot all about James.  I find no further mention of him or of his—or the Trustees'—land.

[James was drowned in the 1813 fishing accident off Fire Island, which likely complicated matters.]

"But in 1862 the Big Fire came near to burning James' house and the Corwin house, then belonging to Richard's son Silvester.  It did in fact burn part of the kitchen and Silvester bought the little Homan house of three small rooms 'the old couple having died' .... [Perhaps James' parents took possession of the house on his death.  His mother died in 1859.] and moved it across the street to become the kitchen of his own home.  In 1947, when the Olsens were taking down an old staircase in the Corwin house which they had recently bought, they discovered evidence of the 1862 fire in the scorched and blackened shingles."


For many years it was the home of Raymond Perry, artist.  In 1933, it was recorded in the Patchogue Advance as being occupied by Raymond Perry and called "Willow Tree cottage." ]

 «»
Sources
21-Sources: On 1858 map of "Fireplace" R. Corwin, Chace map.

[Long Island Advance, "From the Archives of the Long Island Advance, 75 years ago." Occupant and cottage name.

Records of the Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, NY, from 1798 to March 1856, inclusive, copied from the original records, in their order, under the direction of the Supervisor and Justices of the Peace, and published by the Authority of the Town. (Port Jefferson, N. Y., Times Steam Job Print., 1888

"At a meeting of the Trustees of the freeholders and Commonalty of the Town of Brookhaven held on the first day of September in the Year one thousand Eight hundred and twelve a petition was presented to s,d Trustees for James Homan Junr. to have liberty to Set a dwelling House on the Common Land belonging to the town in the fireplace Between the House of Richard Corwin and Robert Ellison, on the West side of the highway and the s,d Trustees after due consideration had do hereby Grant liberty to the s,d James Homan to set a dwelling house on the West side of the highway Between the House of Robert Ellisons and Richard Corwins on the Common Land that belongs to s,d Town and also to have the privilege of one Quarter of an Acre of Ground for the use of a garden which grant is on the following Viz. the s,d James Homan shall not discommode the highway and shall take his house House from off s,d Land at any time when ever the s,d Trustees shall see fit on their giving him three Months Notice or the House shall be forfeit and also when such order be given the Land is to return back to the Town again and the sd Homan shall have liberty to remove or sell his house to be removed at any time until it is forfeited but shall not Settle any other family there without a further grant from sd Trustees or their successors which is granted accordingly "Attest, Mordecai Homan, Town Clk" "At a meeting of the Trustees of the freeholders and Commonalty of the Town of Brookhaven held on the first day of September in the Year one thousand Eight hundred and twelve a petition was presented to s,d Trustees for James Homan Junr. to have liberty to Set a dwelling House on the Common Land belonging to the town in the fireplace Between the House of Richard Corwin and Robert Ellison, on the West side of the highway and the s,d Trustees after due consideration had do hereby Grant liberty to the s,d James Homan to set a dwelling house on the West side of the highway Between the House of Robert Ellisons and Richard Corwins on the Common Land that belongs to s,d Town and also to have the privilege of one Quarter of an Acre of Ground for the use of a garden which grant is on the following Viz. the s,d James Homan shall not discommode the highway and shall take his house House from off s,d Land at any time when ever the s,d Trustees shall see fit on their giving him three Months Notice or the House shall be forfeit and also when such order be given the Land is to return back to the Town again and the sd Homan shall have liberty to remove or sell his house to be removed at any time until it is forfeited but shall not Settle any other family there without a further grant from sd Trustees or their successors which is granted accordingly.
"Attest, Mordecai Homan, Town Clk"]

«»
Theme
22-Theme:    
Prepared By: 
  John Deitz  
Supplemental Material: