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

Old [1902] Presbyterian Church Manse

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

Inventory Code:   Br07.3-S 
Prepared Date:   2005-12-14 
Last Modified:   1970-01-01 
Original Submitter
Submitter Name:   John Deitz
Submitter Address:   7 Locust Rd.

Brookhaven, NY 11719  
Organization:  
Identification
1-Building/Site Name:   Old [1902] Presbyterian Church Manse 
2a-County:       2b-Town:   Brookhaven    2c-Village:   Hamlet of Brookhaven
3-Street Location:    
Ownership
 4a-Public    4b-Private
5a-Present Owner:   Dr. Claudia Taylor, DC 5b-Address:   366 South Country Rd., Brookhaven
Use

6a-Original:   Presbyterian Manse

6b-Present:   Residence and Office

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:   
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:   
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:   1902  
19-Architect:  
19-Builder:  
Historic and Architectural Importance
20-Importance:   From George Borthwick, The Church at the South, p. 246:
"Towards the close of [1902] the construction of a manse in Brookhaven village was started. During the century since 1800, when the first manse and land were sold, the ministers at South Haven had to live, at first in the one at Middle Island, and later, in the one at Bellport. Mr. James H. Post gave the lots on which it stands, and with a group of communicants from Mastic, of which Mr. William B. Dana, prominent editor of 'The Commercial and Financial Chronicle,' and Mr. Augustus Floyd were contributors, furnished the money for its erection. It was build during the fall of 1902.
"The first minister to occupy the new manse was the Rev. William Fryling …."

The Manse was reported by Rev. Borthwick and especially his wife, in a private conversation, as being cold and drafty in Winter. By the late 1950's, the building was deemed by both the congregation and its ministers as no longer suitable for a Manse. A smaller more comfortable Manse was erected adjacent to the north. The new Manse was a Shirley model home that was moved to the site.

After the new manse was constructed, the old manse was used in the later 1950s as a "parish hall," and principally housed the church school. The number of children had increased dramatically during the "baby-boom" years following WWII, and the main building on Beaver Dam road could no longer accomodate them.

The original property containing both the old and new manse was split, and the original Manse and out buildings sold for $10,500 to Hanse V. Boehler. This sale was authorized 19 October 1961 by congregational vote.

A "Manse" in Presbyterian parlance is the name given to a home supplied to a minister by the parish. In it's original meaning, it was intended to include sufficient land to support the pastorate. The original "manse" of the South Haven Presbyterian Church was a small farm along the east side of Beaverdam Creek, about where the Long Island Railroad passes.  «»
Sources
21-Sources: Borthwick, Rev. George. The Church at the South: A History of the South Haven Church Written about 1935 while he was pastor of the South Haven Church, published 1989 by the Cutchogue Presbyterian Church, which was his pastorate at the time. «»
Theme
22-Theme:    
Prepared By: 
  John Deitz  
Supplemental Material: