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

[Selah] Hawkins-Osterhout house

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

Inventory Code:   Br23 
Prepared Date:   1982-08-16 
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:   [Selah] Hawkins-Osterhout house 
2a-County:   Suffolk    2b-Town:   Brookhaven    2c-Village:   Hamlet of Brookhaven
3-Street Location:    
Ownership
 4a-Public    4b-Private
5a-Present Owner:   William Osterhout [1982] 5b-Address:   306 Beaver Dam Road, 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:   
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:  This house is located on Beaver Dam Road, which was first opened in 1735.  
Other Notable Features of Building and Site
18-Notable Features:    Map evidence suggests that this house was occupied by C. Hawkins in 1902 [probably Chauncey Lewis Hawkins, 1844-1909], and by S. Hawkins in 1897 [ and 1888, probably Selah Hawkins, 1838-1919].]  «»
Significance
19-Initial Const Date:   c. 1888; before 1897. [After 1873, before 1888]  
19-Architect:  
19-Builder: [Probably Selah Hawkins. See supplemental material.]  
Historic and Architectural Importance
20-Importance:   2 1/2 story, 3 bay, side entrance plan, gable roof house with gable end to the street. Arch-topped window in gable and double-leaf front door with arc-topped windows. 4/4 windows. Original porch with turned posts across front. [This section of the house is almost identical to the house directly to the east, Br22.] 1 1/2 story, gable roof, 2 bay wing on west. This house and its neighbor to the east (Br22) were built by the younger Hawkins brothers, grandchildren of Selah Hawkins (Br20) across the road. [See Supplemental material below.]  «»
Sources
21-Sources: Map of Suffolk County, by Hyde & Co., 1897. Repository: Long Island room, Smithtown Library, Smithtown, N.Y.
Atlas of the Ocean Shore of Suffolk County, L.I., pl No. 3, New York: E. Belcher-Hyde, publishers. 1902.
[Atlas of Babylon, Islip, and South Part of Brookhaven in Suffolk Co., N. Y. Wendelken & Co., New York. 1888. (Available this site).]
[F. W. Beers, Atlas of Long Island: 1873 Map of Brookhaven Hamlet. New York: Beers, Comstock and Cline. 1873. (Available this site.)]
«»
Theme
22-Theme:   residential  
Prepared By: 
  Ellen Williams, research assistant  
Supplemental Material:
  [While there is some ambiguity as to who built this house, I think it fairly certain that it was built by Selah Hawkins, son of Lewis Hawkins, and grandson of Selah Hawkins (the elder).

Map references associated both S. and C. Hawkins with it. It was said that "this house and its neighbor to the east (Br22) were built by the younger Hawkins brothers, grandchildren of Selah Hawkins (Br20) across the road" – these would have been Selah and Chauncey Lewis Hawkins.

The 1880 and 1900 census records offered some insight.

In 1880, the census enumerator appeared to have been moving west to east along Beaver Dam Road.  The Louis (Lewis) Hawkins household was listed first, and consisted of  himself, his wife Elmira, his son Chauncy, Chauncy's wife Elmira, and Chauncy's son George L.  Next listed was the Selah Hawkins household, consisting of himself, his wife Elma, and daughter Ella.  The next was Henry Hawkins, and included his wife Henrietta, and children Elizabeth and Sherman (also in the household was 18-year old Sadie Bartoe).  The next household listed was that of George Barnett (Burnett) (Site ID Br18B, 325 Beaver Dam Road).  Interestingly, the Harmon Hawkins household was not recorded, at least not in sequence.  It has not been found on other pages.

In the 1900 census all three brothers -- Selah, Henry, and Chauncey were listed adjacent to each other in that order. They immediately followed the Burnett household in the listing.  Following the three brothers was that of their uncle, Harmon Hawkins (Site ID Br20, 311 Beaver Dam Road). While the census enumerator appeared to be moving generally east to west along Beaver Dam Road, the Hawkins family cluster appeared not to have been taken in order. If they were to have been, Harmon's household would have followed the Burnett household.

In 1900, Chauncy's household included the three brothers' mother Elmira (their father Lewis having died in 1887, and Chauncey's wife Elmira having died in 1888). I think it likely that Chauncey was living in the old Lewis Hawkins' homestead on the north side of Beaver Dam Road, some 300 feet east of his uncle Harmon's homestead (Archeological Site Br20.1-S, about 305 Beaver Dam Road). That house was subsequently destroyed by fire.

Census and map evidence suggests a construction date 1873-1880.  By 1880, Selah Hawkins had established his own household. I think it likely that this house was built by Selah Hawkins and remained in his possession until his death in 1919, at which time it became the property of his only daughter, Ella Rose Hawkins. While Ella was a school teacher in Brooklyn, she was known to have been active in the affairs of Brookhaven Hamlet, especially the Fireplace Literary Club from early in its beginning in 1913 and the Brookhaven Free Library.

On settlement of the Ella Hawkins' estate, the house came into the possession of "Mrs. Russell." Mrs. Russell  lived across the street (probably on the site of the old Lewis Hawkins homestead in a newer house built there). Her daughter, "Mrs. Osterhout," and family then came to live in this house. (B. Michelson) "Mrs. Russell" is Emily Russell "of Hempstead" to whom Ella Rose Hawkins left personal and real property. Emily was a "cousin" of Ella.]