Building-Structure Inventory Form

Historical Sites

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

Building-Structure Inventory Form

[Bancroft House] "Blue Shutters" (aka Gilligan House )

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

Inventory Code: Br05A

Prepared Date: 08-16-1982

Last Modified: 01-01-1970

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Photo

People

Submitter

Submitter Name:

Town of Brookhaven/SPLIA

Submitter Address:

Town Hall
205 S. Ocean Ave.
Patchogue, NY 11772
631-634-7806

Organization:Brookhaven Community Development Agency

Identification

1-Building/Site Name:[Bancroft House] "Blue Shutters" (aka Gilligan House )

2a-County:Suffolk

2b-Town:Brookhaven

2c-Village:Hamlet of Brookhaven

If checked, this site is within the Fire Place (Brookhaven Hamlet) Historic District

Ownership

4a-Public Site

4b-Private Site

5a-Owner (at original survey date):George Gilligan

5b-Address:South Country Rd., Brookhaven, N.Y.

Use

6a-Original:summer 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:

13-Map:

Threats

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: Beaver Dam Creek passes in front of the house

Interrelationship of Building and Surroundings

17-Interrelationships: This house is located on South Country Road, in the hamlet of Brookhaven, on Beaver Dam Creek

Other Notable Features of Building and Site

18-Notable Features: This house was built by Edna Woolman Chase, editor of Vogue Magazine, in the 1920s after she had spent summers in a boarding house on Beaver Dam Road (now gone). It is on the site of Hulse's Land, and near where the public watering place was on Beaver Dam Creek. (see attached [map].)

Significance

19-Initial Const Date: before 1925

19-Architect:

19-Builder:

Historic and Architectural Importance

20-Importance:

Long, low, 1 1/2 story, board and batten house with one original Jacobean-style chimney. It retains the blue shutters for which it was originally named. The house faces south toward Beaver Dam Creek. [In 2003 picture, the shutters are missing.]

[Original constructed by Ilka Chase, the editor of Vogue, and her mother. She named it "Blue Bridges." ]

After about 1928, the residence was owned by Dr. and Mrs. Frederick W. Bancroft. [Apparently, it was the Bancrofts who slightly modified the name, calling it "Blue Shutters." In 1956 the Bancrofts made it their year-around home; But in 1958, the Bancrofts were forced to return to New York City because of Dr. Bancroft's failing health. In March, 1961 the home was sold to Thomas White. The house has had several owners since, including George Gilligan.]

Sources

21-Sources:

Bigelow, Stephanie, "Bellport and Brookhaven", 1968, p. 47
References to "Blue Shutters" and the Bancroft family frequently appeared in the Patchogue Advance.

Theme

22-Theme:

Prepared By

Ellen Williams, research assistant.

Supplemental Material

Patchogue Advance, 6 April 1961, p. 7:
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. White, formerly of Westbury, became owners of "Blue Shutters" on South Country Road last week. It had been the summer home for many years of Dr. and Mrs. Frederic W. Bancroft of New York City and Nova Scotia and winter home as well on Dr. Bancroft's retirement. It had formerly been the home of Ilka Chase and her mother and was originally named "Blue Bridges," The Whites have two children, Robert, 11, and Kathleen, 7. Mr. White recently purchased the Dog and Duck Restaurant in Sayville, which he will alter to include luncheon and dinners, on the supper club order. He formerly operated a packing plant. The White family had been living in Blue Shutters for four months before buying.