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

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)

[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." ]

[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"]

John Deitz