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

Post house - "The Homestead"

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

Inventory Code: Br09B

Prepared Date: 03-10-1975

Last Modified: 01-01-1970

Click for

Photo

People

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:Post house - "The Homestead"

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):Harry Palevsky

5b-Address:South Country Rd., Brookhaven

Use

6a-Original:private home

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?: 1909 [or 1907 (Dorothy Jones)]

11c-Alterations: Originally close to road, later moved [original datasheet illegible ...].
[In October 1906, James H. Post moved the original homestead, located near to South Country Road, several hundred feet up a low hill away from the highway and rotated 180 degrees, such that the original front of the house became the back. Several additions were added, the most substantial being a 2-story addition on the west side which housed a new kitchen and private quarters for the servants. (Dorothy Hubert Jones).]

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: well house

15-Comment: Carriage House still stands as Sunday School for church, on erstwhile Post Property.

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: Surrounded by old buildings.

Other Notable Features of Building and Site

18-Notable Features: Two center front windows original. Front door was in "center" of this part. Original hand hewn beams under this section. House then looked like present "Mills Clark" house [Br09F].

Significance

19-Initial Const Date: 1821 or soon after (deed 1821)

19-Architect:

19-Builder: Calib Post

Historic and Architectural Importance

20-Importance:

Sources

21-Sources: On Brookhaven 1873 map as "C. Post." (Beers Comstock map)
Patchogue Advance, 26 Oct 1906, p.3
LI Advance 2 Oct 2008, "From the Archives of the Long Island Advance. 75 Years Ago." Residence name and occupant reported.

Theme

22-Theme:

Prepared By

Supplemental Material

[This house and surrounding estate was extensively used by the James Post family as their country home, they having another residence in Brooklyn, NY. James Post extensively improved the original Caleb Post buildings, and expanded the surrounding land holdings. The house had no central heating, and was therefore closed-up every winter. Dorothy Hubert Jones, in her commentary, indicated that the move out to Brookhaven every Spring was a major "excitement" as all the necessary accouterments, dinnerware, etc., were packed up and transported, pretty much simultaneously be both the the Post and Hubert (on the adjacent property) families. After the main house was closed up, the Posts sometimes used a smaller cottage on the estate, which they called "Postscript," for country escapes. While also without central heating, it was more easily heated by wood-burning stoves and a fireplace. (See Br09B.3)

From the 2015 Old Purchase Properties real estate listing: "Gracious colonial manor house built c. 1800. Majestic rolling lawn. 1.85 professionally landscaped acres. Large residence with 17 rooms. 7 bedrooms, 5 baths, large country kitchen with butler's pantry. Formal dining room and living room with fireplaces, parlor. Full basement and studio. Well maintained home with original floors and moldings. Secluded 20 x 44 heated pool, surrounded by new decking. Spacious screened porch. Brick patio with arbor nestled in peaceful perennial gardens." It was listed at $1,399,000.]