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

19-Initial Const Date: between 1858 and 1873, c. 1870. [Recent research suggests that the origin of this house may have been as early as 1790-1800.]

19-Architect:

19-Builder: [Perhaps Nehemiah Hulse.]

[ In the 18th century, various members of the Hulse family are known to have owned property and meadow lots in Fire Place, including John Hulse (Sr. & Jr.), Richard Hulse, and Thomas Hulse. From the 1751 will of John Hulse Jr., we know that properties he owned in Fire Place were distributed abong his sons. In the18th century records of the Town of Brookhaven, Hulses have several mentions relative to their properties, including especially land along Beaver Dam creek. From the 1800 census, we know that Nehemiah Hulse, John Jr.'s son, was then living in Fire Place, probably on the site of this house. A Hulse family cemetery was located on this site. 19th century maps show the site to include the parcel that contains they cemetery. The earliest death date clearly recorded in the cemetery is 1849. The newest death date is 1914. George Perley Morse (1940-50s) indicates in his "scrapbook" that this house was built by Nehemiah Hulse. This evidence suggests that the origin of this house may have been late 18th century. ]

[While this house does not show on the 1858 Chace Map, this is not proof that it did not exist. Other dwelling houses known to have existed in 1858 are not show.]

Ellen Williams, research assistant.

[A "S. Rhode" editorship of the Brooklyn Eagle has not been confirmed. Through much of the 20th century, the house was owned by the Rohde/Gwynne family. "S. Rhode" could be a reference to Sophia Rohde, grandmother to Florence Rohde Gwynne. See Hamlet People database.]

["Mrs. J. M. Hodges" is shown on the 1888 Wendelken map.]

[W. W. Nicoll shown on the 1873 Beers map was also found in the 1870 census of Fire Place. He was not found in Brookhaven Hamlet 1n 1880. See the Hamlet People database.]

[The following undated clipping (microfilmed in 1972) is from the Patchogue, L.I. Advance.
"Seamen's" House Belonged to Rohde, Not John Seamen
BROOKHAVEN – Mrs. Florence Gwynne's home on the corner of Beaver Dam road and Fire Place Neck road never was John Seamen's house, as was stated in a story on the Union Dime club in last week's Advance.
The house was bought by Mrs. Gwynne's father, Freeman J. Rohde, from the Riverhead bank in 1901, and it is thought to have served as the parish house for St. James Episcopal church before that.

Mr. Rohde had ridden out from New York city on his bicycle and spent the night at Starke's hotel on Bay road. He was so favorably impressed with Brookhaven village that, before he left, he bought the house and property from Sydney Hawkins. He did not occupy it but rented it for several years to the Misses Jessie and Emma Robinson. John Seamen, who drove a stage-coach, made his home with them and hence the property was often referred to as "John Seamen's place."]

An article in the Suffolk County News (Sayville), 15 Nov, 1901, suggests that the property was purchased from William Sidney Hawkins and his wife in 1901 for a consideration of $1,500 , not from the Riverhead Bank. William Sidney (Sid) Hawkins was a real estate dealer whose residence and office was on South Country road, Brookhaven hamlet, NY.