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

Miller House and Farm (Allardt/Geraghty house)

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

Inventory Code: Br30C

Prepared Date: 03-10-1975

Last Modified: 01-01-1970

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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:Miller House and Farm (Allardt/Geraghty 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):Frederick E. Allardt

5b-Address:Fireplace Rd., Brookhaven

Use

6a-Original:farmhouse, post office

6b-Present:private home

Accessibility

7a-Visible From Road

7b-Interior Accessible

7b-Interior Comment: appointment only

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: [The north portion of the house was added after 1815 by Nathaniel Miller, Jr. (1815-1896).]

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: Williamsburg type gardens

15j-Other: blacksmith shop (originally Dr. Miller's

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: picket fence

Interrelationship of Building and Surroundings

17-Interrelationships:

Other Notable Features of Building and Site

18-Notable Features:

Significance

19-Initial Const Date: South portion (with entry facing south) built 1815 for Dr. Nathaniel Miller

19-Architect:

19-Builder:

Historic and Architectural Importance

20-Importance: House faced south, not road. Front door center of present porch. Dr. Miller had built the cellar of heavy wood, like a barge, to keep water out when the brook overflowed. Post office 1818, 1829, 1849.

Sources

21-Sources: on 1858 map of "Fireplace", "Dr. N. Miller" (Chace). On Brookhaven 1873 map, as "N. Miller res." Pictured in "Bellport-Brookhaven" book published 1968 by Bellport Brookhaven Historical Society. ** ["Early Photographs of the Hamlet of Brookhaven collected by George Perley Morse 1945-1949."]

Theme

22-Theme:

Prepared By

Supplemental Material

** [George Perley Morse indicates --

"Home built by Dr. Nathaniel Miller who came from a place called Springs, near East Hampton. Elijah and Abigail were his father and mother, and he was born April 17, 1784. Doctor Miller's wife was the daughter of Sarah and Col. John Havens. Two of the children were born (Mary and Nathaniel) were born about 1815 in the house of Elizabeth Ellison, while the doctor was building his home.
"The picture shows the older part of the home, which regardless of the road, faced south. The doctor built a cellar under the house of heavy wood like a barge, to keep water out, because the location was near the level of the brook.
"The Millers maintained a complete and independent farm, including a blacksmith shop and a yoke of oxen. They raised and trapped trout from their trout ponds, placed them in barrels with duck weed and shipped them to the city.
"Doctor Miller was the third postmaster of Fireplace in 1818, and was postmaster again in 1829 and 1849. Their home was no doubt the post office at the time.
"Nathaniel Miller (2nd) married Ellen Carman, Daughter of Catherine Homan and Sam Carman (2nd). They had three sons, Fred, N. Clinton and George. Nathaniel Miller worked the farm and also held various local official jobs. He built the north addition to the home.
"Nathaniel kept a diary and when his mother died September 11, 1863, he wrote 'She has gone to that home which she lived to be worthy of.' Of Big Tom Ellison he wrote, 'March 31, 1867, Mr. Ellison died. We have lost a good kind neighbor.'
"N. Clinton Miller was married and lived on the north side of Beaver Dam Road. He had no children.
"Fred Miller married Julia Ashby and had a son named Fred. The second Fred married Lillian Field, and they had a son named Fred. The third Fred married the daughter of Thomas Lyons. They now (1959) live in the old homestead.
"NOTES: Mrs. Jane Lightbody's grandmother was Sarah Havens. Also Mrs. Lightbody was a twin sister of Julia Ashby.
"Catherine Homan was the daughter of Joseph Homan and Elizabeth Hawkins.
"Dr. Miller's box of medicines is in the Suffolk County Historical Society Building at Riverhead."