Arthur House 1752

Written By Dino DiPietro

Here’s a detailed history of the Arthur House (also known as the William Arthur House), built in 1752 in Smithtown, NY:

🏠 Origins & Early Ownership

  • The land was originally deeded in 1747 to John Arthur by Obadiah Smith, a descendant of Smithtown’s founder.

  • In 1752, John transferred the property to his son William Arthur, and the house was constructed around that time.

Revolutionary Era Significance

  • William Arthur was a patriot with substantial land holdings in Smithtown. During the American Revolution, he hid livestock from British raids—a humorous anecdote recounts ducks getting into a cider barrel!

  • The house is notably tied to the Culper Spy Ring: in the late 1700s, it was home to Mary Woodhull Arthur, daughter of Abraham Woodhull (alias Samuel Culper Sr.), a key spy for George Washington.

    mily Succession

  • William’s descendants continued ownership:

    • His son Isaac married Mary Smith in 1792.

    • Their son, John S. Arthur, inherited the home. After his childless death, it passed to his nephew (also John S. Arthur), then was sold to Edwin A. Smith.

  • Over time, the property transferred through owners including the Brush family (Egbert, Melville) and Daniel Smith.

Civic Use & Decline

  • In 1924, Smithtown Central School District purchased the house, renaming it the “Home Economics House” until about 1963. It later served as a library processing center, storage, and after-school facility.

  • By 2007, the town considered repurposing it for a drug and alcohol education program, but safety issues and funding complications stalled plans.

Preservation Efforts

  • A 2017 appeal by historian Corey Victoria Geske urged the formation of a historic district around Town Hall, highlighting the house's Revolutionary roots and its location on the Route 25A Washington Spy Trail.

  • Situated at New York Avenue & Main Street, the structure is the only Revolutionary War–era building on that trail, and it was previously listed as endangered by the Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities.

Overall, the Arthur House stands as a pre-Revolutionary War relic, deeply rooted in Smithtown’s early history, connected to the Culper Spy Ring, and central to ongoing preservation discussions.

Dino DiPietro