Suydam House

Written By Dino DiPietro

Here’s a detailed history of the Suydam House (Suydam Homestead) in Suffolk County, NY:

🏛️ Origins & Architecture

  • Built around 1730, the Suydam House is a classic New England–style saltbox farmhouse—one-and-a-half stories with a steeply pitched, asymmetrical gable roof and central brick chimney. It includes a one-story wing added later

  • The house’s expansion reflects its evolution: originally a one-room structure, it was enlarged around 1760 for a lean‑to kitchen, and further extended eastward by ~1790, incorporating a full gabled roof and central chimney supporting three fireplaces

🧱 Historical Significance

  • The house stands as one of Long Island’s earliest surviving homes, the only documented 18th-century dwelling in its vicinity

  • It remained occupied by the Suydam family—farmers, oystermen, boat builders—from the late 1700s until 1957

  • Recognized for both its architecture and role in settlement-era history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 27, 1988 (NRHP Ref# 88002135)

🛠️ Restoration & Current Use

  • Acquired by the Greenlawn–Centerport Historical Association in 1989, the property underwent extensive restoration through the 1990s—including structural stabilization, historically accurate windows, cedar shingles, and conservation of original hardware

  • A small barn was added for displaying historic furniture, tools, and artifacts donated by local families

  • Currently, the Homestead operates as a historic house museum, though it is occasionally closed due to volunteer availability

🪧 Historical Marker

  • A state historical marker, erected in 2006, stands at 1 Fort Salonga Road, Centerport (Route 25A), at the intersection with Centerport Road.

  • The inscription reads:

“House built 1730, enlarged 1790. Carpenter shop added in 1840. Purchased in 1988 by the Greenlawn–Centerport Historical Association.”

🏞️ Location & Context

  • The house sits on Suffolk County parkland at 1 Fort Salonga Rd, near Route 25A and Little Neck Road in Centerport, NY

  • It’s part of a cluster of historic sites in the area, including Eastern Purchase, Swego, Arthur Dove’s home, and others—all reflecting early settlement history

💡 Why It Matters

  • The Suydam House is a rare example of a continuously occupied working-class farming and maritime homestead from the colonial era through the 20th century

  • Its preservation helps illustrate Long Island’s settlement patterns, architectural styles, and community lifeways across centuries.

Dino DiPietro