Two Historical Homes Recieve Landmark Status

Two 1700s homes have been preserved in perpetuity though the Town of Southampton's Landmark Preservation Programs, bringing the total number of historic homes preserved through the program to 16.

The homes, according to Councilwoman Bridget Flemming, received landmark status designations for "being historically and architecturally significant."

“Preserving these structures is critical to maintaining the character and heritage of our town and truly gives us a window into the past that is both educational and extremely interesting,” said Councilwoman Bridget Fleming.

The first of the homes is known as the Benjamin Foster House. It is located at 84 Montauk Highway, Watermill, across the road from the new Parrish Art Museum.

According to the town, the house was built before 1798 for Benjamin Foster, who was born in 1734 and related to Christopher Foster, the first family member to arrive in Long Island from England in 1635.

The house itself, the town said, is a one-and-a-half story half-cape form from the Federal style period, which was dominant in the area from about 1780-1840.

The second home designated is known as the Rose residence and is located at 1679 North Sea Road, in the hamlet of North Sea, which was where the earliest English settlers arrived in 1640.

According to the town, the smaller portion of the white cedar-shingled house was built about 1740 and is an early vernacular one-and-a-half story, deep half-Cape dwelling, while the larger portion is in the Greek Revival style.

If you own a historical home and would like it designated a landmark, contact Sally Spanburgh, Chair of the Landmarks & Historic Districts Board, at 631-283-6000 or sspanburgh@southamptontownny.gov