48 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • APRIL 2020
OPEN HOUSE
INTRIGUING HISTORIC COLONIAL WITH WATER VIEWS OFFERS OLD-WORLD CHARM
BY TAMMY SCILEPPI
You can’t judge a book by its cover, or for
that matter, an intriguing waterfront
country house wrapped in layers of
history, that can use a good dose of TLC.
In the market for a slice of old-world
Americana? Look no further than this
rare colonial charmer, which started out
as a homestead back in the 17th century
and embodies more than five generations
of close-knit family ownership
at 30 Smith Lane in Nissequogue. For
passionate historic home lovers, it’s a
rare opportunity to put your stamp on
a beautiful estate near the edge of Stony
Brook Harbor.
“The home is on 19 waterfront acres
embellished with ancient specimen
plantings in the tranquil Village of
Nissequogue,” notes listing agent Mickey
Conlon of Douglas Elliman Real Estate.
“Originally built in 1687 for Ebenezer
Smith, the grandson of Smithtown’s
patentee Richard ‘Bull’ Smith, the home
has been in the Smith family for over
300 years, only briefly changing hands
when the Dixons Mr. and Mrs. William
H. Dixon purchased the house in 1924
and engaged architect Archibald Brown
to supervise its renovation,” Conlon adds.
“It returned to the Smith family in 1970
when Malcolm E. Smith Jr. purchased the
estate back from the Dixon family.”
The house and property are being sold
for $2,495,000 by the estate of Malcolm E.
Smith Jr., who was a direct descendant of
Smithtown’s founder, serving as trustee
of the Village of Nissequogue, and later
as its mayor.
As Ebenezer’s family grew, his dad,
Richard Smith II, expanded the original
homestead and added a larger dwelling
sometime between 1712 and 1742, according
to Colonel Rockwell’s Scrap-book.
“It was an example of architectural progression
in this burgeoning community,
whose homes still lacked flourishes such
as dormers and welcoming porches,”
writes Kyle Marshall in his new book
Americana: Farmhouses and Manors
of Long Island. “Within a few decades
the main section was again expanded to
a full five-bay length, bookended by the
original chimney stack and a new eastern
chimney.”
During the 19th century, a wraparound
porch provided a wonderful spot to take
in views of the shimmering bay. All else
stayed the same until the house was
purchased by Dixon, who sought a smart
Long Island farmhouse which would
echo the style of the island’s colonial-era
homestead houses, favoring gentility and
economy in equal measure, according to
the book.
“He commissioned Peabody, Wilson
& Brown to discreetly insert modern
conveniences and light Colonial Revival
flourishes. The involvement of practicing
architects, rather than talented
builders or gentlemen designers, was a
fairly new phenomenon on the island,”
Marshall writes, noting that the home’s
simplicity and atmosphere guided the
architects, who preserved much of the
dining room paneling and created a new
sitting room while keeping the unusual,
charming staircase in the center hall.
And the exterior received a full Colonial
Revival touch-up; fashionable and practical
dormer windows were also added,
he continues.
The house is notable for the mellow pine
wainscoting and a built-in cupboard with
sunburst carving in its domed interior
as well as for its romantic location overlooking
the harbor, with a distant view
of Long Island Sound and the property’s
beautiful box bushes and well-kept
lawns, according to Colonel Rockwell’s
Scrap-book.
Surprisingly, many of the original details
have remained intact, including the
great fireplace that was the heart of the
oldest part of the house, the dining room
paneling, and the hearth and bread oven
original to the 1687 structure, one of five
working fireplaces, according to Conlon.
Escape reality and find tranquility far from the city. This rare colonial gem
hearkens back to a simpler and gentler time.
He points out that the home needs a full
restoration.
Picture this: At one time, its cozy rooms
where families lived and gathered exuded
comfort, warmth, and familiarity.
Imagine all the antique bric-a-brac on
display, those family heirlooms, and
practical period furnishings.
“Its last major renovation was in 1924, and
the bathrooms from that period remain,
though other upgrades to the plumbing,
heating, and electrical systems have been
made since,” Conlon says, adding, “The
exterior is shingled with period shutters
and a cedar shake roof.”
The Tom Postilio & Mickey Conlon Team
agree that this special, 5-bedroom,
4-bathroom home — which isn’t far from
the main drag — is a true find.
“Nissequogue and its sister village, Head
of the Harbor, are conveniently located
near the quaint hamlet of St. James, where
a variety of charming boutiques and
superb restaurants are frequented by
locals and visitors alike,” Conlon notes.
“More mainstream shopping options
are available nearby in Smithtown, and
the Smith Haven Mall is only a couple of
miles outside of town.”
Recreational attractions include the
Nissequogue Golf Club, Silver Oak Stable,
and St. James General Store. Long Island
Macarthur is the closest airport.
“A long road runs through a dense woods,
heightening the moment when a small rise
opens up to fields and lawn that cascade
down to the beach and bay beyond,” Marshall
writes. “A graveled lane rolls down
this landscape and passes a scattered village
of barns, garages and stables before
quickly ending in front of the house.”
Like a great work of art and its noteworthy
provenance, the home’s value
is greatly enhanced due to its historical
significance.
And, with a bit of imagination and
hard work, a maverick, design-savvy
homeowner with a vision can gradually
transform this old house into an inviting
showplace, while creating their own
family’s legacy.
For more information, contact The Tom
Postilio & Mickey Conlon Team – Licensed
Associate Real Estate Brokers of Douglas
Elliman Real Estate at 212-350-8008, 212-
350-8009, 917-224-7177, or 917-543-0005.
Long ago, families would gather around this great woodburning fireplace, which
still remains. Their cherished bric-a-bric was once displayed on the mantel.
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