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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFrank J McIntosh Residence VOL JUDITH T. TERRY Town Hall, 53095 Main Road TOWN CLERK ® P.O. Box 1179 REGISTRAR OF VITAL STATISTICS cam® Southold, New York 11971Fax (516) 765-1823 MARRIAGE OFFICER e ° Telephone (516) 765-1801 RECORDS MANAGEMENT OFFICER FREEDOM OF INFORMATION OFFICER OFFICE OF THE TOWN CLERK TOWN OF SOUTHOLD THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED BY THE SOUTHOLD TOWN BOARD AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON MAY 31, 1994: RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby designates The Frank J. McIntosh Residence, Main Road, Greenport, N.Y. and The Nathan B. Seidman Residence, 29215 Main Road, Orient, N.Y. as Southold Town Landmarks, all in accordance with the recommendation for designation by the Southold Town Landmark Preservation Commission, and acceptance of designation by Frank J. McIntosh and Nathan B. Seidman. Judith T. Terry Southold Town Clerk June 1, 1994 r -: TOWN OF SOUTHOLD r-- or_2D "Colz m , t `Theme gracnk OMntosh Residence This structure has been designated a Landmark that contributes significantly to "the heritage of the Town V Town of South d, N w p 'Landmark Preservation Commission Supervisor h.r May 31, 1994 The Frank J McIntosh Residence Main Road, Greenport,NY The McIntosh house is most distinguished in the way its destiny has been shaped by two of the most prominent North Fork families - the Youngs and the Floyds, both of which occupied this house. When viewed from the Main Road opposite its intersection with Manhasset Avenue, the house appears today as a grand Victorian cottage. It stretches fully 60 feet across its front with,a depth of about 40 feet. It has a long gable end roof extending the full length of the structure over the second story. Attic space formed in the triangular cross section by the long gable roof is further punctured by three evenly spaced roof dormers. There are other elements including porches, balconies and a porte-co-chere with railings, trim and general eclectric detailing all suggesting that most of what one sees today on the surface dates to the 1800's Victorian Era. r Yet from an historical viewpoint it is the interior of the western most portion of the house that captures our attention for it is framed of major timbers in post and beam fashion which is characteristic of house construction in the 17th and 18th centuries. The supporting posts of this frame are spaced about ten feet apart across two bays at the front of the house and eighteen feet apart in the other direction. These posts taper inward increasing in size to the second floor from a projection of 6 3/4" at the floor to 9 1/2" at the ceiling. Because of this taper one might expect to find roof rafters notched into the framing at this point. Such is not the case,however. There is a second story,then a roof above that constructed of hand hewn rafters and collar ties joined in mortise and tenon fashion suggesting that the first floor was not constructed contiguously with the second floor. Historical writings generated over the past several hundred years pinpoint the location of a substantial post-and-beam house nearby at the head of Sterling Creek built by Colonel John Youngs (a son of the Reverend John Youngs,a town founder)in 1688, (see-attached chronology). By 1826,ten years after then current owner Deacon Thomas Youngs died, the substantial home was said to be "sawn asunder" as necessitated when the homestead was divided among the four sons of Deacon Youngs. One section of the house was said to be moved intact to the farm of Joshua P.Youngs on Main Road at the head of Sterling Lane (now Manhasset Ave). If this house is the western-most portion of the McIntosh house then it should bear close similarity to that portion of the house left behind at the head of Sterling Creek. The remaining portion of the Youngs"Old Homestead"remained in the family until abut 1901 when it too was moved, this piece ending up on lot 17 at Champlin Place in Greenport and the present home of Frank Coyle. A close examination and comparison of the McIntosh and Coyle attics does, in fact, show many similarities while there remain inconsistencies. Both attics are shaped with the same roof slope and similar spans and have very similar cross-sectional timber dimensions,however there are important differences. For example, the collar ties measure 6' -3" from the bottom of the tie to the ridge of the roof in the McIntosh house and 5' -6 1/2"from the bottom of the tie to the ridge of the Coyle house. Both attics show thatching purlins let into the rafters but in the McIntosh attic they measured 1/2"by 4 to 5"at 1'-3"on center spacing and in the Coyle they measure 1 1/2" by 3 1/2" at 1' - 1" spacing. Nevertheless the detailing is very similar as is the workmanship. Perhaps the two sections of attic were built on either side of a central chimney long since demolished. If the two houses were once located on the Youngs"Old Homestead"then it is likely that it is the western most portion(8 bays of 30'-3 in length)that is today the western portion of the McIntosh house and the eastern portion (6 bays of 25' - 1"in length) that is the Coyle house. There are Roman Numeral marks "IIII"in the fourth rafter from the west, W"in the fifth rafter and"VI"in the sixth rafter of the McIntosh attic and it is the eastern wall (the side cut) where the McIntosh house has been added to. Further exploration should be undertaken in the first floors and cellars of both residences to examine similarities and differences. ., r Frank J.McIntosh Residence Possible chronology of events to date Pre- 1662 land held in common by Southold Town settlers 1662 general allotment of land by Southold settlers. (land allocated from Southold to present day East Marion) Colonel John Youngs (1623-1698), a son of Rev. John Youngs, granted the easterly parcel of 800 acres (which included most of the present day Greenport) and locally known first as "The Farms" and later as "The Old Homestead". 1668 A"substantial"house said to have been built on a knoll at the head of Sterling Creek by Colonel John Youngs and said to employ"oak beams 18" thick". A branch of Sterling Creek formed its immediate southern and eastern boundary. Dense oak woods to the north and east said to shelter the site. 1727 Old weaving mill, a low building of"massive" beams located on the farm is attached to the west side of the original building. Other additions made to the Youngs house. House now has a large kitchen extension said to have oak flooring, some two feet wide. Fireplace said to hold eight foot logs which were brought in by horses from doors to the east and to the west. 1793 By this date the "Old Homestead" is now a two story double house due to further additions. 1816 Current owner of"Old Homestead", Deacon Thomas Youngs (sixth generation) dies. Deacon Youngs had a large family requiring a large house. 1826 "Old Homestead"Farm divided up by the four sons of Deacon Youngs. 1827 "Old Homestead" "sawn asunder" and a portion with the weaving room addition, while continuing to be occupied, was moved to the farm of Joshua P. Youngs on Main Road at the head of Sterling Lane (now Manhasset Ave.) 1832 Kitchen extension and chimney torn.down and a new kitchen and chimney added at the new site on Main Road. 1890 John B.Youngs, current owner of remaining portion of "Old Homestead"located on Sterling,Creek, dies. 1901 Final portion of"Old Homestead" moved west to lot 17 on present day Champlin Place (now the house of Frank Coyle). Refer to map _