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Ed and Judy Dart
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For The Restoration of Hermitage Hall and Day Cottage -N -A,
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Presented this
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20th Day of T\/Iay
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19931 Southold Town Supervisor KA-
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Hermitage Hall and Day Cottage
Hermitage Hall takes its name from that of the original settlement, which is now called
Peconic. The house was built circa 1878 by Jessie G. Case. The Darts took possession of the
house in the mid 1980's and they are only the fourth owners of record. At the time of purchase the
house was in dire distress, but did provide generous living space, and at a reasonable cost.
The original plan to clean up, fix up and brighten the interior was amended as they discov-
ered the superb workmanship and charm beneath the more than a century of both living and ne-
glect. While preparing the surfaces for painting, they discovered hidden beneath the layers of
time, a rich palette of Victorian earth tones and hand-painted fresco portrait medallions beneath
the soot and grime. These discoveries called for a new look and a different plan. Restoration and
reclamation became the way of life that exists to this day. The results of their labors are readily
apparent.
Victorian splendor is alive and well on Peconic Lane, thanks to the continued efforts of Ed
and Judy Dart.
Unlike Heritage Hall, the Day Cottage, named for a recent longtime owner, was built with
modest intentions, probably as a tenant farmer's house, and may have been moved to it's present
site. It predates its neighbors by about a quarter of a century. According to Mrs. Day, the house
once served as a butcher shop.
Once again the Darts have become totally committed to the exploratory process that is
part of owning an old house. This process has led to the restoration and refurbishing of original
wide-plank flooring, wood wainscoting on the interior walls, and the simple molding employed
throughout the structure. On the exterior the Darts discovered the original board-and-batten sid-
ing beneath deteriorated cedar shingles. The original siding has been refurbished and painted in a
Victorian earth tone that, while not necessarily the original color, is in keeping with the spirit in --
which the house was built and contributes greatly to the character of house and to the neighbor-
hood.
For the Landmark Comrnission
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May 20,1993 Chairman