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Home My WebLink AboutWE-20A FOR OFFICE USE ONLY BUILDING-STRUCTURE INVENTORY FORM UNIQUE SITE NO. 1010.E '�-C-7 - WE-20A DIVISION FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION QUAD ' NEW YORK STATE PARKS AND RECREATION SERIES ALBANY,NEW YORK (519) 474-0479 NEG. NO. YOUR NAME: Town of Southold/SPLIA DATE: April 1988 YOUR ADDRESS: Town Hall, Main Rd. TELEPHONE: 516 765 1892 Southold LI NY 11971 ORGANIZATION (if any): Southold Town Community Development Office IDENTIFICATION I. BUILDING NAME(S): Fishers Island Administration Building 2. COUNTY: Suffolk TOWN/CITY: Southold VILLAGE: Fishers Island 3. STREET LOCATION: NW corner Atholl Crescent and Alpine Ave. 4. OWNERSHIP: a. public ❑ b. private ❑ 5. PRESENT OWNER: ADDRESS: 6. USE: Original: administration tilling. Present:utility co. and PQM Office 7. ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC: Exterior visible from public road: Yes Q No Interior accessible: Explain )res DESCRIPTION H. BUILDING a_ clapboard ❑ b. stone ❑ c. brick ❑ d. board and batten ❑ MATERIAL: e. cobblestone ❑ f. shingles [N g. stucco ❑ other: 1). STRUCTURAI. a. wood frame with interlocking joints ❑ SYSTEM: b, wood frame with light members [] (if' kn(wvn) c. masonry load bearing walls ❑ d. metal (explain) e. other 10. CONDITION: a. excellent 0 b. good ❑ c. fair ❑ d_ deteriorated 11. INTEGRITY: a. original site 0 b. moved ❑ if so,when? c. list major alterations and dates (if known): Extensive alterations by removal of 1898 detail. and added wood shingle cladding. 12. PHOTO:neg: KK XIV-9, fm NW 13. MAP: NYS DOT New London quad - , s Hawk3 Pointt I .i ! J e ' TT `.DoW V 6 #y L West r N iP {' 1 '_ i ^✓ Harbor` Goositp P oe j, \ `� Island rhar Gulf a Course a -- Fi = MILS' Island > �. Mt 1111 •`� rog' Prospect HT -- Wilderne HP-1 f WF--2 0 A 14. THREATS TO BUILDING: a. none known El b.zoning❑ c. roads ❑ d. developers ❑ e. deterioration ❑ f. ether: 15. RELATED OUTBUILDINGS AND PROPERTY: a. barn El b. carriage house ❑ c. garage ❑ d. privy ❑ e. shed ❑ f. greenhouse ❑ g. shop ❑ h. gardens ❑ i. landscape features: triangle lawn j. other: 16. SURROUNDINGS OF THE BUILDING (check more than one if necessary): a.open land El� b. woodland ❑ c. scattered buildings ❑ d.densely built-up ❑ e. commercial R) f. industrial ❑ g. residential R1 h.other: 17. INTERRELATIONSHIP OF BUILDING AND SURROUNDINGS: (Indicate if building or structure is in an historic district) Located on a grassy triangle adjacent to Fishers Island's small commercial street, an area of Equestrian Ave. directly west. Low-medium density. 1 tS. OTHER NOTABLE FEATURES OF BUILDING AND SITE (including interior features if known): 2z story, "L" shaped, hip roof building with flared pyramidal tower roof at inside corner over entrance.Qoor with side- lights and 3-part transom. Will face dormers. 6/6 windows, some with narrow sidelights. SIGNIFICANCE 111. DATE OF INITIAL CONSTRUCTION: 1898 ,- at _a cost of $27,600. ARCHITECT:° Probably H . Edward Fickin BUILDER: Probably Stetson* 0 HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL MPORTANCE: It is hard to believe that such a handsome 1898 structure could have been so completely altered by the shingle cladding and the removal of the architectural detail. This was built as the Administration Building for the E.M. and W. Ferguson Company. Later, the name of the organization was changed to Fishers Island Farms. Today, the building houses the fishers Island Utility co. , the water co. , the telephone co. , and the U.S. Post Office. 21. SOURCES: * Fishers Island, A Book of Memories. James and Joanne 'Wall, 1982, pp. 227-231. Fishers Island, N.Y. , 1614-1925. H.L. Ferguson, 1925, p. 74. Fishers Island, lts_History and Development. F.E. Hine, 1907. pp. 33-34, 199, 203. Form prepared by Kurt Kahofer , research asst . Administration Building WE-20A Fishers Island IL r ! 1 �iaov c Cottage. It was the nd Post Office, circa 1906. Note the hitching rail in the front. Cur- �• in4a y, renily, Mr.and Mrs. Richard How- a g : ---~�" urd own the cotta before them, N Mr. and Mrs. Harold Baker. If was built in 1888 of an estimated cost of s ��K $7,858. Center: the site of the ftrst - �`- Post Office. If was located in the rear z of the Mansion House. Left: This building was built in 1898 of an 6 esftmateti cast of S2 ,fi11t). ar the F;.M.and W. Fergusan Company. Fishers Island, A Book of Memories. James and Joanne Wall, 1982. I FISHERS ISLAM). As the population increased, other churches have been formed- W' the Union Chapel, erected in 1898, and a Catholic Church in 19o5. Schools—The first school was held in the Brick Yard house and ca W the pupils from the west end of the island were given free transports- Ca m tion. The present schoolhouse was built under the supervision of F Abram Gifford in 1888, and to this another room was added in 1903, p, �:s the present school building seating about sixty-five pupils. G port o ce—The first Post Office was in the rear of the Mansion House with Elizabeth Hood, daughter of Mrs. Fox as postmistress. Her duties were not arduous, as the mail came only twice a week on a small sailboat from Nloank. The first regular mail was instituted when the steamer Munnatawket was put on the route to New London. Later the office was transferred to the basement of the Murdock cottage. It was soon found that more commodious quarters would be needed, and the present Administration building was erected in 1898, large enough to give necessary quarters for the Post Office and the business offices of the Messrs. Ferguson. On the second Hour is a hall and room for a State Library, which was incorporated in 1904, and now has four thousand five hundred volumes in circulation. Golf Club—A very attractive golf course has been laid out on I)urfee meadow, a beautiful rolling tract facing the ocean, with drives over Mount Prospect ridge. A small club house stands adjacent to South Beach, where there is most-excellent surf bathing. Sportsman Club—The presence of large numbers of quail and numberless flocks of ducks suggested the formation of a sporting club. English pheasants were introduced and four pairs of Belgian hares were liberated. Of late, a special feature has been the raising of the English and Mongolian ring-neck pheasants. The club numbers among its members some of the most prominent business men in New York and vicinity. Chocomount—Chocomount, 136 feet high, is located about midway ketween Middle Farm and East End. At the foot of the eastern slope r is the largest grove of trees on the island in the midst of which is a spring of clear sparkling water. :E: "Lara Greve"—On the south shore east of the Life Saving Station CDa Fish@rs Island, Its History and Development. F.E. dine, 1907. Administration Building, Fishers Island WF-20A 74 FISHERS ISLAND ard H. Chipman. It stands on a beautiful site overlook- ing the West End, and connecting with its grounds is the p, cemetery for the Island. As this church was hardly suited to all creeds, the Union Chapel was erected in 1898, due largely to the efforts of Mr. F. E. Hine. In 19o5 a Roman Catholic Church was constructed a short distance south of the Episcopal Church. These two churches remain open throughout the year, thus afford- ing places of worship to the winter residents of the Island. One of Mr. Fox's daughters conducted the first Post Office. The mail was brought over from Noank only twice a week, so her duties were light in the little office connected with the Mansion House. After the regular mail contracts were put into effect, the Post Office was moved to the Murdock Cottage, and when the Office Building was erected in 1898, it was again moved to its present quarters. The Office Build- ing, besides housing the Post Office, is the office of the Fishers Island Farm Inc., which is the company running the different departments that the Fergusons have from time to time been forced to add to care for the over- growing numbers of summer people. The telephone and tele rah office are also in this building. A large room on the second floor is used as a meeting place for differ- ent organizations, and most of the social activities are held there during the winter. "Some of the old residents still have cause to remem- ber the old steamer Fishers Island, the first steamer to make regular trips to New London. Many others have pleasant memories of the Skip-Jack, a relic of the Island, Fishers Island, N.Y. 1614-1925. H.L. Ferguson, 1925. i p'�