ye dd Voy, STUDY MILL POND HOUSE OYSTER BAY HAMLET FOR TOWN OF OYSTER BAY OCTOBER — DECEMBER 2018 _ DOUGLAS WILKE ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS 38 ROOSEVELT AVE. GLEN HEAD, NY.MILL POND HOUSE STUDY TOWN OF OYSTER BAY OCTOBER ~ DECEMBER 2018 SECTION I: SCOPE OF STUDY. The scope of the mill pond house study is a professional investigation to determine the physical properties of the existing cirea 1961 residence structure and related documentation from which to develop responsible options as the how the buildings future should be responsibly acted upon. The evaluation of the Mill Pond House has been conducted to include multi site structural analysis of the buildings plan layout as it evolved over the last three and one half centuries; from small one room structure to its’ present two and one half story 4,000 square foot modern designed 20" century residence. In addition all available original deeds, applicable books and articles have been scrutinized. The Town of Oyster Bay Historian was interviewed in an attempt to collaborate findings. ‘The ownership by the Townsend family has been continuous from 1661 until 1929, The ‘Town of Oyster Bay purchased the house and surrounding 1,927 grounds in 2006. Because the Governing Board of the present owner, The Town of Oyster Bay, in 1976 formally granted the Mill Pond House Historical Landmark status, the validity of that status as per the buildings existing condition is a study requirement. ‘Nine subject categories of investigation are included in the scope, namely: 1, Scope of research. 2. Present physical condition of building. . 3. Resolution of the segmented construction. 4, Pictorial elevations showing significant stages of building application. 5. Evolutionary building plans. 6. Historic record documentation of purported 1661 ~ 2018. 7. Present value to The Town of Oyster bay. 8. Options for buildings future and resources. « 9, Recommendations. Page | 1SECTION 1: SCOPE OF RESEARCH. A. Five on site investigations were conducted to generally evaluate the structures existing physical condition and periodical evolution. B. Municipal records and documentation included: (1) Queens County 1600 — 1900 Townsend ownership 127 pages. (2) Nassua County tax records 1900 — present, 24 pages, (3) Town of Oyster Bay ownership records. (4) Hofstra University archives. (5) Books by Town Historian John E. Hammond. (Images of Oyster Bay 2009), (Oyster Bay Remembered 2002). (6) Interview and follow up with Town Historian; John E. Hammond, Nov. 2018. (7) Search of applicable news articles and writings. (8) Ground Surveys: 1963 LS Delemore ; USGS 1900; USGS 1989. (9) Historic building component dating references. (10) Funding State, private foundation, grants, commercial organi Bay Hamet participants. (11) Examples of existing successful historic building uses: Hewlett House, Old Bethpage Village (Nassua); Rock Hall (TOH); Van Hostrand House (Roslyn). tion, and Oyster SECTION 2: PRESENT PHYSICAL CONDITION OF BUILDING. ‘The evaluation of The Mill Pond House has been conducted to include on site structural evaluation on 360 year evolution of structure and use in companion with document search. The existing building as it now exists is a structure that consists of original hand hewn heavy timber framing circa 1600s, plus subsequent light framing alteration and additions through the early 1900’s. During March of 2014 elements dating from 1890 to the present have been subjected to two limited arson fires. The building is now vacant but secured by an enclosing eight foot chain link fence to prevent future vandalism. The interior is infested with local wildlife, ‘The first floor of the pre 1860 foot print remains basically intact. The North kitchen wing, the earliest building segment, on a stone foundation is structurally whole but has been cosmetically altered in approximately 1960/The original loft stair remains in place. Exposed first floor ceiling beams are throughout early building segments. All are of Hardwood, hewn timber in ‘g00d condition. The interior walls are of plaster on rough wood both estimated to be dating to the mid 1850s. ‘The exterior is of wood shingle on the kitchen East elevation reveals very early wood shingles 14” to weather, secured with hand wrought iron nails dating no later than 1700. The expanded kitchen buildings’ North wall has what appear to be early 1700 windows with twelve Page | 2