Eastman Cottage
Why it's listed
Built around 1870 on a wooded hillside at the northeastern edge of Roslyn, this small frame house at 130 Mott Avenue rises one and a half stories and is clad in board and batten. Its principal facade faces north at the gable end, with a central entrance, a hipped-roof porch on four columns with scroll-sawn brackets, and decorative bargeboards and finials. A small kitchen extension projects from the rear. The cottage follows the picturesque cottage designs promoted by Davis, Downing and Vaux, which gained their appeal from simple plans, honest materials and modest ornament. It is the only survivor of a row of three similar cottages, which suggests they were built as tenant houses for a single employer. Such houses were once common in the village for workers. Despite a later two-story window bay, a modern foundation and replaced porch elements, it remains a rare intact example of the type and is valued locally for its architecture.
Significance in brief: The cottage is considered architecturally significant at the local level as a rare, intact example of a small mid-nineteenth century picturesque cottage in Roslyn. It reflects house types promoted by Davis, Downing and Vaux, with simple massing, board and batten siding and scroll-sawn ornament. It is the only survivor of a row of three similar cottages, probably built as tenant housing.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 86002635, listed October 2, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 130 Mott Ave., Roslyn |
|---|---|
| County | Nassau County |
| Listed | October 2, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002635 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Picturesque cottage tradition (Downing and Vaux) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Private residence in good condition; no threats known. Alterations include late nineteenth century east window bays, a modern foundation and replaced porch posts and deck. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.80267, -73.65408 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 86002635.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5330782
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.