Schenck-Mann House
Why it's listed
Set on about three acres off Convent Road in Syosset, this 1½-story wood-shingled farmhouse began around 1700 as a three-bay western section, with an eastern addition made in the mid- to late 1700s. It has a center-hall plan, large chimneys at each end, and an exposed fieldstone panel on the west wall. The house reflects the meeting of English and Dutch building traditions on central Long Island. Its framing follows English practice, while the stone end panel and other details recall Dutch influence. It is also associated with the Schenck family, early Dutch settlers who farmed a 57-acre tract here. After roughly a decade of abandonment and vandalism, a mid-1940s owner restored the house, replicating lost windows, doors and hardware and adding dormers in an Old Dutch style. A relocated late-19th century barn stands nearby but is counted as non-contributing. The house is considered an increasingly rare early 18th century survivor.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an intact, representative example of settlement-period residential building in Syosset and Oyster Bay. It is also tied to the Schenck family, among the earliest Dutch settlers of Long Island. Its mix of English timber framing and Dutch features reflects the local blending of the two building traditions. A careful late-1940s restoration after abandonment and vandalism preserved it.
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 05000089, listed February 24, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 222 Convent Rd., Syosset |
|---|---|
| County | Nassau County |
| Listed | February 24, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000089 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c1700 - 1948 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Post Medieval English; Dutch Colonial |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a single-family dwelling; restored in the late 1940s after a period of abandonment and vandalism. A late-19th century barn on the property is non-contributing. |
| Acreage | 3.3 |
| Coordinates | 40.82192, -73.48990 (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 05000089.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7431140
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.