Toll Gate House
Why it's listed
Set on a knoll within Roslyn Cemetery in Greenvale, this small board-and-batten cottage dates to about 1860. It is traditionally identified as the dwelling of the keeper of the east toll gate on the Flushing-North Hempstead Turnpike, one of two toll houses believed to have been built at Roslyn when the road opened through the village. A December 1860 deed for the cemetery land mentions the new toll gate east of the village. Later cemetery expansion enclosed the house and the old turnpike right-of-way, which protected it from development along Route 25-A. The cottage is a one-and-a-half story frame building with scalloped bargeboards, paired four-over-four windows and a center hall plan. It is valued as a rare surviving example of mid-nineteenth century vernacular architecture and early balloon framing in Nassau County. A 1975-1976 restoration rebuilt the foundation and chimney, replaced the roof and porch, and returned the house to residential use.
Significance in brief: It is traditionally identified as the home of the keeper of the east toll gate on the Flushing-North Hempstead Turnpike. It is a fine example of mid-nineteenth century vernacular frame architecture and one of few from the period left in Nassau County. It also shows early balloon frame construction and retains its carpenter Gothic design.
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 77000952, listed August 16, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Northern Blvd., Greenvale |
|---|---|
| County | Nassau County |
| Listed | August 16, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77000952 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1860 |
| Architectural style | Vernacular (carpenter Gothic, board and batten) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored in 1975-1976 and in use as a private residence; condition listed as excellent. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.80880, -73.63166 (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 77000952.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14707492
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.