Benjamin, James, Homestead
Why it's listed
Built around 1785, this two-story, five-bay house with a center entrance sits on a one-acre parcel beside Reeves Bay in Flanders, on eastern Long Island. A small late nineteenth century barn stands behind it. James Benjamin, born in Southold in 1753, bought the land in 1782, and his family owned the homestead until 1864. The house is the oldest surviving residence in Flanders. It shows features typical of early Long Island building: timber frame construction, wide wood shingles, nine-over-six windows, a broad gable roof with a center brick chimney, and very little decoration. Additions were made around 1900, but the main block keeps its floor plan, wood floors, some paneling and exposed framing. Flanders remained sparsely settled and mostly agricultural through the early nineteenth century, with farming and fishing as economic mainstays. The house and barn recall that agrarian past and are recognized locally as a landmark of the community's early development.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a rare surviving late eighteenth century residence that recalls Flanders's settlement and agrarian growth. It also reflects eastern Long Island's conservative settlement-era building tradition. It is described as the oldest extant residence in Flanders and a well-known local landmark.
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 86001510, listed August 13, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1182 Flanders Rd., Flanders |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | August 13, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001510 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | circa 1785 (checked periods: 1700-1799 and 1800-1899) |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Long Island settlement-era building tradition (two-story, five-bay, center entrance, gable roof, center chimney) |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied and in use as a private residence; condition marked good and altered, on its original site. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.90328, -72.61726 (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 86001510.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6129650
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.