Bowes House
Why it's listed
Built in 1899 for the locally prominent Bowes family, this shingled residence sits on a one-acre lot at a bend in Harbor Hill Drive in Huntington Bay, Suffolk County, New York, with a view of the harbor to the west. The house rises two and one-half stories under a gabled roof with overhanging eaves, exposed rafter ends, gable dormers and elongated chimneys. Bay and oriel windows, large multi-pane windows and a recessed porch on flared Doric columns wrapping the first floor give it an irregular, varied form. A circular driveway serves the property, which has no outbuildings. The house is considered significant as one of the finest examples of Shingle style architecture in the Huntington area and as a representative large summer-era home from the village's rapid growth between 1880 and 1920. Many neighboring period houses have been altered or lost their settings, but this one remains largely intact, with its landscaped lot and scenic setting preserved.
Significance in brief: It is argued to be an intact, representative example of the large upper-income residences built along Huntington's north shore during the turn-of-the-century development. It is also described as one of the most distinguished examples of the Shingle style in the Huntington multiple resource area. It retains a high degree of architectural integrity and its picturesque setting.
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 85002492, listed September 26, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 15 Harbor Hill Dr., Huntington Bay |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | September 26, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002492 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; builder unknown, built for Bowes |
| Architectural style | Shingle style |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition, still used as a residence, with no known threats; the interior is accessible by appointment only. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.90055, -73.42391 (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 85002492.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4950952
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.