Buffett, Joseph, House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
This house at 169 West Rogues Path in Cold Spring Harbor, Town of Huntington, combines two building campaigns. The older part is a three-bay, one-and-one-half story salt-box wing from about 1750, built by Joseph Buffett. Beside it stands a five-bay, shingled main section from about 1830, attributed to the locally prominent Brush family, who owned the property by 1836. The main block has a center-hall plan, paired interior end chimneys, and twelve-over-twelve and six-over-six windows. Inside, the vertical plank siding in the front hall, strap-hinged board door, and original door and window surrounds survive. The house is regarded as a representative example of settlement period architecture, with minimal decoration, shingle sheathing, and small-pane windows. Its c. 1750 wing is considered one of the oldest intact residences in the village. It also shows a common local pattern of building a larger, more fashionable house next to an original dwelling. Locally it is called the Old Buffett House, to distinguish it from the later Eliphas Buffett House.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be a representative example of settlement period architecture in Huntington. Its c. 1750 wing is one of the oldest intact residences in Cold Spring Harbor. It also shows the local practice of adding a larger, more fashionable house beside an original dwelling, a sequence that often reflected the owner's prosperity.
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 85002497, listed September 26, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 169 W. Rogues Path, Cold Spring Harbor |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | September 26, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002497 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; builder Joseph Buffett (west wing) and the Brush Family (east wing) |
| Architectural style | Settlement period architecture (salt-box wing with five-bay center-entrance main section) |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition on its original site, still used as a residence; interior described as remarkably intact. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.83796, -73.44485 (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 85002497.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14706714
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.