Bumpstead, John, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1835 for John Bumpstead, this small farmhouse at 473 Woodbury Road in Cold Spring Harbor is a one-and-one-half-story clapboard dwelling with a shed-roofed side wing. It has a three-bay, side-entrance plan, a shed-roofed porch on square columns, six-over-six sash windows and an interior end chimney. The west wing was added in the late nineteenth century and later altered for storage. The property was listed because it shows how traditional building practices from Huntington's 1653 settlement continued into the nineteenth century, including heavy timber framing and small-pane windows. Its interior is almost entirely intact, with original moldings, door and window surrounds, hand-hewn framing and period hardware; only the kitchen fireplace was closed in the early twentieth century. A late nineteenth century barn and shed on the two-acre site reflect its continued use as a farm. The Hewlett family owned it in the late nineteenth century.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be a representative example of late settlement period architecture in Huntington, keeping traditional building practices such as heavy timber framing, a three-bay side-entrance plan and small-pane sash windows. It is especially notable for its virtually unaltered interior, which is rare among the town's nineteenth-century buildings. Two late nineteenth century farm outbuildings also contribute.
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 85002499, listed September 26, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 473 Woodbury Rd., Cold Spring Harbor |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | September 26, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002499 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | John Bumpstead (builder) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant in the inventory form, in excellent condition, on its original site, with no known threats. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 40.84578, -73.45000 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 85002499.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6223840
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.