Cold Spring Harbor Library
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Why it's listed
Built in 1913 at the corner of Shore Road and Main Street, the Cold Spring Harbor Library is a small brick civic building on a prominent landscaped lot at the western edge of the village's business district. It has one story, five bays, a hipped roof, a modillioned cornice and an octagonal cupola. The central entrance has a round-arched transom, double doors and a pedimented portico on tapered Doric columns, with a clockface above. Windows are twelve-over-twelve sash with marble lintels and sills. New York City architect Julian Peabody designed it in the Neoclassical style, and Edward Holmes built it. The library is regarded as the village's most distinguished early twentieth century civic building and has survived virtually unaltered. Its construction marks Cold Spring Harbor's shift from a seasonal summer resort to a year-round residential community. A flagpole and a rock with a commemorative plaque remain from the original setting, and a waterside town park lies behind the property.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the library is the most distinguished early twentieth century civic building in the small village of Cold Spring Harbor. It is a locally significant, virtually unaltered example of Neoclassical design by a renowned New York City architect. Its construction also reflects the village's change from a seasonal summer resort into a year-round residential community.
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 85002509, listed September 26, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1 Shore Rd., Cold Spring Harbor |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | September 26, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002509 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect Julian Peabody; builder Edward Holmes |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a library; condition listed as good, with no known threats and the original site retained. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Within district | Shore Road Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.87231, -73.46066 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 85002509.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5142359
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.