Conklin, David, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1750 by David Conklin, this two-and-one-half-story, three-bay house at 2 High Street in Huntington began as the center of a large farm. Its original section has a side-entrance plan, shingle siding, interior end chimneys and twelve-over-twelve windows. A one-and-one-half-story west wing was added about 1810, along with sidelights and a shed-roofed porch at the main entrance. In the 1920s a large southwest wing was built, and a one-story rear wing followed in the 1950s. Despite these additions, the early dwelling keeps its historic appearance. A privy and a lattice-sided well house, both from the early nineteenth century, survive on the lot and recall its farming past. The house is valued as a relatively unaltered example of settlement-period building in Huntington and for its link to the Conklin family, among the town's earliest settlers. It now serves as the Huntington Historical Society's archives and museum.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a substantial, relatively unaltered example of settlement-period architecture in Huntington. It is also tied to the locally prominent Conklin family, among the first to settle in the town. The farm outbuildings reflect the property's continued agricultural use in the early nineteenth century.
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 85002513, listed September 26, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2 High St., Cold Spring Harbor |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | September 26, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002513 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect: Unknown; Builder: David Conklin |
| Architectural style | Settlement period architecture (three-bay side-hall entrance house) |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the Huntington Historical Society and used as archives/museum; condition listed as excellent, interior open by appointment only. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 40.86533, -73.42344 (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 85002513.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5232506
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.