Crowther House
Why it's listed
Built in 1910 on Beach Lane in Westhampton Beach, this two-story shingled summer house and its detached garage sit on a flat 1.5-acre lot enclosed by tall privet hedges. The house has a gambrel roof, long shed dormers, a columned front porch and a trellised terrace with a small fountain. Its interior is the most distinctive feature: the living, dining and entry areas form one open space with exposed but carefully finished studs and joists, a hand-crafted wood staircase and built-in storage in the dining room. The exterior blends the Shingle style with eastern Long Island's vernacular building tradition, while the quality of the woodwork reflects the Arts and Crafts movement. The architect and builder are unknown, and village building records were destroyed. The house is considered the most intact historic summer house in the village, and it survives as a record of early twentieth century resort development on eastern Long Island.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the house is the most intact historic summer house in the village and a regional interpretation of the Shingle style rooted in eastern Long Island's vernacular building tradition. Its rare, largely unchanged interior, with exposed finished framing and hand-crafted woodwork, reflects the American Arts and Crafts movement. It illustrates early twentieth century summer resort development on eastern Long Island.
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 85000630, listed March 21, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 97 Beach Lane, Westhampton Beach |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | March 21, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85000630 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1910 |
| Architectural style | Regional interpretation of the Shingle style with Dutch Colonial Revival massing and Arts and Crafts interior details |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as well maintained, with the house, garage and grounds retaining an intact historic appearance; occupied as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.80454, -72.63360 (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 85000630.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5189601
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.