Dowden Tannery
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
Built around 1840 along West Rogues Path in Cold Spring Harbor, this brick building served as a tannery for the Dowden family, who had operated in the village since early in the nineteenth century. It was their third location, and a stream at the rear supplied water for tanning. Workers processed kangaroo hides for drumheads and calf hides for banjo heads, and by the late nineteenth century the business supplied drumheads to the Army and Navy, toy drum makers and instrument companies. The building is two stories with three bays, a very shallow gable roof, a bracketed cornice, segmental-arched window lintels and a double-door entrance framed by fluted pilasters. Stucco was added around 1900, and two small additions followed on the west. Pasquale Scarsella bought it in 1932, and manufacturing continued until 1950. It is regarded as the earliest surviving industrial building in Huntington and the last reminder of the town's tanning industry.
Significance in brief: It is described as the earliest surviving example of industrial architecture in the town of Huntington and a rare pre-1880s brick building there. It is also the only surviving building tied to the local tanning industry and to the early commercial development of Cold Spring Harbor. Its stylish detailing sets it apart from other early local buildings.
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 85002519, listed September 26, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 210 W. Rogues Path, Cold Spring Harbor |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | September 26, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002519 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant, in fair-to-deteriorated condition (the inventory marks deteriorated), with deterioration noted as a threat; the tannery closed in 1950. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 40.83793, -73.44888 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 85002519.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5302663
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.