ELVIRA (sloop)
Why it's listed
Elvira is a 38-foot gaff-rigged racing sloop launched on June 9, 1906, in Patchogue, Long Island. Gilbert Monroe Smith, a self-taught builder who produced roughly 400 vessels, designed and built her for Harry Walton to race on the shallow waters of Great South Bay. She belonged to the "P" class, the largest racing boats on the bay, and is believed to be the last one still able to sail. Robert Starke owned her from 1937 and in 1957 sheathed her hull and deck in fiberglass cloth and epoxy resin, an experimental treatment then considered high technology that helped preserve the original planking. Starke donated her in 1999, and the Carmans River Maritime Center now maintains her. Restoration has included new frames, a rebuilt deck and a reconstructed mast, and the work replaces only the parts needed to keep her sailing. Her design remains unchanged. She was listed for her place in the racing history of Great South Bay and as an example of Smith's work.
Significance in brief: Elvira is argued to be a rare surviving example of a Great South Bay "P" class racing sloop, the largest racing boats on the bay, and likely the last one that can still be sailed. She represents the work of builder Gilbert M. Smith and was one of the earliest regional racing sloops to receive an experimental fiberglass and epoxy skin in 1957.
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 12000288, listed May 23, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Newey Ln., Brookhaven |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | May 23, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000288 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1906-1961 |
| Architect / builder | Gilbert Monroe Smith/ designer & builder |
| Architectural style | OTHER: "P" class racing sloop |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture, Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Under restoration by the Carmans River Maritime Center, with the aim of keeping her as an active sailing sloop on Great South Bay. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.77299, -72.89793 (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.
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 12000288.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.