Havens, James, Homestead
Why it's listed
Set close to Ferry Road in central Shelter Island, this large wood-shingled farmhouse began as a two-story, three-bay dwelling with a side entrance hall, dated in the form to 1743, with construction of the main block also placed in the 1750s. James Havens, an early settler active in community affairs, was appointed to New York's Provincial Congress in 1776, and the house hosted the town's annual meetings from 1783 to 1785. His son John enlarged the building in the early and mid-nineteenth century, adding wings and later a wrap-around porch as the family prospered. The house also served at times as a post office, schoolhouse and general store. It stayed in Havens family ownership until 1925 and in single-family hands until 1966, when the Shelter Island Historical Society bought it. The heavy timber frame, period mantels, staircase and door surrounds survive. It is regarded as the island's best-known landmark of early settlement and farming.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the homestead is historically significant for its link to Shelter Island's eighteenth-century settlement and nineteenth-century growth. It is also architecturally significant as a rare surviving example of the island's settlement-period vernacular building tradition. Its original owner, James Havens, was a prominent settler appointed to the New York Provincial Congress in 1776.
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 86000701, listed April 10, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NY 114, Shelter Island |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | April 10, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000701 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Eastern Long Island vernacular building tradition |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied; owned by the Shelter Island Historical Society since 1966 and used as a museum and headquarters, in good condition on its original site. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 41.06386, -72.33080 (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 86000701.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6135718
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.