Hawkins, Robert, Homestead
Why it's listed
Set on a flat two-acre parcel beside the Carmans River in Yaphank, this clapboard house with a brick foundation was built around 1855 by Robert Hewlett Hawkins. Born in Yaphank in 1817, Hawkins moved to New York City, prospered as a merchant, and returned in 1850 to care for his blind father. His country seat is a two-story, three-bay Italianate residence with a cruciform plan, low bracketed gable roofs, a wraparound verandah, paired and round-arched windows, and a large glazed cupola. Inside, twin parlors, a music room and a dining room retain ornamental plasterwork, mantels and molded surrounds. Most Yaphank homes were modest vernacular farmhouses, so this one stood out as the village's most stylish period residence. A small rear outbuilding, probably a stable, carriage shed or workshop, also contributes to the property, though it is deteriorated. The Hawkins family held the property until 1887, and it is now county-owned and houses the local historical society.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is the finest example of mid-nineteenth century Italianate residential architecture in Yaphank, a village of mostly modest vernacular farmhouses. It displays a cruciform plan, bracketed low gable roofs, a decorated verandah, arched and paired windows, and a prominent cupola. It also reflects the wealth and taste of Hawkins, a retired New York City merchant who returned to Yaphank.
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 86000702, listed April 10, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Yaphank Ave., Yaphank |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | April 10, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000702 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the County of Suffolk and used as headquarters of the Yaphank Historical Society; the house is largely intact, while the rear support building is deteriorated and slated for restoration. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 40.81784, -72.91733 (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 86000702.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7345328
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.