Ireland-Gardiner Farm
Why it's listed
Set on 24 acres along Lake Road in Greenlawn, this farm in the Town of Huntington preserves a group of eighteenth and early nineteenth century agricultural buildings. The main dwelling is a one and one-half story, shingle-clad house with a salt-box profile, a central chimney and deep overhanging eaves. Its western half was built around 1750 by Jacob Ireland, and the eastern half and rear lean-to were added in the late eighteenth century. Nearby stand a two and one-half story double barn, a shed, a corncrib and a cottage beside the pond, all from the early nineteenth century or earlier. Two mid-twentieth century garages do not contribute to the farm's historic character. The Ireland family owned the property until 1868, when the Gardiners bought it. The farm matters because few comparable groups of farm buildings survive in Huntington, and its small, plain buildings and rural setting illustrate settlement-period building and farming practices.
Significance in brief: The farm is described as one of the few surviving, relatively unaltered collections of eighteenth and nineteenth century agricultural buildings in the town of Huntington. The house reflects conservative settlement-period building practices, and the outbuildings are rare surviving examples of period farm support buildings. Its intact rural setting recalls Huntington's original agricultural way of life.
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 85002537, listed September 26, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 863 Lake Rd., Greenlawn |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | September 26, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002537 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; builder Jacob Ireland |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition; the form lists the original and present use as residence. Threats noted include zoning and developers. |
| Acreage | 24 |
| Coordinates | 40.86342, -73.38136 (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 85002537.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6068499
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.