Kennan, A. P. W., House
Why it's listed
Set on a 2.2-acre waterfront lot along Sydney Road in Huntington Bay, this large, rambling, L-shaped house rises two and one-half stories under a hipped roof and is covered in shingles. Built around 1900 by A.P.W. Kennan, a wealthy businessman, it features a projecting gable-roofed pavilion on the bay-facing north side. The rear has a large Palladian window in a broken pedimented gable and a porch on paired Doric columns. Tapered Doric columns and balustrades mark the side porches, and a modillioned cornice and tall chimneys define the roofline. A one-story hipped-roof garage and servants' quarters, with living spaces flanking a three-car garage, survives to the southwest and echoes the main house. The property is valued as a well-preserved example of Colonial Revival design and of the spacious homes built for affluent residents when Huntington's north shore developed rapidly around the turn of the twentieth century. It retains a high degree of architectural integrity, as well as its landscaped grounds and harbor views.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a distinguished, intact example of early twentieth century upper-income residential architecture in Huntington Bay and the Huntington multiple resource area. It is also a well-crafted Colonial Revival example, with a modillioned cornice, large Palladian window and classical entrance surround. Its landscaped grounds and matching garage/servants' quarters add to its integrity.
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 85003502, listed November 6, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Sydney Rd., Huntington Bay |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | November 6, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85003502 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Built by A.P.W. Kennan; architect unknown |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is listed as excellent, with no threats known. It remains in use as a residence, and the interior is accessible by appointment only. |
| Acreage | 2.2 |
| Coordinates | 40.90298, -73.41067 (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 85003502.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15177523
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.