Mount, William Sydney, House
Why it's listed
This two-story white clapboard house in Stony Brook, Long Island, began in 1725 as an ordinary, or tavern, built by Eleazer Hawkins, the maternal grandfather of painter William Sydney Mount. A front portion was added in 1810, followed by a later addition. Mount lived here from 1836 until his death in 1868 and painted the people and scenes around him. The attic served as his studio, and a door on the second floor still carries his name in gold on a red oval. The old ordinary kitchen has been restored to its 19th-century look using one of Mount's own sketches. Original details such as chestnut walls, chair rails and a Queen Anne door knocker remain. Outbuildings include a barn, carriage shed, corn crib and a small stone well house, though most postdate Mount's time. The house was landmarked because Mount's genre paintings, including Eel Spearing at Setauket, are seen as an unusually faithful record of his local environment. It is owned by a museum organization and used as a residence.
Significance in brief: The house was the home and studio of painter William Sydney Mount (1807-1868) from 1836 until his death. Mount's genre paintings are described as faithful portrayals of the people and land of his native Long Island. The attic studio and a door bearing his name in gold paint survive.
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 66000575, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Gould Rd. and NY 25, Stony Brook |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000575 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1807 to 1868, Mount's occupancy |
| Architect / builder | Eleazar Hawkins |
| Areas of significance | Art |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 21, 1965 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the Museums of Stony Brook but used as a private residence; open to visitors by appointment only. The attic is not in regular use. |
| Acreage | 2.3 |
| Coordinates | 40.90796, -73.13723 (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 66000575.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8018431
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.