O'Donohue, C. A., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1917 on a four-acre parcel at the far eastern end of East Shore Road in Huntington Bay, this large shingled house projects toward the bay and looks across Huntington Harbor. It is a two and one-half story, three-bay, gable-roofed residence with smaller flanking wings. The central block has a two-story portico with colossal columns and a decorative balustrade, three segmental pedimented dormers, and a modillioned cornice. The entrance has a fanlight, fluted Ionic columns and sidelights. C. A. O'Donohue, a prosperous merchant, built the house during the area's development between 1880 and 1920, when wealthy individuals and contractors built summer and year-round estates on Huntington's north shore. Strict zoning has preserved the exclusive residential character of the village. Many neighboring period houses have been altered or have lost their settings, but this house survives virtually unaltered as a representative example of the fashionable homes of the district. It has no outbuildings.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a distinguished, largely unaltered example of the upper-income residences built along Huntington's north shore during its turn-of-the-century development. It shows the hallmarks of such homes: a large stylish main house, a spacious landscaped lot and a harbor view. It also displays characteristic Colonial Revival design features.
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 85002584, listed September 26, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 158 Shore Rd., Huntington |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | September 26, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002584 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; builder C. A. O'Donohue |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent; original site; no threats known; use remains residential. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 40.89974, -73.42357 (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 85002584.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5006249
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.