Smith-Rourke House
Why it's listed
Built in 1837 for Captain William Smith, Jr., a successful sea captain turned gentleman farmer, this large house on South Country Road in East Patchogue remains a single-family home on a lot of just over one acre. The two-story, five-bay wood-frame building has a hipped tin roof, a central cupola, full-height corner pilasters, dentiled cornices and a six-column front porch topped with Tower of the Winds capitals. Its form and cupola also show touches of the emerging Italianate style. A mid-nineteenth century carriage barn with decorative stickwork stands behind it. The house was part of a 112-acre farm tract that was gradually subdivided after Smith's death in 1861; it passed to Charles Rourke in 1864. Its significance rests on architecture: it is a well-preserved example of the pattern-book Greek Revival homes built for prosperous Long Island families, and it keeps most of its original floor plan, ornament and fireplaces.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a distinguished, intact example of vernacular Greek Revival architecture on Long Island, with some Italianate influence in its cubic form, cupola and window lintels. It reflects the prosperity of the sea-oriented economy of the Patchogue area in the mid-nineteenth century. Its Tower of the Winds column capitals are noted as an unusual detail, and the carriage barn complements the house.
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 89002021, listed November 28, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 350 S. Country Rd., East Patchogue |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | November 28, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89002021 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1837-1861 |
| Architect / builder | William Smith, Jr. (builder, a sea captain) |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century/Greek Revival; Late Victorian/Italianate |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Remains in residential use as a single dwelling; integrity is described as excellent apart from limited alterations such as stuccoed foundation and chimneys and a remodeled rear dining room. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.76200, -72.97854 (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 89002021.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7544931
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.