Van Wyck-Lefferts Tide Mill
Why it's listed
Built between 1793 and 1797 by Abraham Van Wyck, this tide-powered grist mill in Lloyd Harbor, Suffolk County, is a 3½-story, timber-framed building with a gable roof, measuring 38 by 30 feet. It has changed little since the early nineteenth century. An earthen mill dam with sluice gates survives intact beside it, and the 2-acre site lies next to Mill Cove Pond and Huntington Harbor. Inside, much of the original machinery remains, including a drive system on a hurst frame, two pairs of French burr millstones, and a belt system that ran screeners, a smutter and a cup elevator. Two horses carry decorative turnings stamped with Van Wyck's name. The undershot water wheel was removed after 1929. The mill operated until the late nineteenth century and is regarded as the best surviving Long Island tide mill with its original machinery. Its structural and technological integrity led to its recording by the Historic American Engineering Record in 1975. It is now vacant and in fair condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the best surviving example on Long Island of a tide mill with its original machinery. It operated until the late nineteenth century and is described as highly significant for its structural and technological integrity. The building was measured and recorded by the Historic American Engineering Record in 1975.
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 78001916, listed December 27, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2 mi. NE of Mill and Southdown Rds., Lloyd Harbor |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | December 27, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001916 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Builder: Abraham Van Wyck |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Engineering, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant, in fair condition, on its original site; deterioration is named as a threat. The undershot water wheel was removed after 1929. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 40.89975, -73.44459 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 78001916.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7913783
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.