Wiggins-Rolph House
Why it's listed
Located at 518 Park Avenue in Huntington village, this large shingled house of two and one-half stories was built in 1848 by Judge Moses Rolph. He incorporated an older dwelling, a circa 1750 wing built for Dr. Daniel Wiggins, as the rear ell. Wiggins practiced medicine from the house until his death in 1805 and isolated smallpox patients in a rear outbuilding that was later demolished. The five-bay front has a steeply pitched gable roof, paired interior end chimneys, six-over-six windows with louvered shutters, and a Greek Revival door surround with fluted pilasters, sidelights and a transom. Although built in the mid-nineteenth century, it keeps traits of much earlier local building, including timber framing, shingle sheathing and minimal decoration. Wings were added on both sides in the early twentieth century. Later owners included Rufus Prime and his daughter Cornelia Prime, a local philanthropist who supported the hospital, a sewing and trade school, and the town hall clock tower.
Significance in brief: It is presented as a distinctive example of mid-nineteenth century domestic architecture in Huntington that keeps settlement-period characteristics such as timber framing, shingle sheathing and multi-pane sash. It also has historical ties to locally prominent people, including Dr. Daniel Wiggins and philanthropist Cornelia Prime.
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 85002551, listed September 26, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 518 Park Ave., Huntington |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | September 26, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002551 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; builder Dr. Wiggins (circa 1750 wing) and Judge Moses Rolph (main dwelling) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival door surround on a house retaining settlement-period building traditions |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in fair condition, still used as a residence, with no known threats; side wings were added in the early twentieth century. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.87180, -73.40976 (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 85002551.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7999593
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.