Long Island is known for its rich history that dates back to the Colonial Era and the American Revolution. The Battle of Long Island, fought in 1776, was the first major battle of the Revolutionary War after the United States declared their independence from Great Britain on July 4. The Culper Spy Ring was a network of George Washington’s spies, one of whose headquarters was located in Setauket. The Battle of Sag Harbor saw separatists raid the British port in a crucial victory for American independence.
All across Suffolk County, especially on the north shore, residents can enrich themselves in local history with national perspectives. With such timeless treasures comes the monumental task of preserving, restoring, and maintaining buildings, property, records, and other artifacts and memorabilia.
The Lester H. Davis House in Coram has been no exception to that obligation. The house became the center of Brookhaven Town government in 1790, after officials felt that Coram was a more central location for the seat of government than its former location in Setauket. The house served as the Town’s polling place and site of raucous Town meetings. The Davis House served in this capacity until 1885, when Brookhaven was divided into separate election districts.
The Davis House was under direct ownership of descendants of Foulk Davis, who came to Long Island from Britain in 1642. It remained under the ownership of the Davis family until the sale to the Town in 1999.
On April 15, 1986, the Brookhaven Town Board designated the Davis House as an official Town landmark, and it was added to the Register of National Historic Places on August 15, 2001.
However, the house’s condition left an extraordinary task ahead of the descendants of the Davis family, local historians, and preservationists. Much-needed repairs began in 2009 and a grand re-opening was held on Saturday, April 13.
Davis family members, historians, reenactors, tour guides, County and Town elected officials, and many others attended the ceremony. Attendees could enjoy tours of the house, chock-full of information on the Davis family and the house itself, colonial-period foods and baked goods, reenactments from the Third New York Regiment, and the adorable onsite petting zoo.
“It’s about almost a decade in the process of getting this house opened. It was a very important landmark in Brookhaven Town’s history and we’re so excited to finally have it open,” Davis House volunteer Ashley Grills told The Messenger. “Before it was the center of Town government, the house was a tavern and boarding house, so if you wanted to spend the night along with the Davis family, the house was here for that.”
The house currently has a tavern room, an election room, parlor rooms, an colonial-era kitchen with a beehive oven, a new kitchen that has been modernized for events, as well as the family burial ground in the woods behind the building.
Grills also discussed one of the patriarchs of the family, Goldsmith Davis (1756-1825), who is buried in the cemetery behind the house.
“Goldsmith Davis owned the house for a period of time,” said Grills. “He was not an elected official but he was a patriot who helped with the Burning of the Hay.”
The Burning of the Hay was a 1780 Revolutionary War mission that saw Major Benjamin Tallmadge and his men burn three hundred tons of British hay. The burning took place in Coram, just up the road from the House.
The Messenger got a tour of the house, specifically the election room, where the Town would come to cast their votes and the ballots would be counted well into the night, according to the Davis House Society. Old clerk books and records still populate the room.
Congressman Nick LaLota (R, NY-01) was also on hand to celebrate the grand opening.
“This is a fun celebration of our community’s history,” LaLota told The Messenger. “This property is a key part of the history of our island, state, and country. Our democracy has rightfully developed over centuries. We went from being a nation where only white male adult property owners could cast a vote to now being rightfully a nation where one has to be a citizen who is eighteen years old. That evolution is in furtherance of our strive to be a more perfect nation. We should continue to work to ensure that it’s easier to vote and harder to cheat, and this property and the Davis family have been demonstrative in that development.”
Brookhaven Town Councilwoman Jane Bonner (R-Rocky Point) was also on hand to enjoy the festivities. Bonner represents the Second District, which contains the Davis House.
“This is a very significant historical structure, not just in Brookhaven, but on Long Island,” Bonner told The Messenger. “In addition to being the Town’s first governmental seat, people didn’t just come because it was government; the meetings that started at this time of year were social gatherings after a long winter. The fact that so many fantastic volunteers rolled up their sleeves, got on their hands and knees, swung hammers, dug ditches, planted flowers, painted, installed heating systems, and all the renovations into this House is amazing. My grandmother always said that many hands make light work, and this is a true instance of all those hands restoring such a historic home.”
Suffolk County Legislator Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue), whose old district lines once contained the Davis House, attended to celebrate the restoration.
“Historical sites are so important. It’s so important to preserve the history of Long Island, as well as to provide a place where the younger generation can learn about the past,” Thorne told The Messenger. “Because when you know where you’ve been, you know where you’re going. So, we’re happy to attend the grand opening of the Davis House.”
Other elected officials present included Brookhaven Town Clerk Kevin LaValle (R-Selden), County Legislator Chad Lennon (R-Rocky Point), State Senator Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue), Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R-Medford), Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon (D), and representatives for County Legislator and Majority Leader Nick Caracappa (C-Selden), and Assemblyman Ed Flood (R-Port Jefferson Station).
The Davis Town Meeting House is located at 263 Middle Country Road in Coram and is maintained by the Davis House Society, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit.
