Smithtown in Suffolk County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Caleb Smith House

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, November 22, 2018

1. Caleb Smith House Marker

Inscription. Originally built as a two-story farmhouse c. 1751 by Caleb Smith and his father Daniel Smith II, the building remained in the Smith family until 1888. The Brooklyn Rod and Gun Club (later named the Wyandanch Club) purchased the property and converted it for its members into this forty-four room building now before you. In 1963, New York State purchased the buildings and lands and opened the park for all in 1974. The building now houses a nature and history museum and parks offices.

Caleb's initials were found inscribed in a brick in the chimney. Built with great hewn beams and timbers, much of the original house still stands within the present building. The house has undergone a number of changes and modification since its construction over 250 years ago.

Caleb Smith (1724-1800) was the great grandson of Richard "Bull" Smith, the founding father of Smithtown. Not only a farmer, Caleb graduated from Yale in 1744, and was a judge for the Suffolk County Court and a member of the State Assembly. Martha Smith (b. 1727), from a different family, married Caleb in 1755 and they had four children who would go on to beget the later generations of Smiths who would live here.

Topics.

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1751.

Location. 40° 51.139′ N, 73° 13.522′ W. Marker is in Smithtown, New York, in Suffolk County. It is on Jericho Turnpike (New York State Route 25) east of Plymouth Boulevard, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 581 West Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown NY 11787, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the New York City Metropolitan Area

and on Long Island.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Smithtown Bull (approx. 0.8 miles away); Smith's Bull Ride (approx. 0.8 miles away); First Schoolhouse (approx. 2 miles away);

Caleb Smith House and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, November 22, 2018

2. Caleb Smith House and Marker

The marker is visible here in the lower left of the picture.

Persian Gulf and Middle East Wars Memorial (approx. 2 miles away); Vietnam War Memorial (approx. 2 miles away); Gold Star Families War Memorial (approx. 2 miles away); Women of the Armed Forces Memorial (approx. 2 miles away); Captured and Missing Americans in South East Asia Memorial (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Smithtown.

Also see . . .
1. Caleb Smith State Park Preserve (New York State Parks). (Submitted on November 27, 2018.)
2. History (Friends of Caleb Smith Preserve). "Sachem Wyandanch, a powerful Indian leader, befriended Englishman Lion Gardiner, and as a gift in gratitude for helping to rescue his kidnapped daughter, Wyandanch deeded to Gardiner all the lands that would eventually become Smithtown, so named because the town’s founder, Richard Smythe acquired these lands from Gardiner in 1663....In 1753 Caleb and his father Daniel Smith II, built the original house on the estate, which is now the Preserve. Although it has has undergone many renovations, much of the original house still stands within the present building...." (Submitted on November 27, 2018.)

Marker inset: An artist's rendering of the way the house may have looked in 1751 image. Click for full size.

3. Marker inset: An artist's rendering of the way the house may have looked in 1751

Caleb Smith House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, November 22, 2018

4. Caleb Smith House

Credits. This page was last revised on November 27, 2018. It was originally submitted on November 27, 2018, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 1,580 times since then and 90 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 27, 2018, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.