Before you stands the Brewster House. Built in 1665, this home is the oldest house in the Town of Brookhaven. Six generations of the Brewster family lived here, and it has witnessed more than three centuries of local history.
The reason you are able to step back in time and behold this house today is thanks to the vision of businessman, philanthropist, and preservationist Ward Melville. Melville carefully restored the Brewster House as part of his plan to preserve the architectural and cultural heritage of colonial Long Island.
Melville was especially drawn to the home’s colonial saltbox design. This architectural style came from New England and crossed the Long Island Sound from Connecticut during the 17th century, arriving here around the time the Brewster House was first constructed. The saltbox is instantly recognizable by its long, sloping rear roofline, a practical design that allows snow and rain to slide away easily.
The name “saltbox” comes from the wooden containers once kept near the fireplace hearth, where families stored salt, an essential and valuable household commodity in colonial times.
As you take the structure’s simple lines and sturdy craftsmanship, imagine the daily lives of the families who lived, worked, and gathered here, shaping the early story of Stony Brook and the surrounding region.