Smithtown unveils bid to save Arthur House, a pre-Revolutionary War home

A group of county, town and school officials in Smithtown is working to restore Arthur House, a pre-Revolutionary War era home that has sat in poor condition for years.

Arthur House was built in 1752 on the corner of state Route 25A and New York Avenue. The white house with a chimney stack was built by the Arthur family, early settlers of the Town of Smithtown. The home was once occupied by George Washington’s chief spy, Abraham Woodhull, and previous owners were either part of or related to members of the Culper Spy Ring during the Revolutionary War. The Smithtown school district has owned the property where the house stands since 1924.

The house was first home to William Arthur and his wife, Mercy Osborn, and was originally built as a farmhouse, according to a Newsday article from 1976. The school district purchased the house in 1924 as part of a deal to buy the 10-acre property.

The home has fallen into disrepair over time — its exterior faded and worn. Mark Secaur, Smithtown schools superintendent, said in an interview the district had tried several times unsuccessfully over the years to find a partner to preserve the home.

Officials from the district, town and Suffolk County announced the new partnership on Thursday while unveiling plans to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary.

“We think it’s going to be a win-win situation for all the parties involved, and, more importantly, for the generations to come to learn more about our history,” Secaur said.

While more details will emerge, Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim said the plan is for the district to turn the building over to the town. Smithtown will maintain and restore Arthur House; cost estimates are still pending, he said.

“We’re doing some legal stuff with [the district] involving easements so that we will own the building, and then we will go after grant money to completely restore it,” Wehrheim said in an interview.

About 20 years ago, he said, a developer sought to build a large-scale development on the property, and the town had nearly struck a deal to move the house to the Smithtown Historical Society’s grounds on East Main Street. However, the deal fell through.

The town will also host several events before the July Fourth celebrations, including at Town Hall and Callahans Beach in Fort Salonga. On July 3, the town will host a show at 6:30 p.m. with live entertainment and a patriotic-themed drone show over the waterfront. On July 4 at 10 a.m., an America 250 parade will head to Town Hall.

Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine announced the anniversary plans at a news conference in Kings Park on Thursday. He said the celebration “is going to remind us about our country, why it exists, how it exists, the sacrifice that was made not just by those who fought in the Revolution, but by all the veterans of our wars.”

A special installation at Town Hall will feature flags flown during the Revolutionary War. The county provided $1,500 to the town for the installation, "The flags of the American Revolution," through a grant program. There are also plans to expand the installation along Main Street in Smithtown, according to town officials.

“I think we’re the centerpiece of the history of Long Island, and we’re really going to celebrate it,” Wehrheim said.