Historic Davis House in Coram restored

After years of campaigning and renovation, the exterior of the historic Davis House in Coram has been restored.

Once the seat of government for the Town of Brookhaven, the Davis House was built in the 1750s and hosted the government’s annual meetings from 1790 to 1884.

Restoration of the interior, which has been stripped to the framing, will take more time and money, said Coram Civic Association president Erma Gluck.

But the exterior has been spruced up and painted, with landscaping done as well.

“We’re thrilled,” Gluck said. “Outside, it looks fantastic.”

“I don’t even know if it looked that good originally,” she added.

“I am excited to see that work to the exterior of the Davis House is finally complete,” Town Councilwoman Jane Bonner said in a news release. “Thanks to the work of our Parks Department, this historic property, which previously sat in decay for too many years, has taken another step closer to being a benefit to our residents and community organizations.”

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The house likely was originally owned by local tavern keeper Elijah Davis, according to a Brookhaven Town release. After it served as the town seat, it also was used as a temperance house in the 1800s, then a private residence from 1890 onward.

Gluck said restoration will continue, though she was uncertain how much work or money would be needed to restore the interior.

“We don’t know how long it will take to get the grant funding for that, but the town did agree to at least get the exterior and landscaping done,” she said. “It makes for a nice gathering. We have our tree lighting in December, and our civic had planted the Christmas tree in the corner of the land there. Maybe we can get Santa to sit on the porch.”

Pictured above: The historic Davis House in Coram, built in the 1750s, was once the seat of government for the Town of Brookhaven. (Sept. 30, 2012)