Oldest Home In Hampton Bays To Be Sold to Highest Bidder

The Town of Southampton has once again put the 227-year-old Ellis Squires House on the market. The house, which is located on Newtown Road, will be sold to the highest bidder. 

This is the second time in recent months that the town has attempted to sell the house, which was purchased as part of a seven-acre CPF purchase in 2005 for a little over a million dollars.

The house, which was subdivided onto a half-acre lot after the town's initial purchase, did not generate enough bids when it was put up for sale several months ago.

According to Mary Wilson, the town's CPF manager, only one bid came in and she said, "it was too low."

The town has decided to give it a second shot, with bids due in for the Federal-style house by August 15 at 2 p.m. The town is also holding a walk through of the historical house on August 2 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The four-bedroom house, according to Wilson, sits agacent to preserved lands and an open meadow that opens up to squire pond.

According to Sally Spanburg, of the town's landmarks commission, the house was built in 1785 for Ellis Squires Sr. (1738-1822) and was designated a town landmark in 2007.

A more complete history of the house, written by Henry Moeller and Zach Studenroth is attached to this article as a PDF.

Spanburg says that it is important for buyers to note that when they opt to purchase a designated as a historic landmark, they are eligible to take advantage several programs. Among them a tax abatement and an easement program.

Spanburg says that under the tax abatement program, an owner can get a tax abatement on the cost of the improved value of the home for five years. And under the easement program, an owner can apply for a historic preservation easement with the town, which places a restrictive easement on the house. The town will purchase between five and ten percent of the value of the property for the easement, which Spanburg, basically keeps the property intact in perpetuity. 

Brenda Berntstein, of the , noted that the house, is in need of extensive repairs and the historical society at one time considered taking it over to use for fundraisers, however quickly released that the society does not have the funds for the upkeep of the house. 

"There is really not much that can be done but to auction this building," she said. "Had we been able to finish an apartment and rent it or some such thing, it would have been a different story."

Bid specifications will be available online, starting July 19 and can be accessed by clicking here. 

Would you buy this or another historical home. Post your thoughts in the comment section below.