36 Main St, Roslyn, NY, 11576

A. Nostrand House

80 East Broadway, Roslyn

Date Built1835
Original UseResidence
Restoration StatusCompleted Restoration Date1974
Roslyn Landmark Society Covenant Yes
View House Tour Details 1974

Eb122

The origins of the "A. Nostrand house", originally sited on the west side of the Roslyn-Montrose, or Glen Cove Highway (now Bryant Avenue), is still something of a mystery. The land on which it stood was part of the Richard Tatterson farm, passing to his son John in 1835. (Queens County Liber JJ of Deeds, page 482). Speaking of this vicinity, Henry Western Eastman's history of Roslyn, published sequentially in the Roslyn News during 1879, says that prior to William Hicks' arrival in 1828, the only houses along the east side of the harbor were the Kirk-Jackson farmhouse (Cedarmere), the Pearsall house (Willowmere), the Mudge farmhouse, and a small tenant house built for a laborer. Much of the subsequent 19th century harbor development, the wharfs and landings, was due to the enterprise of William Hicks and later to his collaborator Joseph W. Moulton, the co-authors of the Montrose village plan.

The Walling Map of 1859 shows three houses side by side, between the highway and the southernmost of two ponds just inland from Hempstead Harbor. The houses were then occupied by J.J. Hegeman, A. Nostrand and C. Kirby, going from north to south.

In 1836 John and Rachel Tatterson sold to William Hicks the eleven acre parcel of land immediately south of Joseph Moulton's property, including "the pond" (the southernmost of the harborside ponds) which seems to have included the land on which the three houses stood. (Queens Co. Liber NN, pg. 100). A deed of 1849, however, which conveyed one-eighth interest in three parcels to William Hicks and three-eighths interest to Joseph Hicks, describes a seven acre parcel which almost certainly included the Nostrand house, as its northern boundary was the property line of Peter J. Clute, which "messuage" was occupied by Jacob J. Hegeman. (This was probably the house which stood immediately north of the house marked A. Nostrand in 1859). (Queens Co. Liber 81 of Deeds, pg. 289). The two conveyances comprise a contradiction which, it is hoped, will be clarified by 1975,

The Nostrand house has never had a separate ownership record - it has apparently functioned throughout its history as a rental or tenant residence. Its construction date places it late in the Tatterson ownership or early in Hicks' tenure, having been standing for at least twenty years by 1859, the first and only year when its tenancy was known for certain.

Scan 608s

Circa 1990. Photo by Ray Jacobs.

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