Town Clerk Kevin LaValle has announced the launch of his “Talking History with the Town Clerk” video series, starting with a tour of the Davis Meeting House in Coram. The video features insights from Town Historian Barbara Russell, researcher Lynne Scofield, and Interim President Suzanne Johnson from the Town of Brookhaven Davis Town Meeting House Historical Society.
The Davis House, built in the 1750s, was owned by direct male descendants of Foulk Davis who arrived in Southampton in 1642. Local historian Davis Erhardt notes that Elijah Davis (1727-1802) likely kept it as a tavern-inn. From the 1790s for 80 years, it served as the seat of the Town of Brookhaven government. It later became a temperance house and then a private residence by 1890. The Brookhaven Town Board designated it an official town landmark on April 15, 1986. It was declared a New York State landmark in 2000 and a National Landmark in 2001.
Restoration of the Davis House exterior was completed in September 2012. This included roof replacement, exterior restoration, masonry work, engineering services for interior structural timber restoration, reconstruction of a new timber-framed front porch, and completion of the exterior facade. Today, it serves as a multi-use community center for local organizations.
The Davis Meeting House is located at 263 Middle Country Road in Coram. Historical tours are held every second Sunday of each month. For more information or to contact the Davis House, call (631) 804-2256 or visit www.davishousesociety.org. Additional details about historic sites around Brookhaven can be found on the Town website.