Background

The existing structure is a wood frame building with a sheet lead metal cladding to resemble split face stone.  It was built next to the Rubber Factory in the 1920s.  It was originally known as Ruhland’s Garage and was one of the first Automobile Repair Garage and Gas Station for the Setauket community. It was the automobile that transformed LI from a rural community to a suburban one.  A photograph of Main Street, East Setauket dated 1930 show the building.  We know the approx. date of the Garage because the 1920 US Census lists Carl Ruhland’s (1890-1965) occupation as a Reamer [metalworker] in a Shipyard and the 1930 & 1940 US Census listed his occupation as the Proprietor of a Garage in Setauket, NY.  In the 1950 Census, he's listed his occupation as Justice of the Peace for [Brookhaven] Township living in East Patchogue (note, Town Hall was located in Patchogue at the time).  It was at this point that he used the left part of the Garage building as his Judge's Chambers for hearings, according to the Brookhaven Town Historian.  

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Historical Streetscape

The Setauket Village Green was the social center of Setauket in the 18th and early 19th Centuries due to the location of the Caroline Church and Presbyterian Church.  After the Civil War, during Industrial Revolution of the 19th century, the center shifted from the Village Green to the commercial and industrial center on Main Street of Setauket, primary due to access to the water in ship building and industrial manufacturing process.  The Rubber factory, A&P Food Store, Hardware Store and Drug Store & Stationary, and Automobile Repair Garage, etc., are all visible in historic photos.

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Western False Front Architecture: Definition & Features

This style was developed to project an image of economic stability using a well-defined frontal façade with symbols of architectural refinement to hide cheaply made, or sometimes temporary, wood frame structure behind it. This type of American vernacular architecture was popular in western frontier towns due to their boom-and-bust economic cycles.

Defining characteristics and features are:

1. A simple wood frame gable structure where the ridge is usually perpendicular to the street and,

2. A well-defined frontal facade that hides the simple gable face of the structure and,

3. The front façade has a better grade of material, detail and ornament that suggests economic and social standing above the owner’s investment.

4. These buildings usually are on the Main Street and not side streets or alleys.

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Conceptual Examples​​​​