Long Island home built by a Revolutionary War soldier lists for $1.24M — see how it was lovingly restored
A slice of American history is up for grabs in Greenlawn, Long Island.
Laura and Robert Dunne are parting ways with their beloved 18th-century home — a timber-frame house built in the 1770s by a soldier who fought under George Washington during the American Revolution.
And after nearly four decades of painstaking restoration, the couple has listed the property for $1.24 million.
“It’s the ultimate antique,” Laura, a retired Chase Bank executive told the Wall Street Journal, which first reported news of the historic offering.
The Dunnes purchased the three-bedroom, 3,000-square-foot house in 1989 for $236,000. Over the years, they transformed it into a living museum, sourcing period-appropriate furniture and salvaged materials to preserve its colonial charm.
Original wood floorboards and hand-hewn ceiling beams still grace the interior, while additions like a walk-in fireplace and bake oven were built using bricks and mantels from dismantled 18th-century homes in New England.
Laura’s childhood fascination with early American life fueled the couple’s passion for restoration.
“I dreamed of cooking on the open hearth, making candles, tending a garden and learning about herbs,” she recalled.
Decades later, she brought that dream to life, regularly using the hearth and oven for cooking. The home, originally built by Morris Bartow, the Revolutionary War soldier, wasn’t always in its current spot.
It was relocated in the 1940s after sitting vacant for years on a nearby farm. The farmer agreed to sell the house only if it was moved, Laura said. Locals know the home well, not just for its age but for the stories within its walls.
Laura fondly remembered a time when the property became an unexpected landmark during a road rally.
“I was outside gardening and all of a sudden a bunch of bicycles and a bunch of cars came by and everyone stopped in front of my house.”
Visitors have included descendants of Bartow and even a woman born in the house in 1911.
“She came to see me in 2009 just before her death,” Laura said. “She brought pictures of when she was a little girl in the house.”
One Bartow descendant, who traveled from Florida, was so moved by the visit that he told Laura, “You made my life by inviting me here. This is my history.”
Though deeply attached to the home, the Dunnes are ready to move on. They’ve purchased another historic property in New England, where they plan to continue their restoration passion.
Laura admitted to being “heartbroken” to part ways with the home but added that they have always wanted to give New England a try.
This historic Greenlawn property now stands as one of the priciest listings in the area, with a median home price of $777,000 as of November, according to Realtor.com.
William Tarantola of Howard Hanna Coach Realtors holds the listing.
