House Headed For The Auction Block

Bidding should be brisk this Wednesday, September 28, when a house in the Remsenburg-Speonk area once owned by Willis Tuthill goes on the auction block. A major attraction will be the potential of a $975,000 drop in the purchase price—the original listing was $1.6 million, and the opening bid is $625,000. Those carrying a cashier’s check for at least $62,500 will convene at 39 Windsor Place in Central Islip at 11 a.m. for the bidding being conducted by Maltz Auctions.

The house, which includes water rights on Moriches Bay, was built in 1820 by the Tuthill family, and it was passed down through generations of Tuthills. The last family member to live in the house was Willis Tuthill, who is dear to our heart because he was a writer for The New York Tribune, Brooklyn Eagle, and other newspapers from the glory days of print journalism. In addition, his “Reminiscences” columns were popular among readers of local publications. An interesting historical note about the house is that Willis Tuthill’s mother lived in the house next door, and because she was blind she had to use a guide wire strung between the two dwellings to pay her son a visit.

The five-bedroom, 3.5-bath house on 1.25 acres is no longer in its original condition. Several years ago, new owners got to work, putting in $250,000 worth of renovations. Among the upgrades were redoing the pool and kitchen and a couple of bathrooms, and installing a new HVAC system. It would seem that if any further renovation is necessary, the next owners won’t have to begin them after a burdensome investment, with $625,000 as the auction floor.

That next owner may notice a few prying eyes from time to time. The Tuthill house is one of the properties listed in the Westhampton Beach Historical Guidebook for Walking Tours of Historic Remsenburg. Perhaps post-auction milk and cookies would be neighborly.