The Phillips House Museum in Rockville Centre, Nassau County, NY (c) travelincousins.com
One of the most charming museums in all of Long Island is The Phillips House Museum in Nassau County.
I had passed this museum many times driving through Rockville Centre, a lovely and desirable incorporated village in the southwestern section of the Town of Hempstead. Except for the museum sign posted on the front lawn, denoting it as a museum, The Phillips House Museum blends into the neighborhood with its numerous house styles, great and small, in a variety of architectural styles that include Victorian and Tudor homes.
I had passed this museum many times driving through Rockville Centre, a lovely and desirable incorporated village in the southwestern section of the Town of Hempstead. Except for the museum sign posted on the front lawn, denoting it as a museum, The Phillips House Museum blends into the neighborhood with its numerous house styles, great and small, in a variety of architectural styles that include Victorian and Tudor homes.
The Guest Parlor at the front of the house near the entrance, filled with Victorian-era furnishings. These are not original to the house, nor are they reproductions, however, they represent what was typical in homes during this period. (c) travelincousins.com
The original owner of the Victorian-era home, which is now, The Phillips House Museum, was Captain Samuel F. Phillips, a prominent sea captain who settled in the countryside town of Rockville Centre, along with his wife and two children in the 1880’s. Today, this house, having been restored, provides visitors with a representation of a typical upper middle class home and lifestyle in the late 19th century and an opportunity to step back in time to experience what the interior architectural style, decor, clothing, “modern conveniences” and lifestyle were all like at that time.
The homes fireplaces, like this one, which is in the Family Parlor (behind the Guest Parlor) is a Canal Coal Fireplace which burned coal instead of requiring an owner to chop wood. It was state of the art at the time. (c) travelincousins.com
Needless to say, I and was thrilled to finally make my first formal visit. Upon entering the museum, I was greeted by the knowledgeable, gracious and down to earth Mrs. Reagan, who enlightened me with facts about not only the Phillips House, but also, the history of Rockville Centre, the town within which it is located.
With the passage of time, different homeowners, as well as changes and expansions in the town through the greater part of the 20th Century, The Phillips House grew into disrepair and was also situated in the wrong location, when in 1977, plans were being implemented to demolish the old beauty to make way for a parking lot.
With the passage of time, different homeowners, as well as changes and expansions in the town through the greater part of the 20th Century, The Phillips House grew into disrepair and was also situated in the wrong location, when in 1977, plans were being implemented to demolish the old beauty to make way for a parking lot.
Dining Room, with the kitchen behind (c) travelincousins.com
Thankfully, for the efforts of a handful of dedicated town residents, who fought hard to preserve the old, historic home, it was not demolished and instead, moved to its current location in 1977. While the interior and built-in structures are original and remain in tact, the furnishings and accessories are all donations of items from the Victorian-era in which the house was inhabited by Captain Phillips’ family. Fortunately, for the town and visitors, the house was renovated and rededicated in October of 1995 by the Historical Society of Rockville Centre to the people of the town.
And a what a gift these visionaries have left for the town and for posterity! I did not quite know what to expect as I searched for a parking spot and was more than thrilled (to say the least!) when I began walking around this charming former residence. Mrs. Reagan started her enchanting tour in the Guest Parlor, filled with items that were typical of the time, including lovely period furniture and decorative items. As we proceeded towards the back of the home, we made our way into the Family Parlor, with a beautiful couch and chairs, adorned with needlepointed imagery.
And a what a gift these visionaries have left for the town and for posterity! I did not quite know what to expect as I searched for a parking spot and was more than thrilled (to say the least!) when I began walking around this charming former residence. Mrs. Reagan started her enchanting tour in the Guest Parlor, filled with items that were typical of the time, including lovely period furniture and decorative items. As we proceeded towards the back of the home, we made our way into the Family Parlor, with a beautiful couch and chairs, adorned with needlepointed imagery.
This stove was very modern for its time with both the ability for coal burning burners on the left (for use in the winter as it would give heat to the home) and electric burners on the right for the summer to minimize any additional heat (c) travelincousins.com
Both of these parlors still contained the original canal coal fireplaces, which would have been “state of the art” in its day, a “step up” from wood burning fireplaces, which required regularly chopping wood for the fire(s).
The kitchen, is perhaps one of the most fun rooms of all! Not only will you find an old “ice box”, the predecessor of our modern day refrigerator, as well as a super cool stove that had the option for both coal burning (to give off more heat in the cold weather) and electric (for the summer), but a huge collection of kitchen gadgets for almost every use possible for cooking.
I learned all about the gadgets that were used for cooking and meal preparation, as at the time, food required much more at home prep than it does today. Many of these items had the patent number engraved on them.
All of these items have been cataloged for the museum. This tedious job was the work of Christopher Mackey, a local boy scout working on his Eagle Scout badge, roughly 20 years ago.
The collection, which has been called the "finest collection of kitchen gadgets" originally belonged to Lillian Blumberg. In fact, so extensive is this collection, that its previous owner, Lillian Blumberg, was offered a great sum from Sotheby’s, but she decided instead to donate it to the museum.
The kitchen, is perhaps one of the most fun rooms of all! Not only will you find an old “ice box”, the predecessor of our modern day refrigerator, as well as a super cool stove that had the option for both coal burning (to give off more heat in the cold weather) and electric (for the summer), but a huge collection of kitchen gadgets for almost every use possible for cooking.
I learned all about the gadgets that were used for cooking and meal preparation, as at the time, food required much more at home prep than it does today. Many of these items had the patent number engraved on them.
All of these items have been cataloged for the museum. This tedious job was the work of Christopher Mackey, a local boy scout working on his Eagle Scout badge, roughly 20 years ago.
The collection, which has been called the "finest collection of kitchen gadgets" originally belonged to Lillian Blumberg. In fact, so extensive is this collection, that its previous owner, Lillian Blumberg, was offered a great sum from Sotheby’s, but she decided instead to donate it to the museum.
Some of the many kitchen gadgets found in The Phillips House Museum. (c) travelincousins.com
Making our way upstairs, I was all ears listening to every detailed word from Mrs. Reagan. With two cameras in hand, I snapped away, took notes and studied everything in my midst.
The second floor was a good size, with plenty of light shining in from outside. From the bedrooms to the large, central sitting area, were pieces of history all around on display. Clothing and accessories from a gone-by era adorned the beds and furnishings. A vintage wedding dress and shoes, which were so small that we pondered who could have possibly fit into them as well as an entire ladies’ grooming set, were highlights for me.
The second floor was a good size, with plenty of light shining in from outside. From the bedrooms to the large, central sitting area, were pieces of history all around on display. Clothing and accessories from a gone-by era adorned the beds and furnishings. A vintage wedding dress and shoes, which were so small that we pondered who could have possibly fit into them as well as an entire ladies’ grooming set, were highlights for me.
The original wide plank wood floors on the second floor of the house (c) travelincousins.com
As the sole visitor at the time of my visit, I had Mrs. Reagan and her wealth of knowledge and historical stories to myself. I agreed to be draped with a ladies cape whose weight made clear why men needed to help a lady put it on in those days.
One of three bedrooms, which has on display ladies' wedding gowns from the era (c) travelincousins.com
Prominently located in a corner of the upstairs sitting was a vintage Victrola from 1882. Requiring the use of a crank, the needles were originally bamboo (which were on display), which had subsequently been replaced with metal needles.
The rooms in this house were also clad with beautiful built in drawers, which I was told were built by Captain Phillips’ ship makers. There was no indoor plumbing, so the “bathrooms” were the basins and chamber pots within the bedrooms - another interesting historical aspect of life during the 1800’s.
Walking up further to the third floor attic, I was enchanted to see the old fashioned "twisted chimney." When building chimney's during this period, the superstition was that a twisted chimney would prevent the evil spirits from entering the home. Builders would make the chimney straight on the exterior and "twisted" on the interior, like this one that is in the attic of The Phillips House Museum.
Walking up further to the third floor attic, I was enchanted to see the old fashioned "twisted chimney." When building chimney's during this period, the superstition was that a twisted chimney would prevent the evil spirits from entering the home. Builders would make the chimney straight on the exterior and "twisted" on the interior, like this one that is in the attic of The Phillips House Museum.
Twisted Chimney to prevent evil spirits from entering the home (c) travelincousins.com
The exterior is beautifully maintained with historic markers as well as a piece of Rockville Centre history with an original wheel from one of three of the DeMott Mills in the town.
(c) travelincousins.com
The Phillips Museum Garden - an original wheel from one of DeMott's Mills on the right above and below (c) travelincousins.com
The Phillips House Museum is truly a joy for the young and old!
-Elisa
-Elisa
For Your Reference
The Phillips House Museum
28 Hempstead Ave, Rockville Centre, NY 11570
Phone: (516) 764-7459
www.rvcny.us/PhillipsHouse
The Phillips House Museum
28 Hempstead Ave, Rockville Centre, NY 11570
Phone: (516) 764-7459
www.rvcny.us/PhillipsHouse
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