Benjamin Wood House (Thomaston, New York)

 residence, Second Empire (architecture)

The Victorian Second Empire-style house with a wraparound porch and cupola was built c. 1858 for Benjamin Wood, editor and publisher of the New York Daily News (unrelated to today’s Daily News) for forty years. Benjamin Wood’s home originally faced Flushing North Hempstead Turnpike, which was renamed Northern Boulevard sometime around 1900. His extensive property included a twelve-sided stable and a round barn with arched windows, which provided ample room for Wood’s famous July 4th parties, described in an article in Leslie’s Illustrated Weekly of July 1860. The magazine story emphasized the beautiful 60 acres of property and the popularity of Wood’s annual event, which attracted thousands of guests and gave them a “few hours of uninterrupted enjoyment,” including fireworks. The house retains the original fireplace and marble mantelpieces in two rooms.

In September 1869, a "New York Times" advertisement announced an auction of the property. About that time Joseph Spinney bought four acres, where he subsequently built his Methodist Church. Several times in the 1880s Spinney had advertisements in the Brooklyn Eagle announcing that the former home of Benjamin Wood was for rent, and then for sale.

At an unknown date, most likely prior to 1900, the house was house was moved to its present location on Susquehanna Avenue.