A restoration and preservation project taking place at Third House at Montauk County Park got a financial boost this week from the Suffolk County Legislature, which approved $500,000 in bond money to help usher the project to completion.
Third House was built in 1806, according to the Montauk Historical Society, and is one of more than 200 historic buildings owned by the county. Originally occupied by cattle keepers, it is home to the Third House Nature Center. The current renovation began in early 2019.
As part of the terms of Suffolk's bond issue, Third House will also be used as an event space. The county is seeking bids from vendors to operate a planned concession stand. The bonds will be paid back by way of annual fees and revenues from Third House.
"We are pleased to bring an important part of the history of eastern Long Island back to life," Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming said in a statement. "Finishing the restoration of this important part of Suffolk County history will add to Montauk's many attractive destinations."
Third House was most recently occupied by Frank (Shank) Dickinson, who lived from 1924 to 2018, served in the Air Force during World War II, and had a long career as a state parks superintendent. His grandfather Phineas Dickinson Jr. was among the first modern ranchers to raise cattle and horses in Montauk.
"As history buffs, my father shared with us many stories of growing up at Third House," Shank Dickinson's son, Kelly Dickinson, said in a statement. "He taught us about the Montaukett Indians and was very fond of Native American art and culture."
Now, Kelly Dickinson said, Third House can be "renovated to its deserving stature, preserving the rich heritage, so it can again be a center for historic learning, environmental exploration, and a chance to view the world through the eyes of a cowboy."
