In the parlor of the 1893 Queen Anne-style house, with period furniture once used by Barbara Avery, Suffolk County executive Ed Romaine signed a bill last week authorizing a $250,000 restoration to the 17th-century Avery Park property in East Patchogue.

The resolution, introduced by Legis. Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue), will provide funds for roofing repair, fencing, infrastructure and safety measures. The newest Suffolk County Park Ranger Relief Station is now officially located there as well.

“Suffolk County is the oldest English-speaking county in the State of New York,” Romaine said. “The more we show respect for the past, the more confident we are in the future.”

He then announced available money from the hotel/motel tax for $2.5 million, adding that the county was preparing a list of all historic places.

“We’ll spend that money on as many historic sites as we can this year and next,” he said.

Suffolk County Historic Services director Richard Martin explained the rollout of the $250,000 capital funds, specifically for Avery.

“The priority will be to secure and stabilize the 1820 house,” he said. “I’m viewing it as a three-pronged project. The east end has collapsed, so we’ll try to salvage items like the doors. We’ll put a tarp over the top of it, and on the west end of the front, some rolled roofing on it to protect the existing building. So, the beginning of the project is stabilizing it until I can get an architect for renovating and restoration plans. The back part needs a whole new roof, so that’s the third part.”

Martin said it had been moved back from the road around 1925 and then used as the family’s office featured extensively in advertising. Any remaining funds would be used for exterior repairs for the main house and the barn.

Present at the signing was a collection of well-wishers, including Focus East Patchogue members; Suffolk County commissioner of Parks John Giannott; Legis. Dominick Thorne; volunteers like Jeff Berthold, who once played on the premises as a child; and nonprofit representatives like Greater Patchogue Historical Society’s Steve Lucas.

Romaine took a short tour after the signing with Thorne. Suffolk County Historic Services staffer Susan Shiebler, the property’s caretaker for the last seven years, will be giving tours. She had already rolled up her sleeves, perusing the 15 rooms, sorting through them, extracting furniture and family memorabilia, and establishing charming exhibit spaces for future tours.

“I will be here daily and will be the first person that people see when they come in,” she said.

Shiebler said the house would reflect eras from 1893 to 1970, including the progression of the Swan River Nursery to Barbara Avery’s miniature horses that were housed in the barn. “Director of Historic Services Richard Martin champions women’s accomplishments, so there will be a room with Barbara’s childhood dolls and Beatles posters. She had the Peppermint Stick Farm and ran that,” she said.

One room would especially highlight the Averys’ accomplishments, including family members who were abolitionists and a founder of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Historic Services is in talks with the Greater Patchogue Historical Society to move their quarters there.

“There will be a sign up, Avery Homestead, soon, and a phone number for tours,” Shiebler said.

One of the key sticking points to the property’s preservation was establishing a venue that could support sustainable funding. That was the sturdy 1930 Dutch colonial barn, where Barbara Avery kept her miniature ponies, which remained in good condition, as well as the promise of  nonprofits that could have a presence there, like the Greater Patchogue Historical Society.

Lessing’s has been mentioned as a possible catering facility for the barn.

“Lessing’s remains keenly interested in partnering with Suffolk County to preserve and adapt the Avery property into a self-sustaining facility,” said Brian T. Egan, counsel for Lessing’s, in an email. “We have long experience managing state and county-owned historic facilities, resulting in the facilities generating the funds they need to remain occupied, protected and viable. We look forward to continuing our discussion with the county.”

Martin said there was no action being taken right now with Lessing’s at the moment. Both the county and Lessing’s need to begin plans to go forward.

The Avery family, starting with Humphrey Avery, has owned and inhabited the site since the 17th century.