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St. James FD-House fire on North Country Road

February 15, 1994. Fire reported just after 2000 hours. This was a private dwelling at 600 North Country Road that was established in the 1700s as High Hedges Farm. Chief was Richard Hunter. First reported as smoke in the area. Winds blowing resulting in difficulty finding the fire building. Once FD arrived, the building was heavily involved. Part of the building collapsed during the fire. Mutual aid provided by Nissequogue, Smithtown, Stony Brook and Nesconset. Fire placed under control in 4 hours. All units cleared just after 0200 on the 16th. At the time of the fire, the house was owned by George and Amalia Gifford. The east end of the building was constructed in 1880 as a small farm cottage on the Lawsen Estate. It is reported that Devereux Emmet designed one of Long Islands First Golf Courses here in the 1890s called the Memanassac Club prior to 1896. The building was reportedly enlarged in 1918 for residential use by Admiral Fredrick Rogers.

Fire started in the basement in an area where a propane fired heater was installed. This was the fire where Mr. Gifford was out to dinner and an insurance adjuster posing as a Fire Marshal tracked Mrs. Gifford and her daughter down in Baltimore and told her that he was missing and presumed dead.

Smithtown News 2/17/1994. Smithtown Messenger 2-24-1994.

I also have photos

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