The town of Setauket (seh-taw-ket) sits on the north shore of Long Island. First settled in the 1650’s, Setauket has a large number of historical buildings interspersed with its more modern residences.

Often as you ride through some of the town’s small shady lanes, you get the distinct feeling that you are somewhere else. This town doesn’t fit the popular Long Island stereotype; strip malls, tons of traffic and women who sound like Fran Drescher on The Nanny.

One of my favorite buildings that I pass when traveling along the North Shore through towns like Saint James, Nissequogue, Stony Brook and on to Port Jefferson is the delightfully tiny Setauket Post Office. Built in 1941, this quaint little Greek revival building was designed by Richard Haviland Smythe. It features 4 columns whose capitals are topped with cornstalks in the spirit of those found in our nation’s Capitol building, designed by Benjamin Latrobe.

For More Information:

• Setauket – East Setauket Wikipedia
• AIA Architectural Guide to Nassau and Suffolk Counties, Long Island