Timeline of the Davis Town Meeting House
c1750 A two-story, 5 bay house in the English style is built possibly by the Moger family. The property is deeded to Elijah Davis (1726-1802) by his in-laws James Rogers and Julianne, his wife in 1774. There is a Dutch door. The original kitchen (green mantel) is located on the north side of the house. Elijah operated the house as an inn and tavern serving alcohol and housing travelers as did Elijah’s son Goldsmith Davis (1756-1825). Goldsmith joined the Fourth Regiment in Brookhaven in 1775 and was active in the Revolution. He later was Coram’s first postmaster here in 1794. In 1830 Lester Hopkins Davis I (1807-1886), operated it as a temperance house (no alcohol or dancing) with his wife Clarissa Roe (1816-1900).
1800 Town meetings began to be held here every April as it was located at the ancient crossroads of Brookhaven Town.
1860 Lester H. Davis I, captain of the horse guard of the state militia, added the east parlor wing with a slate roof and other Greek Revival details such as the large front porch with Doric columns, fireplace mantels and 2 over 2 windows. They raised cows, sheep, chickens, and even tried silkworms. They also grew apples, peaches and plums on the farm.
Lester H. I dies in 1886 and the town meeting ceases to meet in Coram. Election Districts are established townwide.
1891 Lester’s son Daniel Roe Davis (1854-1944) married Nellie Randall (1864-1948) in 1886. He was elected Brookhaven Town Clerk in 1891 and adds the clerk’s wing. Later he became Commissioner of Highways 1899-1901, 1901-1903.
1920 Daniel’s son Lester Davis II (1891-1974) is a prominent farmer in Coram. He is active in Brookhaven Town as Superintendent of Highways and elected January 1946-1949, 1950-1953 as a Justice of the Peace. His wife, Alma Quackenbush (1891-1984), is a suffragist and campaigns for women’s right to vote.
1930s Daniel retires as a banker and builds a home with his wife Nellie on the west side of Mt. Sinai Road, north of the Davis house, and south of the training lot used by the militia.
1950s, 1960s Lester’s son Lester H. III (1926-2017) operates a dairy farm and later the Coram Air Park
1970s Dairy farming by Lester H. III ends
1986 House is designated a Brookhaven Town landmark
1997 Brookhaven Town purchases the house from Lester H. III
2000 Zachary Studenroth prepares architectural survey for Brookhaven Town.
2001 House is added to the National Register of Historic Places
2000-2003 Stage IB Archaelogical survey by Dr. Linda Barber & Dr. Annette Silver, and Suffolk Community College students
2002-2011 Condition assessment by Larry Jones, foundation work, cellar restoration, roof replacement, windows removed, bake oven reconstructed, gutters.
2011-2022 Davis Town Meeting House Society works with Brookhaven Town Parks Department and Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department to complete interior renovations. Programs are supported by the Suffolk County Legislature.
2022 Burying Ground restored by Steward Preservation Services with a grant from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation
2022-2023 Coram Civic Tree Lighting and Holiday Open House held in December
2024 Renovations are completed and monthly house tours begin.