92 West Lena Avenue may get historical designation

The Freeport Landmarks Commission voted in favor of recommending landmark status to the French-style field- stone “cottage,” located at 92 West Lena Avenue, known by some as the Olive Post Smith House. The commission voted four to one in favor of this motion on Tuesday, September 24. The recommendation will be passed on to the Freeport Village Board of Trustees who will make the decision at a public hearing set for a future date.

The application for historic designation of 92 West Lena Avenue was submitted by Marsia Rochester and the Northwest Civic Association and presented to the commission by Cal Venzen. The house had suffered many abuses over the last several years, explained Mr. Venzen, including the removal of some of the leaded glass windows, which are now boarded up. The gardens are overgrown with weeds. The grass grows in patches. The house has been abandoned and is in general disrepair. “I watch everyday to make sure people don’t remove anything from the property,” said Mr. Venzen, referring to the architectural gems found on the exterior of the house. “One couple showed up with hammers and wanted to remove the cooper gutters. I told them to leave.”

The original hearing was held on September 17 but adjourned to September 24 after there was some uncertainty about who is the rightful owner of the property.

The house is owned by Omer and Fazina Persuad. Foreclosure proceedings were begun by Wells Fargo Bank in July, said Ms. Reda, but will have no effect on whether the house has landmark designation.

Of Historic and Architectural Significance

92 West Lena Avenue was built about 1929 by Jacob Post, an influential businessman, for his daughter Olive as a wedding present. She lived there with her husband George Porter Smith, a violinist and teacher of music. After the Smith family left the house, Gabriel Heater, a famous radio newscaster, moved in. The den off of the living room of 92 West Lena served as his studio and it was where he broadcast many of his programs.