FRIARS HOUSE

THE FRIARS HOUSE STORY

For centuries, Long Island has been shaped not only by trade and movement, but by those who sought quiet purpose along its edges—places where land, water, and daily life intersected naturally. From early settlement through the growth of towns along the North Shore, the region offered rare pockets of space and stillness within reach of an emerging metropolis.

By the early 19th century, homes built along the bluffs of the Nissequogue River reflected this balance. Constructed in 1828, the Friars House belongs to this earlier chapter, when land was worked, families gathered close to the earth, and life unfolded at a human pace. Its elevated position above the river placed it within the rhythms of nature and community, not apart from them.

As Long Island evolved, so did its institutions. In the early 20th century, the Franciscan Brothers of Saint Anthony’s established a presence in Smithtown, grounding their mission in education, service, and stewardship of both people and place. The location would later transition to Huntington Township and the values—simplicity, care for creation, and community—remained woven into the fabric of the mission.

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Today, Friars House represents a quiet return of that Franciscan presence to Smithtown. Not as a monument, but as a living environment—one that is increasingly rare in the New York metro region. Surrounded by protected land and open space, the estate offers families, children, and visitors something difficult to find nearby: room to explore freely, to learn through experience, and to spend time together without constant interruption.

In this way, Friars House continues a long Long Island tradition—not of commerce or spectacle, but of continuity. It is a place where land still matters, where history informs use, and where community is shaped through shared experience across generations.