Envisioning the future of Baldwin's historic Kellogg House

What future do you envision for the historic Kellogg House?

The Baldwin Civic Association, in collaboration with the Baldwin Historical Society, is asking community members to share their ideas on how to use the century-old landmark at 960 Merrick Road with Nassau County, which owns the home.

Built in 1899 and 1900, the Kellogg House exemplifies Queen Anne-style architecture in Baldwin.

It was once home to Civil War veteran George Sumner Kellogg, who acquired the lot and hired architect Walter I. Halliday to design the home as Baldwin’s first residential building surge began. Kellogg died in July 1918, and the house became an antique shop in the 1920s.

Several families owned the home until 1982, when the county purchased it for $1 million in 2011. County officials considered using the site to expand the nearby 1st Police Precinct, but community members opposed the idea, citing the home’s historical significance. In 2017 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, a designation granted by then Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Despite the recognition it received from the state, however, the home has remained untouched for years, and has become something of an eyesore.

A Google survey created by Sara Hill, a volunteer at the civic association, asks participants for their thoughts on the future of the home. Suggestions include a multipurpose community center, a musical performance space, rentable offices, a gallery for local artists, a café or restaurant, or a youth and teen center.

“We’ve been getting some amazing ideas from the community,” Hill said. “We really want to bring the Baldwin community together.”

As of press time, there had been more than 80 responses, which will be submitted to Nassau County Legislator Debra Mulé.

The house’s wrap-around porch hosted a performance by 3 Old Dogs & A Pub at last month’s Baldwin Porchfest. Marguerite Keller, vice president of the civic association, who launched the Porchfest, told the Herald that it was important to highlight the house during the event. She recalled visiting when she was young, when the house was a flea market, with her mother.

“I remember it being very beautiful inside,” she said. “A lot of woodwork.”

Hill highlighted the possibility of converting the home into a community or recreational center, given that the nearest community center is in Freeport.

“Although the home is certainly not big enough for athletic activities, we could host many arts and cultural events — who knows? The sky is the limit,” she said. “That’s why the survey is so important.”

Kimberly Malone, the civic association’s president, reiterated that while they are collecting suggestions, the final decision is the county’s to make.

According to the county’s capital plan, $500,000 was allocated for the home’s upkeep, for the 2023 fiscal year.
A spokesman for the Nassau County Legislative Office said that $1 million is proposed for fiscal year 2025 following the failure to adopt a capital plan for the current year.

The home’s exterior was renovated in July 2023 to restore its original green and white color scheme, after a century of color changes that had included blue and yellow, and later red and purple.

“Having advocated to secure the capital resources for exterior renovations to the Kellogg House,” Mulé wrote in a statement to the Herald, “I fully support the creation of a usable public space that meets the public’s needs and preserves this historic treasure.

“Ultimately, the decision about future uses is not mine to make, and the public’s voice must be heard and incorporated,” she added. “I am working to bring the County’s Office of Real Estate, Planning and Development to a future meeting of the Baldwin Civic Association in the interest of ensuring the community has a comprehensive understanding of the parameters governing how the Kellogg House can be used moving forward.”

The Google form can be found on the civic association’s Facebook page, Facebook.com/BaldwinCivicAssoc.