RANDALL HOUSE

John Jett Collection. Longwood Public LIbrary, C5-20

Charles Hagen delivering near Randall Home. Longwood Public Library, C14-9

Randall House with a dirigible flying overhead.

The home of Joseph H. Randall was located on the south side of Middle Country Road at the top of the hill. He also owned about 150 acres across the road, which was largely fruit orchards.

Joseph Horace Randall was the son of Horatio Gates Randall and Sabra (Davis) Randall. Horace Gates Randall was born March 10, 1804 in Ridge, N.Y. and died there in 1878. He married (1) Sabra Davis and (2) Deborah Ann Swezey and had the following children by Deborah Ann all of whom were born in Ridge:

Albert Davis, born 1831, moved to Minn., 1855
Wallace Bryant, born 1832, resided in Brooklyn
Jemima B ,1834, married John Randall
Charles J., 1837
Sarah M., 1839, married Elbert Swezey
Clarissa, 1842
Joseph Horace, 1843
Sabra A., 1846

Joseph H. Randall married Lydia King on July 5th, 1871. Lydia was born in 1841 and was the daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Swezey) King. Thomas J. King was born Aug. 6, 1812 and was the son of Rev. Ezra King, who was born July 24, 1784 in East Marion, L.I. Reverend King was pastor of the Middle Island Presbyterian Church 1810-1844. Thomas married Nancy Swezey on Dec. 13, 1835. Nancy was born on Feb. 10, 1812 and was the daughter of Christopher Swezey of Yaphank.

It was after he married Lydia in 1871 that he built a home on the south side of Middle Country Road in Middle Island where he lived the remainder of his life. He eventually owned about 150 acres of orchids and woodland on the North side of the road opposite his home which he purchased from the Hutchinson family. His final purchase on the north side was from Edwin and Clara Hutchinson in 1917 for two parcels, which included the old Benjamin Hutchinson house.

Reverend Ezra King who was the grandfather of Lydia Randall had a daughter Hannah King who was born on March 22, 1830 and married Joseph Rowland in 1848. They had a daughter Florence, who was born in 1870. Florence was visiting her cousin Lydia Randall in 1893 at the same time that Richard Bayles was boarding with the Randalls. As a result of this meeting, Florence and Richard were married and built a home on the other side of the road (see the Bayles house).

Lydia Randall died in 1894 in Avon Park, Florida and in 1895 Joseph married Alice Davis in Coram. Alice was the daughter of Lester H. Davis and Clarissa (Roe) Davis. Joseph died in 1921 and Alice died in 1930.

After the death of Alice, the house and property on the south side of the highway were sold to Joseph Schmierer and about 1942, it and the 150 acres was sold to Leo Lentin of Patchogue. In 1940, one of the barns was moved nearer to the highway about 300 feet to the east and was renovated to become the Rainbow Ranch Dress shop (now the Giove funeral home). The Randall house was renovated and became a shop, which sold children's clothing. Today it is the site of the Carl Hart bicycle shop.