SERENO B. OVERTON HOUSE

Photo courtesy of the Yaphank Historical Society

In 1859, Hannah and Sereno B. Overton purchased land in Yaphank from Samuel and Eliza Norton for the sum of $50.00. Here they built, or had built, a home where they resided with their two children, Nehemiah and Annie.

Sereno B. Overton was a master carpenter turned merchant. In 1851 he concentrated his efforts in butchering and marketing. According to Beecher Homan in his book, Yaphank As It Is And Was, Sereno was in partnership with his older brother Osbom. This partnership was eventually dissolved when Alfred Ackerly & Son purchased the business. He later, as is stated in Portrait and Biographical Records, was engaged in the butchering business with his son Nehemiah. Sereno was "...honored and respected for his unchanging pleasantness, sociality, and honesty." He died in January of 1893.

His son Nehemiah assumed entire control of the business after Sereno's death. (During renovation of the house in 1966, a wall covered with animal fat and attached leather straps was exposed. Account books and bills from the sale of meat to New York companies were also found this would attest to the theory that the business, or at least a portion of it was run from the house).

Information compiled by

Kathy Schmidt