WALTER MILIAN JOSEPH GREENER HOUSE

Photo courtesy of the Yaphank Historical Society

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Dating from circa 1873. Alterations.

Joe Greener was my grandfather, and I practically grew up in that house. It was built supposedly as a "Sears & Roebuck House" that came in freight cars on the Railroad. It was built for the Collier Brothers of NYC, an affluent pair of eccentric brothers, who became infamous, when they were found dead in their Manhattan Brownstone town house, one a victim of his own booby-trap, the other, an invalid and bedridden, died when his brother failed to care for him, after his own demise.

The house was their summer retreat, and was eventually inherited by one brothers' illegitimate daughter, who sold it to the Milian family, whose son was Walter Milian. He sold it to My Father, Don C. Watson, who sold it to my grandfather, Joe Greener, for the price he paid for it...$4500.

It is basically original, with the exception that the small front porch was open, the corner being held up by a single post. The cellar was only a large circular brick walled pit (as were may at that time), which later accomadated a large coal furnace. My Grandfather dug out the cellar and walled it up after he bought it.

Written by

Don M. Watson

Oct. 2000