Massive Blaze at Historical Baxter House Under Investigation

A large fire that broke out at the historical Baxter House in the Village of Baxter Estates on Sunday morning is under investigation.

According to the Port Washington Fire Department, the blaze broke out at the 15 Shore Road estate at 3:30 a.m.

Firefighters were able to get the fire under control in about four hours and the PWFD remained at the scene until 10 a.m. putting out hot spots.

Officials were unable to comment on the fire as the incident is under investigation by the Nassau County Fire Marshals. The home was believed to be vacant and there were no injuries or deaths reported.

The Baxter House, which is how the Village of Baxter Estates got its name, has been vacant and rundown for years, but the owners have been looking to tear half of the home down and renovate it. The Facebook group "Save The Baxter House" had been briefly changed to "Mourn The Baxter House" on Sunday.

Many locals were against the renovation of the historical Baxter House and have been actively campaigning for its historical preservation.

The Village’s website gives a historical rundown of the Baxter House:

One of the earliest homesteads on Cow Neck was built in 1673 by John Betts and Robert Hutchings and still stands on its original site at the corner of Central Drive and Shore Road, overlooking Manhasset Bay. In 1741 or 1743, the home was purchased by Oliver Baxter. An early survey of the Baxter land shows an Indian wigwam located near Baxter’s Pond, evidence that an entire wigwam village probably existed on the very site of this house.

The Baxters, who were shipbuilders, sea captains, whalers, and blacksmiths, retained ownership of the house until the end of the 19th century. During the Revolutionary War, Hessian troops, engaged by the British, were quartered in the house.

In 1895, the first library of Port Washington met in the parlor of the Baxter house on Shore Road. The Baxter family was, and the house is, a proud part of the history of our Village. The house is now designated a Historic Building.

The PWFD was assisted by Manhasset-Lakeville Volunteer Fire Department, Roslyn Highlands Volunteer Fire Co., Roslyn Rescue Fire Company, Great Neck Vigilant Fire Company, Plandome Fire Department, East Norwich Fire Department, Albertson Fire Co, Williston Park FireDepartment and the Glenwood H&L, E&H, Co., Inc.

Photo 1 courtesy of Amy Bagnato, Photos 2, 3 via Port Washington Fire Department Facebook Page