Ceremony marks renovations to historic Gillette House

A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the unveiling of renovations completed at the Gillette House in Sayville last week. 

The Gillette House renovation project was conducted by the Town of Islip’s Department of Public Works, and the Department of Parks, Renovation and Cultural Affairs, along with the help of outside contractors.

The work included a new roof; exterior painting of the entire building; the replacement of the cast iron heaters; plaster repairs; interior painting; restoration of doors and windows, and the installation of new flooring. All renovations were in keeping with the building’s historic past. 

The historic Gillette House was built at the end of the Civil War by Capt. Charles Gillette for his wife, Phoebe Edwards and family. Gillette, who ran the local mercantile, served as postmaster of Sayville and was elected as Town of Islip Supervisor for eight years.