Denton House (New Hyde Park, New York)

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Not to be confused with the George W. Denton House in Flowerhill, also part of Nassau County, New York.

The Denton House is a historic building in New Hyde Park, New York, within the Town of North Hempstead. Built in 1795 as a farmhouse, it was converted in the 1860s to a Georgian-style mansion. It is currently a McDonald's restaurant.

Video Denton House (New Hyde Park, New York)

History

The building was built as a farmhouse for the family of Joseph Denton in 1795. The owners were descendants of Richard Denton, a Presbyterian minister who immigrated in 1630 and a founder of the town, and his son, colonist Daniel Denton. In the 1860s, it was converted into a Georgian-style mansion, with ornamentation.

The house ceased being a private residence after World War I, at which point it became a funeral home and then a series of restaurants.

McDonald's acquired the dilapidated property in 1985, intending to demolish it and build a standard structure. North Hempstead and residents of the New Hyde Park community successfully sought historic designation, and an agreement was reached with McDonald's to allow a single-story addition to the back for a drive-thru if the front exterior was restored to its 1926 appearance. The renovation included installing a series of windows for the veranda. Ornamentation, window shutters, and brick chimneys remain. The inside was gutted in the process, including exposed rafters. A grand staircase leads to a dining area on the second floor.

Landmark designation was not formally given by the Town of North Hempstead until January 5, 1988.