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Raynham Hall was built in 1738 as a "two by two," or two rooms on the first floor with two rooms above it and a central chimney. After Samuel Townsend bought the house and moved in he added onto the home four more rooms giving the newly dubbed "Homestead" a lean-to addition in the saltbox-style structure. The home remained this way until in 1851 when Solomon Townsend remade the house in the Victorian style, adding carpeting, highly decorated wallpaper, ornate furnishings, a central tower onto the houses exterior with a skylight, as well as an entire new wing to the home. Renaming the house "Raynham Hall," Solomon projected his wealth and affluence where his colonial Quaker counterparts lived a much more conservative style. In 1941, the family no longer had the wealth to retain the house and handed the deed over to the Daughter of the American Revolution's local chapter in Oyster Bay. The maintenance of the house was too much, and finally the home was granted to the Town of Oyster Bay. After deliberation it was decided that Raynham Hall would continue as a part of Oyster Bay as a historic home and museum to represent the Colonial and Victorian lifestyles of the Townsend family.

Happy Valentines Day Wallpaper
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Happy Valentines Day Wallpaper
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Happy Valentines Day Wallpaper
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Happy Valentines Day Wallpaper
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Happy Valentines Wallpaper
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Happy Valentines Day Wallpaper
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Happy Valentine's Day 2009
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On May 6, 1738, Samuel Townsend (1717–1790) purchased the property now known as Raynham Hall from Thomas Weedon for 70 pounds. At that time the house consisted of four rooms with a large central chimney. It is possible that Weedon, whose trade is listed as a carpenter, may have constructed the original building. Between 1738 and 1740, Townsend enlarged the property to expand it to eight rooms, making it a story and a half salt box. Although the rooms may seem small to us today, the house was fairly large by 18th century standards. Townsend was a merchant as well as Justice of the Peace and Town Clerk and at least one of the front rooms of the house may have been used both as an office and a store.