Fire-Ravaged Rassapeague a Former Vineyard

Originally reported on Jan. 1, 2012.

Nissequogue lost a piece of history on the morning of Dec. 30 when a fire ripped through the 14 Rassapeague residence, a home built in 1860 that was once known for making local wine in Smithtown.

A historic preservation division of the New York State Parks and Recreation document stated the property was originally the home to a vineyard that provided a staple in the New York State wine industry with its Rassapeague Claret.

These days, the only hope of wine from the Smithtown area lies in the promise of Whisper Vineyards Whisper would become the westernmost vineyard in Long Island Wine Country.

The document also stated the home, commonly referred to today as the Huntington House, was part of the beginning of the luxury estates in the area, collectively known as the Stony Brook Harbor Estates, circa 1690 to 1925. First Assistant Chief for the Nissequogue Fire Department Michael Grosskopf . Grosskopf also said the distance from the home to Long Beach Road created difficulties getting water to the home to fight the fire.