The Webb House was built in the 18^th century (most likely circa 1790) near Sterling Creek in Greenport. The early history of the building has been difficult to decipher, and there is a possibility it was built earlier and extensively remodeled in the late 18^th century. (According to a journal written by Augustus Griffin, an early Orient diarist, in 1757 General George Washington purportedly stayed at the Inn while en route to Boston.) Perhaps one day documents will turn up that establish a definitive date. Webb House is thought to have been built as an inn or tavern and functioned as such until it was moved in the first part of the 19^th century. The building preserves significant details which confirm its early use as a tavern; among these details are, for example, the three ovens in three separate rooms.

Owner Orange Webb first moved the structure sometime in the first part of the 19^th century to the north side of the main road, just west of the current-day Kontokosta vineyard and on its new site it functioned as a farm house. It sold again in 1820 to the Wiggins family, and changed ownership several times (including the King and Young families) until 1955 when it was bought by OHS co-founder George Latham. Latham wanted to save it from demolition and use it to house his collection of antiques. He had the house floated by barge from Greenport to Orient (view a fascinating 22-minute video of the move here), and ultimately bequeathed it and most of its contents to the Oysterponds Historical Society.

Webb House today is open to the public and decorated and period-furnished as it was during its late-18th and 19th century heyday. A Maritime Exhibition is on permanent display on the 2nd floor.

Location:  41° 8.327′ N, 72° 18.219′ W.  Webb House sits adjacent to Poquatuck Park, the entrance to which is on Village Lane in Orient, south of Orchard Street, on the right when traveling south. A blue historical marker (at or near this postal address: 1440 Village Lane, Orient NY 11957) is located on the right side of the pathway to Webb House and the Park.