History of Arbor View House Bed and Breakfast

Arbor View House Bed and Breakfast, located in East Marion, New York, is not only a welcoming retreat in Long Island’s North Fork Wine Country—it is also a home steeped in American history. Its origins date back to approximately 1780, when it was first constructed in the Federal style, a reflection of the architectural trends of post-colonial America. At the time, the structure was modest, with its main entrance positioned on the west side. It would later undergo a significant transformation that mirrored the evolution of the community around it.

In 1873, the property was purchased by Captain Vail, a member of one of the earliest and most prominent families in the region. The Vail family, originally arriving in Massachusetts and later settling on Long Island’s East End, were instrumental in shaping the local fishing and maritime economy. Captain Vail expanded and renovated the home in the Victorian style, which remains its defining architectural character today. This renovation was more than aesthetic—it reflected the growing prosperity of the area and the maritime culture that dominated life on the North Fork. East Marion itself was once called Little Oysterpond, a historic nod to the oyster-rich waters nearby. Arbor View House is now one of just three remaining homes in the village known to have been built or significantly remodeled by whaling captains. Captain Vail and several members of his family are buried in the local cemetery, a short distance from the house.

Over time, the home accrued a number of historic and practical features. Among them was a widow’s walk—a rooftop platform often associated with the wives of seafarers, waiting for their husbands to return—which may have been destroyed during the devastating hurricane of 1938. A large cistern once sat beneath the kitchen, collecting rainwater that was pumped into the home. Two old grapevines still grow on the property, remnants of the home’s early agricultural heritage.

In 1998, the house was purchased by its current owners, Wilfred and Veda Joseph. Originally from Guyana and Jamaica respectively, they brought with them not only a passion for preservation but also a vision of hospitality rooted in comfort, relaxation, and cultural warmth. They undertook a full restoration of the home, bringing modern amenities to all guest rooms, carefully preserving its historic features, and earning recognition from the Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities for maintaining the property’s architectural integrity. Today, Arbor View House is both a living piece of local history and a luxurious, welcoming inn.

Though modernized for 21st-century guests—with smart TVs, high-speed internet, and spa services—the house still speaks of its past. From its carefully maintained Victorian detailing to the echoes of seafaring life that once shaped the region, Arbor View House remains a vital thread in the fabric of East Marion’s heritage.

A Brief History of Arbor View House

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