A chapter in Southold history has come to close, after the 230-year-old General Wayne Inn was razed on Wednesday.
Only memories and some scattered debris remains on the land where the historic building stood for centuries.
The dilapidated structure had stood, a shadow of its former glory, crumbling and battered by recent storms. The roof had collapsed onto the first floor over the past year.
The town board discussed demolishing the building at public sessions in June and October of last year and Supervisor Scott Russell assured that the site had been purchased by a private owner and would be restored to its natural beauty. The inn was located at the end of Main Bayview Road, at 1275 Cedar Beach Road.
An unsafe building hearing was held in June, 2014, and Southold Chief Building Inspector Mike Verity said the abandoned, blighted structure was unsafe and had been sparking complaints from neighbors, who were also concerned about the knee-high grasses on the overgrown property and a festering tick problem.
The inn was once a restaurant and catering hall but the property, which is zoned residential, can no longer be used for a commercial use, town officials said.
According to the Southold Historical Society, the General Wayne Inn was originally built in 1784 and was once called the Cedar Beach Inn. The resort was renamed the General Wayne Hotel in 1998 in honor of General Anthony Wayne of the American Revolution, according to the SHS. Advertisements for the once magnificent hotel included descriptions of the lush country and beach location, on an inlet off the Peconic Bay. Guests were invited to enjoy water sports, golf, tennis and riding, as well as dinners in a grand dining room.
