The Denton House is a historic building in

New Hyde Park New Hyde Park is a village in the Towns of Hempstead and North Hempstead in Nassau County, on Long Island, in New York, United States. It is the anchor community of the Greater New Hyde Park area. The population was 9,712 at the 2010 census. ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

, within the

Town of North Hempstead North Hempstead is one of three towns in Nassau County, on Long Island, in New York, United States. The population was 237,639 at the 2020 census. History The area was first settled by Europeans around 1643 and became part of the town of Hem ...

. Built in 1795 as a farmhouse, it was converted in the 1860s to a Georgian-style mansion. It is currently a McDonald's restaurant.

History

The building was built as a farmhouse for the family of Joseph Denton in 1795. The owners were descendants of Richard Denton, a Presbyterian minister who immigrated in 1630 and a founder of the town, and his son, colonist

Daniel Denton Daniel Denton (c. 1626 – 1703) was an early American colonist. Denton led an expedition into the interior of northern New Jersey. He was one of the purchasers of what is known as the Elizabethtown Tract in 1664, in the area of (and surrounding) ...

. In the 1860s, it was converted into a Georgian-style mansion, with ornamentation. The house ceased being a private residence after World War I, at which point it became a funeral home and then a series of restaurants. McDonald's acquired the dilapidated property in 1985, intending to demolish it and build a standard structure. North Hempstead and residents of the New Hyde Park community successfully sought historic designation after a three-year battle, which was formally given on January 5, 1988. An agreement was reached with McDonald's to allow a single-story addition to the back for a drive-thru if the front exterior was restored to its 1926 appearance. After an extensive renovation which included installing a series of windows for the veranda, and restoration of the ornamentation, window shutters, and brick chimneys, McDonald's opened in the historic building on April 13, 1991. A plaque commemorating the opening can be found inside the dining room. The inside was gutted in the process, including exposed rafters. A grand staircase leads to a dining area on the second floor. As part of McDonald's company-wide renovation program, the Denton House received another renovation in 2017. Carefully planned and executed to conform with McDonald's design standards while still maintaining a historic look, the renovation refinished the interior woodwork and flooring, updated the restrooms, and added amenities consistent with McDonald's remodels, including digital menu boards, touchscreen ordering kiosks, and table service. The window shutters and front doors were also restored and repainted black.

Gallery

Denton House LI 02.jpg Denton House LI 03 - Order kiosk.jpg Denton House LI 04.jpg Denton House LI 05.jpg

References

External links

* {{official website, http://www.mcnewyork.com/12000 Houses completed in 1795 Town of North Hempstead, New York Houses in Nassau County, New York McDonald's buildings and structures Restaurants established in 1985 1985 establishments in New York (state) Restaurants in New York (state)