When you enter the Neighborhood House, you enter the oldest section, built about 1720 and moved here in 1820 from Setauket Bay. The house stands now as it appeared about 1900 when tourism was bringing people to Long Island to take advantage of the peace and quiet; the harbor, bays and Sound; and the unspoiled atmosphere with, “...an air of perfect tranquility which seems to reign over this delightful bit of landscape. Those seeking here summer recreation will find in the numerous roads and pathways through the surrounding woods many delightful opportunities for a pleasant drive or leisure stroll” (1882 LIRR Guide)

This room, with its central fireplace, is designed with a fireplace facing the door and may have had a second fireplace on the opposite side in what is now the dining room. This was typical of period architectureof the pre-Revolutionary War. When this building was moved to this location and then connected to another building, to right end of this room as you enter, a number of changes were made to make it more useful as a hotel. This parlor was a pleasant and relaxing place to sit and read as well as watch the comings and goings of guests and local residents who came into “ Ye Old Elderkin Inn” to pick up their mail or to borrow a book from the “Franklinian Library,” or to conduct business with the bank that was in the Inn, or to purchase an item from the small general store that was probably located in the south end along the post office.