165 Hampton Street
Sag Harbor, NY 11963

Ivy Cottage was built in 1776 and is one of the oldest homes in the historic village of Sag Harbor. Initially built as a small shanty to house sailors returning from whaling trips, over the years the home was expanded and in the late 1800's became a boarding house for summer travelers. The stories of Ivy Cottage are numerous and a trip to the local Historic Society will confirm its place in the history. An old cistern in the basement was used as a safe haven in the Underground Railroad, a whaling harpoon was dug up in the backyard, and rumor has it that the boarding house Herman Melville wrote about in Moby Dick was based on Ivy Cottage, where Melville once stayed. In later years Ivy Cottage was a potter's studio and a pre-school and has been a private residence since 1990. The current owners lovingly renovated and restored the home to maintain it's historic features and allow for modern family living. From Ivy Cottage you're just moments from Sag Harbor Schools, Havens Beach, marina's