Kelby House

Robert Hendre Kelby (1847-1927) served as librarian to the New-York Historical Society from 1899 to 1920. Upon his retirement, he was granted the title Librarian Emeritus. After serving in the Navy during the Civil War, Kelby began working with the New-York Historical Society in 1868. Under his direction, the collection of the Society grew from 17,000 volumes to over 150,000 volumes and 160,000 pamphlets. Kelby is credited with helping the Society raise the funds necessary to move to its current location on Central Park West.

Kelby came to Freeport around 1903. He purchased a three-story shingle-style house on the northwest corner of Lena Avenue and Wallace Street in an area of Freeport known as Randall Park. Kelby lived at 112 West Lena Avenue until his death in 1927. Kelby's wife, Jennie (nee Corrigan) (circa 1845-1935), was born in Dublin and came to the United States as an infant. She and Kelby married in 1869. The Kelbys had three children Edith, Charles, and Jennie. Charles H. Kelby was a New York State Judge.

In 2015, the Freeport Landmarks Preservation Commission dedicated a roadside marker in front of Kelby’s Freeport home.