Wednesday, August 19, 2009

The Wyckoff Bennett House -- The Last Privately Owned1700's Dutch Colonial house in New York City



The Wyckoff-Bennett Homestead, located at 1669 E. 22nd Street in Brooklyn, New York was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976. It is believed to have been built before 1766 because that date was carved into a beam in the barn.



A beautiful farmhouse example in the Dutch Colonial style, it has been continuously occupied since its construction. The house was built by Hendrik and Abraham Wyckoff, descendants of Peiter Wyckoff who immigrated to this country in 1637. The house was bought by Cornelius W. Bennett in 1832, and the Bennett family held possession through four generations until 1983 when it was sold to the Mont family.


Please click on photo to enlarge

During the American Revolutionary War, during the British invasion during the Battle Of Brooklyn--which I have blogged about on this link--this home was occupied by Hessian officers, and two of the soldiers etched their names and ranks into the window panes. Two of these panes have been carefully preserved. One is inscribed with the name "Toepfer Capt. of Regt. de Ditfurth" and the other "M. Bach Lieutenant Hessen Hanau Artillerie."




An enlargement of a photo of one of the soldier's signatures that is etched on the windowpane.





I am so grateful that this original Dutch farmhouse has been so well cared for throughout the years by its owners, and now through historic preservation and landmark status it will continue to be treasured as a part of our young nation's history.


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21 comments:

BALLET NEWS said...

Hi, just wanted to leave a comment to say how much I've enjoyed reading your posts today. You have a really interesting blog & great pictures too. Best wishes

Ciao Chow Linda said...

What a beautiful home. How great that the city is buying it.

Michele said...

I know this house! I used to live at 1888 E 22nd Street!!! I love how you teach me things about NY and how you remind me of the things I already love about it. I've forwarded your posts to my parents before who get excited to see things they recognize. They're going to love this one!

Jenny said...

OK, I am ready to move into this house and become it's caretaker. It is beautiful. And I love the story. I'm wondering if I saw this house on "If Walls Could Talk?" It really reminds me of a historic home in New York I saw on that show.

Sometime I'll have to post one of my old house ghost stories for you.

Not scary, just cool.

Anonymous said...

What a fabulous Estate... It is so good to know that The City will care for this in the future. What history!! I love archetecture, especially historic....
I have really enjoyed the posts!
Hugs & Smiles,
Marilyn

Judy said...

A beautiful house...with a lot of history. How nice that it too will be preserved for the future!

Just A Girl said...

Hi Pat,

I think this would be a great house to tour. Do they plan on having it open anytime soon? Dutch Colonial architecture is so pretty when it comes to the interiors.

Hey, have you ever toured the Yankee Ferry? It belongs to Victoria Mackinzie-Childs and it's docked somewhere in New York.

xoxo Cori

Linda Lou said...

WHy don't I remember all of these beautiful homes in Brooklyn when I lived there, thanks so much for sharing historical info with us, I am ready for a tour!

imjacobsmom said...

Wouldn't you love to walk through that home - I know I would. ~ Robyn

Juliana said...

Nice post, thank you so much for sharing the history behind it :-)

Kat Mortensen said...

The optometrist who fitted my contact lenses when I was 15 was named Peter Wykoff! I don't think he was any relation though.

Lovely to have heritage buildings in the heart of the city. We have some in my city as well.

Kat

Anonymous said...

I love historic house. My small town is full of them. Almost all of downtown itself is preserved, house and business buildings.
QMM

Beverly said...

I think this one may be my favorite. It is a true beauty.

Rhonda Hartis Smith said...

This would be a great place to visit. How nice that the owners will be able to live there and be the caretakers!

steviewren said...

I wonder what it is like living in a home that old. I bet the floors creak. Neat post.

Gracie said...

This is the kind of house I would like to live in....Thanks for sharing.

Tracy said...

OH, that looks like my dream house... LOL! So beautiful...look at that long porch...*sigh*...Have really been enjoying these historic homes posts, Pat. Always learn a lot when coming here--thanks! :o) Happy Day ((HUGS))

CatHerder said...

OOH i love tours of places like the ones youve been posting!

Tracy Watier said...

Fascinating tour so far, Pat. And so nice to know that even in big bustling NYC, there was once a quieter time. Makes me want to get out and visit some of the quieter historic spots in my own little city.

happyone said...

Thanks for spotlighting such a lovely home.
There is a town called Wyckoff in northern NJ and I wonder if it's named after someone in this family.

Joanne Kennedy said...

What a lovely piece of history. I love that you guys have such old stuff there. We get excited if we have a hundred year old home here in CA.

My first thought while reading this was "Oh I wonder if one of my ancestors lived there". I know they didn't but it's fun to think about.

Hugs,
Joanne