The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1889-12-29
BERGEN Land MARKS.
Some of the Old Houses That
SurviVelthe Building
Boom.
wAsHINGTON's HEADQUARTERS.
Names and Sites That Recall the
Days of the Dutch and the
War for Freedom.
WAsHINGTON's HEADQUARTERS.

|
! There are two sleepy, pine shaded
| cemeteries up in the Bergen section,
| gloomy and strange localities Nesting in
solemn pastoral solitude within the
shadow of the old Reformed Church.
! In this Ieafiess season, their scant foil
age and naked branches, together with
an infinity of curious crumbling tomb
stones and their simple primitive legends
make them strangely fascinating. Both
cemeteries appear totally abandoned and
with their irreparable solitude, are touch
ing in their evident neglect.
| Many of the early Dutch settlers have
| found i'll them their final resting place
| and there they sleep, generations of them,
while their images and memories are
| cherished with tenderness by their few
| lingering representatives. Among these
latter is Judge Brinkerhoff Everybody
IN the county knows the Judge. Born
here years and years ago, growing up
with the city, always interested in every
project that would tend to develop it,
and alwaysA staunch friend of the peo-
pie, his name has become a household
word.
| LOOKING BACK.
| | dropped In on the Judge day or two
ago to revive some memories of the distant
past and to stir up some "reminiscences
of the golden period Of his existence If
there IS anything the Judge likes it is an
| opportunity of recalling good old times
when Jersey City was gay place, the
| abode OF INDUSTRY, peace and love, full of
| bright homes where people came and
went unlimited, but always welcome,
and when the arrival of white sail way
down the Narrows was the only event
| that ever woke the old town from its
| habitual siesta and lethargy.
| In those times houses were few. A
| position on any eminence afforded an
enchanting view of the surrounding
country, then country of wild gran
deur as far as the vision extended.
Where everything is now fizz and flash
and hustle from commercial activity
| there was then dense forest of green
| down to the edge of the bay.
| There is at presant a stout built print
| tive cottage surrounded by thick shrub
! berries on the right of Communipaw ave-
nue. near the canal bridge. Here lived in
the good old times John G. Van Horn,
| Jr., and his descendants live there still
John was CHEEKY, good natured fellow,
| who loved fun and was ever ready for q
| good chase.
| He was the leader in all the village
sports in his young days, and when he
grew to manhood was regarded in the
same light by his companions. He was
| known far and near as Captain Van
Horn. and in speaking of him today the
| title is invariably used. This is how he,
won the titles
RED COATS ABROAD
A mounted messenger one day dashed
| into the town bearing intelligence of the
approach of the English. They were on
| bee line for this harbor, the rumor had
| it, and help was needed
| Van Horn was one of the first to hear
| the report, and followed close ON the
| Of the no
male residents before they had gotten
over their surprise and alarm. With
fair sized band of cool headed, deter.
mined men to back him up. Van Horn
went down to Sandy Hook TO head off the
invading red coats. This small band did
effective work That is how he received
the title Of Captain" and it chung to
him through life. His memory is revered
as that OF brave, noble man.
On the left side of Communipaw ave-
nue. John Van Horn, father of the cap
TAIN lived. He inherited a fortune and
| remained wealthy. He possessed large
tracts of land in this city and in dying
bequeathed a large fortune to his son.
He was at one time member of the
Assembly and was one of the best known
| residents of the State.
HENRY BRINKERHoFF.
| Another old resident of prominence
was Henry Brinkerhoff. He resides in a
snug house within ear shot of tapping
| waves at the Communipaw shore He
| was CHEEKY little fellow with plenty of
money and not q care in life. He was
pleasant companion for one to have and
I made things lively and pleasant for all
about him. The old gentleman was
known from end to end of the county,
and on many a cold winters night, when
| the winds howled and the waves dashed
the shore, ard the storm spirits made it
! unpleasant for folks to be abroad, he en-
%rr1 Il fv.lI L.
| Holland like nome near the water The
! guests came early and stayed late, They
| all fingered long over the festive board
| and smoked their pipes of peace, happily
and contentedly, unmindful of the rag
| ings outside.
| A TYPICAL HoLLENDER.
| Peter Gavery was typical Hollander
| He resided on the north side of Pacific
avenue, in what is now the Lafayette dis
trict.
Near the corner of Pacific and Commu-
nipaw avenues Judge Brinkerhoff's grand
| father, eighty years ago. built himself a
| substantial house. This old gentleman
! was genial and companionable friend,
| and had a legion of acquaint-
| ances. On Summit avenue, near
| St. Johns Church, is the
| old home of Judge Brinkerhoff.
| Years ago when the house was built the
! view of the bay and Narrows was unob-
| structed and the friends of the Judge
would congregate here on warm after
! Moons and sit and smoke and watch the
| fitting sails on the water below The old
| house still stands, but it is occupied by
| other parties. The Judge, though, still
| resides in the neighborhood, occupying
| house within the shadow of the old home.
| THE VAN REIPEN HOUSE.
/ When / had completed my survey here
| | walked up to the old Dick Van Reipen
| homestead where for nearly a century
| Richard Van Reipen lived and since then
| his son and grandson and before that his
| father also resided. The present build
| ing was erected years ago on the site of
| the original structure. 1t is located on
| Paramount avenue, one block from Ber-
gen avenue. For SO old house it is in
| good repair. 1t is so different from other
| buildings in the vicinity that it cannot
but be remarked by strangers. 1t is
story and half high, built OF red sand
stone which is now crum bling to pieces
from old age and the weather.
"This stone was in the original Van
Reipen manor house and when it was
torn down the stone was used to build
the present one. Beside this Richard,
when he built the house, sent to Holland
for a corner stone which he used The
house stands with its gable end to the
street and its two front doors face the
back yard. A few steps are required TO
reach the modern piazza along side of
which is an old faehioned cellar door