New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-29
"YANKEE DOODLE" HOUSE.
MRS ALAN HARTWELL STRONG MANN"
AN EFFORT TO SAVE THE PLACE
DESCENDANTS OF THE FIRST fAihooN ALL
INTERESTED-AN APPEAL MADE fOh
r,.D, ~ r>rrDEST AND SUPPORT.

1srEREsrEp-AN APPEAL MADE FOR
p1BLIc INTEREST AND SUPPORT.
Not alone the -Four Hundred" but every patriotic
American. TO whom the preservation OF one Vi w"
few remaining landmarks OF the past Is a mat
ter of grave concern. will feel like responding
10 the appeal sent ont by an energetic committee
that has In view the purchase OF Fort Craio 'he
old Van Rensselaer, Manor House. at Greenpush'
All former plans to rescue Fort Crano from the
destruction now imminent have been UNSUCCESSFUL.
The Greenbush Manor House has been described
ne "the first house OF the Van Rensselaer, FAMILY
built in America and undoubtedly the Oldest con-
| tnuously inhabited dwelling In the state OF New
York II not In the United States. being unques-
tonaby the small fort called Crailo built for the
protection OF the colonists on the east bank OF the
river against the hostile Mohicans. Fort orange
afrording a place OF refuge to those In the colony
on the west bank" Fort Crao. as 1t now STANDS
is a massive brick structure consisting or three
atories The rude fortrcssllke walls OF the main
building. still pierced by stone porthoies amply
bear out the assertion that 1t was used Tor purposes
OF defence In early Colonial days. Two OF the port
holes still remain IN their ancient positions In the
front o. the house.
That the building was already in existence and
used fort early as 1863 admits OF no contra
diction. and tradition reports that It sustained sew
eral Indian sieges before the Revolution IL re-
ce!ved the name "Craio" from the first PATRON.
Kriaen Van Rensselaer, who called 1t after his
estate near Huzen. which he had purchased In
| 1923.
The bronze tablet the front wall OF the Craiio
above one OF the ancient stone portals. gives the
date OF erection, 1912, as cut I'm the stone In the
cellar wall 1t also states that the lines OF yankee
Doodle were here composed To quote an excellent
description Of the house published four years ago:
The main entrance is in the middle OF the river
front and gives access to small hall. from whch
open doors leading to the main rooms on either
sid Z he nd nj he ha
mented with delicate garlands In low relief. BE
yond is the staircase which IS rather insignificant
The house is most curio,isly planned. All the
rooms connect with each other, usually Dy means
OF closets but as there are several levels on the
| same story the doors in cases open several
feet above the floor Of the lower room There Is no
apparent reason for this difference or lever unless
| Il was purposely designed to increase the difficulty
of capture, the house being taken by an enemy. ,o
Several Of the high wooden mantels were re-
others Of Italian marble. Around the fireplace In
V were "a number Of tiles Of a dun purple color and
in good state OF preparation. all containing ann
peared the prey of the curiosity hunter ...
rounded It, sloping 10 the gltterlng tucson paIey
more than standing room is left TO the old mansion.
fine old hSEe Of nc seS s4 S
runs parallel 10 the road and river has also ds-
appeared and numerous dwellings and huge Ice
house now block the pleasant view between the two
| old houses
CELEBRATED GUESTS.
In the old house many generations OF patriots
were born and went in and out their country's
| Grand Here General Washington dined and La
fayette also. while In later times Daniel webster.
| Harrison Gray Otis and many other celebrated
| men were numbered among its guests. Fort Craiio
has now remained untcnanted for four years. IL
was purchased two years ago at auction by firm
OF ice dealers. and is closed against trespass-
ers The plan OF the new owners Is 10 destroy the
| old building and the land for their business
Hitherto they have yielded TO entreatics TO wait
yet little longer The Abandonment or the enter,
| prise started three years ago bv the Colonial
! DANES Of America has led them to doubt public In
The building will be torn down In the spring
unless rescued by determined effort this winter.
Hoping 10 save the home OF her ancestors. Mrs.
Susan de Lancy Van Rensselaer, Strong visited the
old house last month. and secured an option FOR me
purchase OF the Greenbush Manor Home property
much-needed outlet in the rear can be acquired,
and will cost 1900. The estimate for restoration
and improvements Immediately pressing is $500.
| therefore $4,000 The first payment required by
the terms OF the option has been made One-third
OF the purchase money must be paid by May !,
! 1888. The remaining two-thirds may be secured
upon bond and mortgage with interest at per
cent, payable semi-annually.
Subscriptions, large and small. are solicited They
may be sent and Inquiries may be addressed 10
Mrs. Alan Hartwell Strong. originator OF the
enterprise and treasurer and holder of the
selaef the MIA anoy "s"' No van East
Fifteenth;st New,York: iirs Nina Van Re1sse-
York; Mrs. Schuyler Van Rensselaer,. No West
Nnth-st.. New-York; Mrs jeremiah Van Rensse-
laer Fair Oaks, Stockbridge. Mass; Miss Van
| y Y; Mrs Bayard stockton. Morven. Princeton.
n. J.: Mrs. Cornella Granger Carols Fuller No: 2gl
Belden No 6l6 West Genesee-st, Syracuse. n. T.;
Mrs T. l. de Peysier Clarkson and Miss de Pey;;
Mrs Robert MacCartee Buckingham Hotel, New
York.