The sun., 1909-12-19
LANDMARK SAVED
TANDERVEER HOMESTEAD TO
BE 4 PUBLIC MUSEUM. VI

raxpayers' Association Takes Over the
Historic BuIiding and Fsans to Move
n Z u 70 New site-Heuse Anscdates
Even the nutch Rcfsrmed Church.
The Vanderveer homestead In Fiat
bush. one OF the few remaining landmarks
OF old New York. is not to disappear
before the attack OF housewrsckers -
have so many other landmarks within
the city's limits. Instead IL wilb be picked
up bodily, moved TO a new site facing
East Twenty third street, where the old
vanderyeer barn now stands, patched
up to safeguard its westherbeaten roof
and sides from wind and rain. and there
after be preserved as q tangible rrminder
OF the Long Island OF a century ago.
The vanderveer estate has turned the
old homestead over 20 the Flatbush
Taxpayers Association. which will assufne
the task OF removing the bnilding and
maintaining II for public view.
Il 10 a far CRY back TO the days when
the vandsrveers first settled in what
is now Fiatbush. for It is said that the land
they owned was granted to them directly
by the ruler OF the Netherlands Ia the
seventeenth century. At any rate. John
vsSsS OF the prcsent generation. owned
quite a sizable extent OF farm land $50
years age. Hip holdings then embraced
all tAs territory between Flatbush turn
pixs Ntnov Flstbush svenue> and the
Paardseat Woods on The east and west
and Clarendon road and the old Antouidies
farm on the north, ana south. In i7ss
he built the family homestead. using soIid
oak beams and, sun dried kficks that
were brought over from Holland a.
baliast in sailing vessels engaged in the
fur trade Thus the house antedates
even the Dutch Reformed Church, which
was built in i7eo.
When the first John vanderveer died
he wiiled the property to>his son. John
vanderyecr. Jr.. From the son the estate
was handed down to Peter. Abraham
and Jacob vanderveer and their sister
o Mrs. Wilbur. The heirs disposed OF that
part Of the farm lying east Of Rogers
avenue to q syndicate that later organ
liz ed the 0ermania Real Estate and I'm
provement Company. The land TO the
" est Of Rogers avenue and the old home
stead were retained.
The daughter OF John vanderveer. Jr.
Mrs wHbur. married and moved away
| or the three sous. Abraham bought q
| farm further out on Long Island and
settled down, Jacob moved to q modern
house not far away, while Peter decided
70 remain In the old manor house and
stick to market gardening. As the city
spread out. however, his oaulifower and
asparagus beds gradually made way for
paved streets and modern suburban
houses. So in 1893 Peter vanderveer
docided TO embark in the real estate
business. He built a tiny ofiice not far
away from the homestead and divided
his timC between a revolving chair over
looking Flatbush avenue and the few
acres that were still under cultivation.
He had almost attained the seventy year
mark when he died.
No one cared to live in the old house
after that and there was talk OF tearing II
down Il seemed a pity TO destroy lsuch
q quaint relic. however. 80 the neighbors
decided to get together and devise some
means OF preserving II. The heirs gen
erously offered to turn over the house
itself TO any public spirited body that
would provide a suita ble site for it. The
Flatbush Taxpay. ~ Association has
assumed this responsibility.
| Inside the Vanderveer homestead In a.
quaint q place as one could imagine
The cellar Of the house ls taken up by a
Rrsat many tiny chambers that served a.
Quarters for slaves before the civil wal
and by two enormous ovens In which
could Be baked enough bread 70 supply Z
regiment In the kitchen built into the
wall above the cellar Is a third Dutch
oven OF great proportions.