New-York tribune., 1909-12-12
FL4TBUSH MUSEUM.
VAL Concert Old VanderUeer
Homestead Into One.

Inc people or flafbuSh are preparing
10 raise funds TO preserve the old Wander
veer homestead and 10 convert it into a
local museum Of relics Of the early Dutch
settlers The building was turned over
10 the city recently by the heirs of the
late Joseph c. VanderYeer The structure
stands in Flatbush avenue, near Dor
chester Road.
The plan is TO move the building 10 a
new site at East Esd street and Wander
veer Road. This removal is made neces-
ssry since the ground on which the build
ing stands has been sold and will be used
for new buildings.
The cost Of removing the old building
and properly fitting IL up viii be upward
OF $4,000. This money must be raised
by popular subscriptions. The men most
interested in the work Of converting the
ancient building into a museum are
Alfred r. Steers. Borough President-elsct.
and John J. Snyder. president Of the Flat
bush Taxpayers Association. The build
ing is in bad condition, having stood for
l22 years IL is well fitted, however, TO
be a museum Of articles handed down by
the early Dutch settlers OF Midwout
According 10 Mr.. Snyder. the structure
is a genuine type OF the Dutch farmhouse
Of the Colonial period. The date OF it's
erection is 1887. Much of the material
used In it's construction was taken from
an earlier Vanderveer homestead that
stood near the site now occupied by
homestead No. ,. Homestead No. / was
erected shortly after the Vandeveers re-
ceived their grant Of land from the Hol-
land government.
The interior of the old farmhouse is Gu
rious to modern eyes. In the basement are
10 be seen the slave quarters. These rooms
are small and receive little light. In the
same part Of the building are two great
Dutch ovens. The house is divided into
right and left sections by a large hallway.
through which a carriage and team Of
horses might easily pass. At each end OF
the haIl are doors. each divided in the old
fashioned way into upper and lower sec
tions.
The parlOr windows are protected by
heavy wooden shutters, which, In the by
gone days, were never opened except upon
the visits Of the pastor. funeral, a we'd
ding. or on some other equally important
occasion. The parlor fireplace, which is
spacious enough 10 receive great logs, is
covered with white tiles imported from the
fatherland. A similar fireplace is 10 De
found in another large ROOM which. it is
said, was the ironing room. where the
women OF Revolutionary times sathered TO
make the first American flag ever seen In
Flatbush.
The attic contains wooden bin, Of three
compartments. which was once used for
storing grain OF different kinds for the
household. A bar. suspended from the
caves. once held the winters supply OF
smoked ham. bacon and sausages. a crude
loom stands in a corner. On IL there is
still bit OF cloth that some weaver left
and never finished
The huge umbers OF which the frame OF
the house is constructed are still sound and
solid as the day on which they were put in
position. The cistern OF the house has not
yet been discovered. IL is certain that
there was one. but IL cannot be transported
10 the new site. anyway. A curious sleigh
stands In the barn At the rear OF the house
Even the Oldest Mhabitant does not remem-
ber when sleighs OF the sort were used In
the section. IL will be moved with the
building. and viii be one Of the sights Of
the museum.