Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1918-01-18

Many times when the Indians be-
came particularly hostile the people
fled to this fort for safety Two port
holes are still in the front walls OF
this building. There were nine Of these
port holes. In the cellar Is an under
ground passage leading to the well
1t was made so that when the house
was surrounded by the enemy, the in
mates could still have q water supply.
The well is about II feet from the rear
of the house. and is nearly filed with
water, but is covered with boards. II
was said to be It's feet deep. and was
famous for the purity of its water I'm
til recently there were bones in the cell
lar, said to have been the bones of In.
dams. Perhaps they were put there
through the trap door still seen In the
floor.
Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, died at Am.
sterdam in 1647, never having visited
America. After time his descend
ants came from Holland, and occupied
this building as a dwelling. AS the
country became more settled. they
rented farms to the colonists, and were
to receive annually, as rent, six bushels
of oats. two pairs of chickens and q
cord of wood, or their equivalent in
cash. Many who paid this rent through
two or three generations, for the farms
which they had occupied, refused to
pay It longer. This was the commence.
mem of the 'antirent war;" which was
long and bitter
Sent Their 'fWash'' to Holland.
The Van Rensselaers sent annually
their soiled linen to Holland to be
washed, although the Hudson river
was In front of their home Two old
chests In which they seEt their solled
linen, were in the stfic Of this old
house until recently.
An addition Vas built on this old
manor house in 1740. and in the early
part es 1900. Italian marble mantels
took the place of the old wooden ones,
They were the first in this country,
Later they were replaced by the wood
en- ones now in the building.
Doctor Jeremiah Van Rensselaer,
lived here in 1852. and was the last
member Of the family TO occupy this
house. After his death 1t was owned
by different individuals. The last
gentleman who resided here eildeavored
to have bin passed by the legisla-
ture at Albany for fits purchase by the
state. The bill was not passed, and,
soon after, he vacated the house, II
being covered with mortgage
Anyone seeing this old manor house
a few months after this would not
have had the least doubt of its being
the Oldest building in the United
States. Children played In 1t by day.
and 1t was a rendezvous for tramps at
night. The only reason there was
whole pane of glass left was because
it was beyond the reach of stone
threwn by the average small boy. Later
it was sold at auction, and purchased
by company of ice dealers. There are
but a few feet left on either side Of
this old mansion, as the lawn at the
north was sold last year. and, upon it,
modern dwelling was erected. A
similar fate was awaiting the old
AtoUSr WHEN ~ was PukSAdcNN ~ wi p
Susan De Lancy Van Rensselaer,
Strong of New Yory city.
Mrs. Strong is a descendant of Kill
iaen Van Rensselaer,, and is very en-.
thusiastic in regard TO the restoration
of this horne of her forefathers. The
front hall and two large rooms on
either side are now being repaired by
the order Of three patriotic societies.
They hope a sufficient number of So
cieties win become interested in the
building until it is entirely restored. 1t
win soon be opened to the public, and
kept as a depository of articles Of
colonial or revolutionary interest"
If there is the least doubt about its
being the oldest building in the United
States. it is certainly very old, ard Of
sufficient historical renown to be
worthy Of preservation.