Wyckoff House
Pieter Claesen Wyckoff House
The Wyckoff House in East Flatbush, Brooklyn is considered the oldest structure in New York City and State and was the first structure designated as an individual historic landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.
Built between 1652 and 1819, the Wyckoff House is the oldest house in New York City and state.[1] The wooden house is an example of both the Flemish Medieval Survival style – evident in the building’s steep sloping roof – and the Dutch Colonial style – evident in its shingled walls, H-frame structure and split Dutch doors.[2] The building is surrounded by a 1.5-acre park including a colonial style kitchen garden.[3]
The original house and land was owned by Pieter Claesen Wyckoff.[4] The house stayed in the family until 1901.[5] In 1937, a group of Wyckoff descendants formed the Wyckoff House & Association and eventually purchased the home from its last private owner Stella Aliferis in 1961.[6] The association donated the building to the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation in 1970.[7] Today, the house is operated by the Wyckoff House & Association and since 2001 has been open to the public as a museum.[8]
The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the house as a New York City Landmark on September 21, 1965.9 The house was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1967.10
1950s: Proposed demolition of house due to street and sewer expansion.11
1953: Brooklyn Borough President John Cashmore assured that house was in no danger of being demolished.12
1965: House designated as a New York City Landmark.13
1967: House designated a National Historic Landmark.14
1970: House given to New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.15
1978: House damaged in fire set by vandals.16
1982: House restored and opened to the public.17
2001: House opened to the public as a museum.18
In the early 1950s, the Flatlands district of Brooklyn became more populated and plans were made to build new streets and sewer lines.19 The Wyckoff house sat in the middle of these plans and it became clear that demolishing its right wing was the only way to proceed with such urban developments.20 At one point there was an argument to move the house to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden.21 Descendants of Pieter Claesen Wyckoff and the community wrote letters clamoring for its preservation instead of demolition.22 In 1953, Brooklyn Borough President John Cashmore declared that the house would not be demolished.23
On September 21, 1965 the Landmarks Preservation Commission held a public hearing on the designation of the house as a landmark.24 More than fifteen witnesses spoke in favor of designation and no speakers were opposed.25 A final attempt was made by the representative of the Department of Highways to move the house to continue the development of Ditmas Avenue, but this was denied by the Borough Historian James Kelly.26 Even after landmarking the building was still under threat of destruction. In 1968, then Mayor Lindsay ordered a fence be erected around the house to protect it from vandals while plans were made to restore the house.27 Finally, in the early 1980s, a major restoration was undertaken returning the house to its 1819 appearance.28 The house opened to the public in 1982 and opened as a museum in 2001.29
- The Wyckoff House & Association, Inc. maintains archives and collections of the Wyckoff House with an emphasis on genealogy.
- 5816 Clarendon Road
- Brooklyn NY 11203
- 718-629-5400
- info@wyckoffmuseum.org
[1] “Pieter Claesen Wyckoff House Overview,” Wyckoff House Museum, accessed 14 May 2021, https://wyckoffmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/House-Overview.pdf.
[2] “Pieter Claesen Wyckoff House,” New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, accessed 17 May 2021, http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/0001.pdf; and “Pieter Claesen Wyckoff House Overview,” Wyckoff House Museum, accessed 14 May 2021, https://wyckoffmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/House-Overview.pdf.
[3] “Pieter Claesen Wyckoff House Overview,” Wyckoff House Museum, accessed 17 May 2021, https://wyckoffmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/House-Overview.pdf.
[4] “Pieter Claesen Wyckoff House,” New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, accessed 17 May 2021, http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/0001.pdf
[5] “Pieter Claesen Wyckoff House,” New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, accessed 17 May 2021, http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/0001.pdf
[6] “Organizational History,” Wyckoff House Museum, accessed 14 May 2021, https://wyckoffmuseum.org/about/history/; and Berger Meyer, “About New York: Brown-Shingled Dutch Cottage in Flatlands may be Oldest Inhabited House in U. S.” New York Times, 14 January 1959.
[7] “Organizational History,” Wyckoff House Museum, accessed 14 May 2021, https://wyckoffmuseum.org/about/history/.
[8] Susan De Vries, “Explore Brooklyn’s Oldest House, the Wyckoff Farmhouse, From Attic to Cellar,” Brownstoner, 25 October 2016, https://www.brownstoner.com/architecture/wyckoff-house-brooklyn-history-east-flatbush-5816-clarendon-road/
[9] “Pieter Claesen Wyckoff House,” New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, accessed 17 May 2021, http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/0001.pdf
[10] “New York National Historic Landmarks Finding Aid,” National Park Service, published May 2017, https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75311941.
[11] “Cashmore to Avoid Razing Homestead: Brooklyn Borough President is Eager to Save Wyckoff House, Dwelling Built in 1637.” New York Times, 4 October 1953.
[12] “Cashmore to Avoid Razing Homestead: Brooklyn Borough President is Eager to Save Wyckoff House, Dwelling Built in 1637.” New York Times, 4 October 1953.
[13] “Pieter Claesen Wyckoff House,” New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, accessed 17 May 2021, http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/0001.pdf
[14] “New York National Historic Landmarks Finding Aid,” National Park Service, published May 2017, https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75311941.
[15] “Organizational History,” Wyckoff House Museum, accessed 14 May 2021, https://wyckoffmuseum.org/about/history/.
[16] “1652 Brooklyn House is Damaged in a Blaze.” New York Times, 11 January 1978.
[17] “Wyckoff House Museum,” Historic House Trust, accessed 21 May 2021, https://historichousetrust.org/houses/wyckoff-house-museum/.
[18] “Organizational History,” Wyckoff House Museum, accessed 14 May 2021, https://wyckoffmuseum.org/about/history/.
[19] “Mayor Acts to Save 1641 Brooklyn House.” New York Times, 3 June 1968.
[20] “Cashmore to Avoid Razing Homestead: Brooklyn Borough President is Eager to Save Wyckoff House, Dwelling Built in 1637.” New York Times, 4 October 1953.
[21] “Colonial Houses Found in Neglect: Brooklyn Antiquarians Voice Concern to Save 2 Symbols of Cultural Heritage Demolition Feared for Historic Homes in Brooklyn.” New York Times, 11 December 1955.
[22] Gertrude W. Johnson, “Plea for Wyckoff House.” New York Herald Tribune, 3 October 1953.
[23] “Cashmore to Avoid Razing Homestead: Brooklyn Borough President is Eager to Save Wyckoff House, Dwelling Built in 1637.” New York Times, 4 October 1953.
[24] “Pieter Claesen Wyckoff House,” New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, accessed 14 May 2021, http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/0001.pdf.
[25] “Pieter Claesen Wyckoff House,” New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, accessed 14 May 2021, http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/0001.pdf.
[26] “Pieter Claesen Wyckoff House,” New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, accessed 14 May 2021, http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/0001.pdf.; and Edward C. Burks, “State’s Oldest House is being Restored.” New York Times, 20 August, 1970.
[27] “Mayor Acts to Save 1641 Brooklyn House.” New York Times, 3 June 1968.
[28] “Pieter Claesen Wyckoff House Overview,” Wyckoff House Museum, accessed 14 May 2021, https://wyckoffmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/House-Overview.pdf; and “Organizational History,” Wyckoff House Museum, accessed 14 May 2021, https://wyckoffmuseum.org/about/history/.
[29] “Organizational History,” Wyckoff House Museum, accessed 21 May 2021, https://wyckoffmuseum.org/about/history/.