Wyckoff House and Association: History

William S. Wyckoff
(1915-2006)
The Directors, Officers, Staff, Members and Advisory Board of The Wyckoff House & Association wish to express their deep sorrow on the death of William S. Wyckoff and their deepest condolences to his children, grandchildren and other close family members on their loss. It was through Bill's unselfish devotion, tireless energy, and dogged determination over a 40 year period that the Pieter Claesen Wyckoff House, originally built in 1652, was saved from destruction and designated as New York City’s first Landmark in 1965 and restored and opened to the public in 1982 as a museum dedicated to the City’s early Dutch history. Twenty years later Bill was instrumental in the Museum’s redevelopment as the Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum and Education Center. Bill served as the Association’s First Vice-President from 1957 to 1967 and then as President from 1967-1972. From that point he served as Chairman of the Executive Committee until 1989. Bill was the eighth great-grandson of Pieter Claesen Wyckoff, who arrived in New Amsterdam on March 4, 1637.

E. Lisk Wyckoff, Jr. Chairman
Naj Wikoff, President
Maryann M Feeney,
Executive Director

The Wyckoff House & Association

The Wyckoff House & Association was established in 1937 to promote interest in Pieter Claesen Wyckoff, his descendants, and in the Pieter Claesen Wyckoff House located in the Flatlands section of Brooklyn, New York. The Association also assembles, publishes, and distributes materials and information relating to them. The Association's first meeting took place in New York City on March 4, 1937, the 300th anniversary of Pieter Claesen's arrival in New Amsterdam harbor.

The following online excerpts provide a fascinating overview of the history of the Wyckoff House and Association.

AN OVERVIEW OF THE WYCKOFF HOUSE AND ASSOCIATION,INC. (.pdf format)

The Wyckoff family in America, Introduction (.pdf format)

THE WYCKOFF ASSOCIATION IN AMERICA
A Sketch of the Early Years, 1937-1972
(Reprinted from the Wyckoff House & Association Bulletin, 1996, pp. 4-13)

THE PIETER CLASEN WYCKOFF HOUSE -
FROM FARM DWELLING TO MUSEUM: A CHRONOLOGY
(Reprinted from the Wyckoff House & Association Bulletin, 1997, pp. 32-40)

HISTORY OF THE WYCKOFF HOUSE & ASSOCIATION, 1973-1996 (Reprinted from the Wyckoff House & Association Bulletin, 1997, pp. 27-31)

The Pieter Claesen Wyckoff House

Originally a Dutch West India Company bowerie, or farm, the original portion of the Pieter Claesen Wyckoff House was built c.1652 and is the oldest building in New York City. It is also one of the oldest wooden structures in this country, and the entire structure was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1968. The house was enlarged c.1740 and as a whole is an excellent example of the Dutch Colonial vernacular style with its H-frame structure, shingled walls, split Dutch doors, and deep, flared 'spring' eaves.

Peter Claesen Wyckoff emigrated from the Netherlands as an indentured servant in 1637 and acquired the land through his connections with Peter Stuyvesant beginning in 1652. Successive generations of Wyckoffs farmed here until 1901.

The house survived the early 20th-century development of South Brooklyn to become the first landmark designated by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission upon its creation in 1965. In 1969 the Wyckoff House Foundation donated the house to the City, and after an exhaustive restoration it opened as a Museum in 1982. Programs explore the diverse peoples of Brooklyn's Dutch-American farming communities and include demonstrations of household and farm activities. Special events are scheduled throughout the year.

History of a Name
Are you aware how unique the Wyckoff name is? When the English took over New Amsterdam (renaming it New York in 1664), they made all Dutch take surnames, which had not been Dutch custom. Our Dutch ancestor chose the name "Wyckoff." Most Wyckoffs (in any of the various sixty three spellings) in the U.S. today are descendants of Pieter Claesen Wyckoff. The Wyckoff descendants joined together and saved the original Wyckoff house in the Flatlands from destruction.