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Excerpts from Wycoff House & Association Bulletins: THE
WYCKOFF ASSOCIATION IN AMERICA THE
PIETER CLASEN WYCKOFF HOUSE - HISTORY OF THE WYCKOFF HOUSE & ASSOCIATION, 1973-1996 (Reprinted from the Wyckoff House & Association Bulletin, 1997, pp. 27-31)
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The
Wyckoff House & Association THE PIETER CLASEN WYCKOFF HOUSE FROM FARM DWELLING TO MUSEUM: A CHRONOLOGY (Reprinted from the Wyckoff House & Association Bulletin, 1997, pp. 32-40). By Ira. M. Kluger (Director, Wyckoff House & Association and Member, Museum Advisory Board) 1937 From its founding the Wyckoff Association was concerned with the preservation of the Wyckoff House. The original constitution adopted at he March 4, 1937, meeting set forth the objectives of the Association, one of which was, "...to perpetuate ancient landmarks associated with the Family." In his letter to the membership, secretary-treasurer Malcolm E. Wyckoff set forth in more concrete terms, one of three goals of the newly formed Association: to preserve, if possible, the Wyckoff Homestead on Canarsie Lane, Brooklyn, NY, built in 1638. With a motion by F. Leigh Wyckoff, it was resolved,"... that the matter as presented in connection with the acquisition of the said property be referred to a committee to be appointed by the chair to investigate the feasibility of preserving the homestead be means of city or state or park commission interest and, if successful, to formulate a plan and submit it to the Association." 1938 The committee on the preservation to the Wyckoff House reported that it was not feasible to proceed with the project because the House was in such poor condition and because its location made it practically in accessible for museum purposes. 1942 Records pertaining to the structure of the Wyckoff House were deposited in the Fine Arts Division of the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, for the purposes of having the information available in the event of restoration. A new committee on acquisition of the Wyckoff House consisting of Ernest H. Wyckoff, Alexander Wyckoff, and Mrs. William Leroy Wyckoff was formed. 1943 A brief history of the Association published in 1945 stated that in 1943 the Association reluctantly but definitely abandoned the plans for preserving the Old Wyckoff house for the lack of available funds. The cost of the purchase, dismantling, and removal of the House along with the acquisition of a new site and re-erection of the building, combined with the expenses entailed in furnishing and maintaining the house, had mounted to an astronomical figure. 1953 The matter of the preservation and restoration of the Wyckoff house took on new life in 1953, at which time James A. Kelly, deputy clerk and historian of Kings County, addressed the Annual Meeting. Kelly had learned that the city planned to demolish the house to clear the way for opening new streets and called upon the Wyckoff Association to assume leadership in battle to preserve it. Excerpts from Kelly's particular eloquent remarks have been reprinted in 1996 Bulletin, pp. 28-29. 1955 At an executive committee meeting on May 6, 1955, Kelly discussed the latest developments regarding the Wyckoff House. He explained the layout of the new streets which the city proposed to open and the necessity that the House be moved approximately 150 feet in order to provide for an ample lawn area. Subsequently to Kelly's presentation, President Ernest H. Wyckoff discussed the possible cost of acquiring and maintaining the House. Two committees were appointed: 1) to visit the property and suggest placement of the house upon new location--Daniel D. Streeter Mrs. W.W. Wyckoff, and Aubrey L. Wyckoff; 2) to determine the cost involved in purchasing and maintaining the House - Ernest H. Wyckoff, Daniel D. Streeter, and Alexander Wyckoff. 1957 At an executive committee meeting on May 3, a motion was passed appointing Emily Durham chair of the Old Wyckoff House restoration project and empowering her to accept monetary contribution on behalf of the Association, in addition, a resolution was passed expressing the Association's thanks to Colin and Emily Durham for their deep interest in the Old Wyckoff house and for the time and effort which they had devoted to its preservation. 1959 On April 17 at an executive committee meeting, a motion passed authorizing a representative of the Wyckoff Association to enter into an option to purchase the Wyckoff House for a sum of not more than 10,000. On May 1, a provisional charter was granted to the Wyckoff House Foundation by the Board of Regents of the State Department of Education. The Foundation, an educational corporation, was then a separate legal entity with trustees, officers, and members of its own, distinct from those of the Wyckoff Association. As a "friend" member of the WH&A, this event is particularly significant to me, as for the first time, interested persons who were not members of the Wyckoff Family could join and participate in an organization dedicated to the house and its preservation. During September 1959 a special Foundation issue of the Wyckoff Family bulletin commemorating the establishment of the Wyckoff House Foundation was published. This Bulletin included a "wish list" of 24 matters of historical concern pertaining to the house which would be needed for the eventual restoration. On December 2 the first official meeting of Foundation incorporators was held in New York City for election of officers and adoption of bylaws. 1960 On May 6 the annual meeting of the foundation was held at the Explorers Club in New York City. Fifteen trustees and officers were elected for a term of one year. The Board of trustees voted to approach the William Alifieris family with a contract for the purchase of the House and property for a sum not to exceed $25,000. On May 28 Frederick Wyckoff and Emily Durham met with the children of William Aliferis to discuss the purchase of the House. The Aliferis family stated they were asking 38,000. Emily Durham's report published in the September 1960 Bulletin concluded with the following statement: "This summer one Wyckoff cousin said to me, 'I hope they can save the Wyckoff house.'" Emily's reply, which, in my opinion, is worthy of repetition was, forgive the grammar, "THEY IS YOU." 1961 ON June 29 the Wyckoff House Foundation entered into a contract with the Aliferis family for a purchase price of 30,000. 1962 On December 19 at 11:00a.m., the Foundation took title to the House. Present at the closing were Daniel Streeter, Frederick Wyckoff, and Emily Durham. A deposit of $2,000 had been paid upon signing the contract, with the balance due in 18 months. During the intervening months $10,000 was paid, leaving a balance of $18,000 to be paid at the time of closing. A mortgage in this amount had been granted to the Wyckoff House Foundation by the Kings County Trust Company, enabling the Foundation to meet the balance due. As a condition of the mortgage, the back required that the trustees of the Foundation personally guarantee the loan. 1963 On January 10 the foundation took possession of the house and installed Edith Schwenke as the live-in caretaker 1964 At an executive board meeting on October 9, Emily Durham reported that the state of New York had granted an absolute charter to the Wyckoff Foundation. 1965 On February 26 the mortgage note dated December 16 was paid in full with funds obtained from the following sources: gifts from members of the Foundation's Board of Trustees, $6,050; loans from nine members of the Board of Trustees, $9,500; gift from the Wyckoff Association in America ,$1000; and funds from the Foundation, $1,450. The trustees who lent funds to the Foundation were given non interest bearing promissory notes which were to be repaid at a later date. The March 1965 Bulletin reported that "Perhaps that best way to describe the progress of the Wyckoff House Foundation its efforts to finally own and restore the Wyckoff House is to repeat the words - Slow - Slow - Slow." On September 21 the Landmarks Preservation Commission held a public hearing regarding the designation of the house as New York City's first landmark under the new preservation law, which was adopted in June. In October the Commission voted for the designation. On December 2 the designation was made final by a vote of the Board Estimate. 1968 On January 19 the U.S. Department of Interior's National Parks declared the House eligible for registration as a National Historic Landmark. A the Annual Meeting on October 5a a letter form Lloyd A. Kaplan, deputy director of the New York City Planning Commission, was read by Alexander Wyckoff. It stated that mayor john Lindsay was considering the Foundation's offer to donate the House to the city for preservation and restoration. Under the proposed plan, after restoration the house would be placed under the care of the Foundation, which would assume responsibility for its maintenance and display. The Foundation would be responsible for all the expenses of keeping the House open and viable as a museum. After negotiations the attorneys for the city of New York stated that the promissory notes issued to the trustees in 1962 would have to be retired, permitting a clear deed for transferring ownership from the house from the foundation to the city. On December 27 the Foundation requested that the trustees waive their right to repayment. 1969 On January 11 the transfer of the House to the city was completed. The program at 1969 Annual Meeting, which was devoted to the Wyckoff House restoration, included presentation by Lloyd A. Kaplan, deputy director of the planning Commission, and Loring McMillan, executive director of the Staten Island historical Society. 1970 A meeting was held on January 10 at which the merger of the Wyckoff House Foundation and the Wyckoff Association in America was formally proposed. On June 16, Mayor Lindsay announced that the city had accepted the deed to the house as a gift from the Wyckoff family to the people of New York City. On August 19 a ceremony was held at the house, marking the beginning of the long- awaited restoration. Dignitaries present included Mayor Lindsay; Harmon H. Goldstone, Landmarks Preservation Commission; Donald H. Elliot, chair city planning Commission; and D.A. Hamel, consul general, the Netherlands. The mayor stated that the city was planning to earmark a five and one-half acre area around the house, which would be landscaped and restored with farm buildings. Wyckoffs in attendance included Ernest H. Wyckoff, William S. Wyckoff, Walter S. Wyckoff, Walter and Hattie Wyckoff Friend, and D. Campbell Wyckoff. 1971 William S. Wyckoff, in his president's message in the Bulletin, expressed his support for the merger of the Wyckoff Association and the Wyckoff House Foundation stating that until this achieved, the Association would not meet its original goal to encourage both pride in our heritage and preservation of the Wyckoff House. 1972 On June 23 special meetings of The Wyckoff Association of America, the Board of Directors of the Wyckoff Association in America, the Wyckoff House Foundation, and the Trustees of the Wyckoff House Foundation were convened at the Harvard Club in New York City, to finalize the merger of the two organizations into the Wyckoff House and Association, Inc. 1973 In his report in the Bulletin, Frederick Wyckoff stated that the city had retained the architectural firm of Oppenheimer, Brady and Associates to make, with the assistance of an advisory committee which included Edwin Thatcher, an extensive study of the House. This investigation entailed removing some of the flooring and walls to expose the undersurface construction. The precise date of construction remained under discussion, At an executive committee meeting on October 3, William S. Wyckoff reported that July 1, 1974, had been given by New York City as the target date for the restoration to begin. 1974 The Bulletin reported that although the city was mapping an area which would set off the House in a fitting manner, it would not be five and one-half acres, as originally planned. By this time $550,000 had been set aside by the city for the acquisition of land, and a request had been included in the 1974 city budget for more than 300,000 to complete the restoration of the House. At a directors' meeting on October 4, William S. Wyckoff reported that drawings of the House were being prepared, bidding was expected to begin by November, and contracts would be awarded by the first of the year. October 6 following the October 5 Annual Meeting in Stroudsburg, more than 60 members visited the House to view it as some of its "skin" was being removed to reveal its history, and to meet with the architects in charge of the preparation for the restoration. 1975 The Bulletin reported that approximately $850,000 in federal funds had been secured and earmarked for the purpose of creating a park to surround the House and that efforts wee underway to secure permission to use parts of these funds for restoration work. 1976 At the October Board of Directors meeting, William S. Wyckoff reported the city's delays in undertaking restoration stating that he "continues to have a reasonable degree of optimism." Recognizing that the city of New York might not be able or willing to proceed with the restoration at this time, it proposed that the Wyckoff house committee be empowered to reacquire the House, should this step become necessary, to prevent further deterioration or loss. Because such action would probably require extensive legal counsel, the committee requested approval for the expenditure of a maximum of $10,000 from the Wyckoff house fund. The motion was approved by the Board. 1977 On May 18 William S. Wyckoff addressed the 113th annual meeting of the Long Island Historical Society (now Brooklyn Historical Society). He discussed the history of the House, the Wyckoff family's efforts to preserve it, and the city's delays in undertaking the restoration. He concluded, "My own assessment today is that before this year is over, the Wyckoff House will be lost through procrastination or bureaucracy. After more than 325 years-318 of them will love and care, seven with neglect-the House cannot survive another year. The loss of the Wyckoff House will be a loss for you, for the people of Brooklyn, New York City, and the state, as well as all Americans." On June 30 resident Frederick Wyckoff signed an agreement with the city of New York for the operation and maintenance of the House. The signing of this agreement released the $825,000 federal grant to the city for the surrounding park. The WH&A would be obligated to raise the funds necessary to ensure sufficient income to meet the operating expenses of the House once restoration was completed. On October 7 the Board of Directors ratified the action taken by President Frederick Wyckoff in signing the agreement with the city. A motion was passed to retain Donald L. Wyckoff to guide the WH&A in raising $450,000 to establish a trust, the income from which would be used for the day-today- operations of the House. 1978 On January 10 a fire severely damaged a portion of the House charring beams and a partition separating the oldest portion of the House from the later addition. As of June the city was still engaged in attempting to decide which architectural firm should be commissioned to draw the final plans for restoration and to supervise the work. 1979 At the Annual Meeting on October 13 William S. Wyckoff introduced John A. Milner of John A Milner Associates, a Pennsylvania based firm specializing in17th and 18th century restoration and capable of supervising the actual work on the House. Milner stated that although it was impossible to date the construction of the House prior to 1720, he believed it to be much older. Because few changes had been made to the House after 1819, it would be restored to its appearance at that time. It was hoped that the bidding process would begin around March 1 and the actual work by June 1, 1980. 1980 At the Annual Meeting on September 27, William S. Wyckoff reported that we closer to beginning the restoration than we had ever been before. Five contractors were being considered, and the contract expected to be signed before the end of November. 1981 At 10:15a.m. On May 20, a celebration to inaugurate the restoration was held at the House. Speakers included Mayor Edward Koch; Brooklyn borough president Howard Golden; Leopold Quarles van Ufford, consul general of the Netherlands; WH&A president Frederick A. Wyckoff, Jr.; Gordon J. Davis, Preservation Commission; and Lewis Fidler, chair Landmarks Committee, Community Board 17. Wyckoffs present included Mr. and Mrs. William S. Wyckoff, Hattie Friend, Mr. and Mrs. D. Campbell Wyckoff, Mr. and Mrs. Forest Wyckoff, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick A. Wyckoff, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Wyckoff, Jr., Mr. Walter S. Wyckoff, Mr. Donald L. Wyckoff, Mrs. Edward Kolb, and Ruth Wyckoff Hunt. A press release issued in conjunction with the celebration stated that the restoration was expected to be completed in early 1982 and would proceed under the supervision of John Milner Associates. The work would performed by the special projects division of the Turner Construction Company. William S. Wyckoff stated, "The Wyckoff Family has not led the battle to establish a memorial to itself, but to honor the great contribution the Dutch have made to the city, state, and nation. It is hoped that...generation to come will gain an appreciation of the heritage created by the early founders of our great country and the freedom which we enjoy. In the 1981 Bulletin, William S. Wyckoff reported that the entire house had been raised from its foundation, and a steel reinforced concrete footer and underground foundation had been installed. The former stone foundation was being reset in a special mortar which would resemble the original mortar and should last for another 300 years. The old shed had been removed from the west side of the House. A new shed resembling the old one was built and would serve as the caretaker's leaving quarters. New shingles for the roof and side walls had been approved and were expected to be installed before the cold of the winter. The schedule called for exterior work to be completed by November 1, 1981. Work was simultaneously progressing on the interior renovations. The completion of the entire project was targeted for February 16, 1982. 1982 On October 1 a formal dedication ceremony was held at the house. Dignitaries participating in the program included Harmon Goldstone, chair, NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission; D. Campbell Wyckoff, dominie, WH&A; Frederick A. Wyckoff, Jr., president, WH&A; Andreas T. Boehorst, consul general, The Netherlands; Brooklyn Borough president Howard Golden; Gordon J. Dais, commissioner, NYC Parks and Recreation; Isaac Heimowitz, Brooklyn liaison for Mayor Edward Koch; and William S. Wyckoff. The program was followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony in which the ribbon was cut by Ida A. Wyckoff, the last person born in the House, and by William S. Wyckoff. An architectural preview for members also took place at this time. On Saturday, October 2, for the first time in the Association's history, the Annual Meeting was held at the House. On Sunday, October 3, following a special worship service at the Flatlands Dutch Reformed Church, the House was opened to the public for the first time. However, following this preview, the House would not officially open to the public as a museum until the spring of 1983. |
Wyckoff
Farmhouse Museum, 5816 Clarendon Road, Brooklyn NY 11203
Tele:
(718)629-5400, Fax: (718)629-3125, info@wyckoffassociation.org
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