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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 Wyckoff Association in America A Sketch of the Early Years, 1937-1972 (Reprinted from the Wyckoff House & Association Bulletin, 1996, pp. 4-13). By D. Campbell Wyckoff (Director Emeritus, Wyckoff House & Association). The Tercentenary Celebration The organization of the Wyckoff Association in America took place in New York City on March 4, 1937, exactly three hundred years after the arrival of the ancestor of the Wyckoffs, Pieter Claesen, in the port of New Amsterdam. The log of the ship Rensselaerwijk, gives the time of arrival as four o'clock in the afternoon of March 4, 1637. The New York meeting was announced as the "Ter-centenary Celebration of the Arrival of Pieter Claesen, the New World Progenitor of the Wyckoff Family in America." The genealogical groundwork for the Tercentenary Celebration had been laid by William Forman Wyckoff, who for decades had corresponded widely with known descendents of Pieter Claesen and amassed voluminous genealogical records. The fruit of his labors had been edited and published by Mr. and Mrs. M. B. Streeter in The Wyckoff Family in America( Vermont: The Tuttle Company, 1934), a 536- page, indexed listings of the then known members of the family covering nine generations. At that time descendents of five of the children of Pieter Claesen and Grietje Van Ness had been identified: Nicholas, Mayken, Cornelius, Garret, and Jan. The volume contained photographs of family interest and facsimiles important documents. The Celebration was initiated by a "Self-appointed Committee" whose members were Harriet E. Wyckoff, of Olean, New York; Herbert J. Wyckoff, of Haverford, Pennsylvania; J. Edwards Wyckoff, of New York City. The committee scoured city directories and telephone books for Wyckoffs. Its canvass revealed great interest in the event and produced even more names. Highlights of the Celebration A "pilgrimage" to the Wyckoff House on Canarsie Lane in Brooklyn. The house was occupied by members of the family until 1901, and at the time of the Celebration was in the hands of the Aliferis family. It is now restored and opens as the Pieter Claesen Wyckoff Hose Museum. Although it is on its original site, its address has been changed to Clarendon Road and Ralph Ave. The pilgrimage also included a visit to the Flatlands Reformed Church. Pieter Claesen was a member of its original congregation, founded in 1654. The first church building was an octagonal structure, built in 1663. The present building, dating from 1854, is in clean Greek Revival style, set within a spacious lawn and cemetery on Kings Highway, only a few miles from the Wyckoff House. The minister at the time of the Tercentenary Celebration was Dr. Charles William Roeder, a great friend of the family for many years. The pilgrimage was followed by a luncheon at the Sherman Square Hotel, Broadway at 71st Street, New York City. William W. Wyckoff convened the formal meeting and concluded his opening remarks by quoting from William F. Wyckoff: Good ancestry is of little value unless we constantly keep in full play and activity the strong and good qualities transmitted to us by generation of men and woman who have fought the good fight, kept their faith built up this mighty nation, and left to us to deliver the unborn generations increasing and broadening in our own right thinking, right living, and efficient working. The message which today our forebears send to us is Let the world and the men and woman in it be better because you of the present generations have lived. The report of a committee to effect permanent organization of the Wyckoff Family in America. The members of the committee were William LeRoy Wyckoff, Chairman, Isaac Wyckoff, Ralph Wyckoff, Holmes Stout Wyckoff, and Myron L. Wyckoff. A constitution was adopted and officers elected. The objects of organization, as stated in the constitution were: To unite the descendents of Pieter Claesen Wyckoff To promote just pride in ancestry and family tradition To perpetuate ancient landmarks associated with the family To collect and preserve records To encourage members to file their records with historical societies The officers elected were: President, Herbert J. Wyckoff Vice Presidents: Nicholas line, William W. Wyckoff Cornelius line, William LeRoy Wyckoff Garret line, Dr. John Wyckoff Secretary-Treasurer, Malcolm E. Wyckoff Historian, Harriet E. Wyckoff On motion offered by F. Leigh Wyckoff, it was decided to set up a committee to investigate the acquisition and preservation of the Wyckoff house. By the end of the afternoon, 69 persons had become the original members of the Wyckoff Association, By March 3, 1938, there were 238 members. F. Leigh Wyckoff, a commercial photographer, recorded the events at the Wyckoff House, at the Flatlands Church, and at the afternoon meeting on film. News of the Celebration and the new family Association was carried in the newspapers of New York, Brooklyn, and elsewhere, provoking a minor flood of "letters to the editor" in support of the preservation of the Wyckoff House.And So On... Annual meetings were held at the Sherman Square Hotel each spring through 1944. From 1945 through 1958 they were held at the Pennsylvania Hotel (later named the Statler), with the exception of 1957, when the luncheon and meetings were held at the Flatlands Reformed Church. In the forties, fall meetings were begun in Stroudsburg Pennsylvania. In 1960 the spring meeting was held at Greenwich Village restaurant. Then in the fall of 1960, the Association settled down for a long stay in Stroudsburg. Several issues of The Wyckoff Family Bulletin were published intermittently, until it became a single annual document. The early issues were designed, edited; ad printed by Herbert J. Wyckoff and contained material of historical and current interest. By October 1938 the Bulletin was being sent to 845 family members whose names and addresses were known. Major Events 1938-1972 1938 At the Annual Meeting Mrs. Emile Bienvenu of New Orleans and Frederick A. Wyckoff of New York City were elected Vice Presidents of the John and Mayken lines, respectively. William. W. Wyckoff began duties as Secretary, and Malcolm E. Wyckoff continued as Treasurer. The committee on the preservation of the Wyckoff House reported that it was not feasible to proceed with the project because the house was in such poor condition and its location made it practically in accessible for museum purposes. The office of junior director was authorized, and six were elected to this office for terms of one, two and three years. It was planned that the Junior Directors would be in charge of setting up the Annual Meeting. On May 22.1938, at the invitation of the consistory of the Flatlands Reformed Church, a" Wyckoff Memorial Tree" was planted and dedicated in the cemetery of the church. A bronze tablet marked the tree with this inscription: To the memory of PIETER CLAESEN WYCKOFF and his descendents early members of this church this tree is dedicated May 22, 1938 The Wyckoff Association in America 1939 At the Annual Meeting, Charlotte C. Wyckoff spoke of her work and that of her father, Dr. John Henry Wyckoff, both missionaries of the Reformed Church in India. A "Wyckoff Memorial School Fund" was set up, to which members contributed for several years. Charlotte had ventured into rural village work in India, and the village school named for her father was one of her projects. She had been strongly advised not to undertake village work as being both unsuitable and dangerous, but she persisted, believing that the need was urgent and that if anyone could handle it, she could, having been born and brought up in a missionary family in India and having served there hereof during her entire adult life. Ernest H. Wyckoff of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, began his long service to the Association, at this time as Executive Vice President. 1940 A bronze plaque in memory of our progenitor in the New World was unveiled at the close of the morning service in the vestibule of the Flatlands Reformed Church on May 26, 1940. The inscription reads: In grateful memory PIETER CLAESEN Arrived in the New York from Holland March 4, 1637, at twelve years of age Found work on a farm at Fort Orange and after marrying Gretje Van Ness moved to Amersfoort where by native worth he became a leading citizen In 1664 he assumed the surname WYCKOFF thus becoming the progenitor of the Wyckoff family in America One of the founders of this Flatlands Dutch Reformed Church and honorably buried in the plot covered by the present edifice This tablet is erected by The Wyckoff Association in America May 26, 1940 1941 Aubrey L. Wyckoff, known familiarly as "Cap" for his military rank, began his long service tot eh Association, being elected President. Harriet E> Wyckoff, the historian of the Association, traveled from her home on Olean, New York, to the West Coast, visiting Wyckoffs along the way in Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, New Mexico, California, Washington, Utah, and Illinois. Previously, the family had been organized mainly as an eastern group, but Harriet's trip spread interest and enthusiasm across the country. 1942 Serious planning began on bringing the geology, The Wyckoff Family in America, up-to-date with a second edition. Records of the Wyckoff House were deposited in the Fine Arts Division of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., with view to having the information available in the event of restoration. Aubrey L. Wyckoff was called into active service in the United States Navy, and Ernest H. Wyckoff was elected President. He served in this office until 1967, when he was succeeded by his son William S. Wyckoff. Col. Daniel D. Streeter became Vice President for the Nicholas line, apposition that he held until 1950. he was Executive Vice Resident from 1950-69. Mrs. Oliver N. (Daisy) Rathbun of Hoosick Falls, New York, later of Cooperstown, became a Junior Director, bringing the Schoharie County Wyckoffs into the officialdom of the Association, and beginning in invaluable service of the Rathbuns in collecting and organizing family historical and genealogical data as well as performing many other important duties. A new committee on acquisition of the Wyckoff house was et up, its members being Ernest H. Wyckoff, Alexander Wyckoff, Mrs. William Le Roy Wyckoff and Berne A. Pyrke. At this time there were eight regional Wyckoff groups known to be meeting in various parts of the country. 1943 A publications committee was formed to further the preparation and publication of a second edition of the genealogy, its members being Herbert J. Wyckoff, Chairman, Harriet E. Wyckoff, Holmes Stout Wyckoff, and William W. Wyckoff. Harriet, A. Amelia Wyckoff, and Daisy Rathbun were experimenting with a new format for the book, using an update of the descendents of Abraham Wyckoff (presenting numbered 571,313) as a test case. Frederick A. Wyckoff Jr. took over for his father's as Vice President for Mayken line. Later he served as Treasurer. His son, "Rick" Wyckoff was the President of the Association during the time of the House restoration. Another son, Peter, is the present Dominie. 1944 Adeline Gordon became Vice President for the Annetje line. 1947 Aubrey L. Wyckoff began his ling stint as Secretary of the Association. William Watson Wyckoff, known to us as "W.W", one of the main stays of the Association from the beginning, died December 17, 1947. He had been Secretary and Director of the Knott Hotel Corporation. His funeral was conducted by Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick. 1949 Herbert J. Wyckoff, founding President of the Association, died during the year. Having been graduated from Yale Divinity School, he was minister of Congregational churches in Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, and Massachusetts, and also served as an army chaplain during World War I. From 1918 to 1941 he was Second Master and teacher of English at Haverford School in Pennsylvania. For the Association, in addition to President, he was editor of the Bulletin and Dominie. 1950 The Wyckoff Family in America, a Genealogy, and (second edition) was published, bringing the family information up to the late forties. 1953 The matter of the preservation and restoration of the Wyckoff House took on new line with an address at the Annual Meeting by James A. Kelly, Deputy County Clerk and Historian of Kings County. It was said that he knew more about the history of the House than any other person. Jessie Young Stevens became Vice President for the Margrietje line. 1957 Mrs. Colins (Emily) Durham became Chairman, Restoration of the Old Wyckoff House. Emily served for many years as the chief spokesperson in the efforts to secure and restore the old landmark. She made extensive contacts with leaders in the field of historical restoration and with unfailing support and assistance of her husband in effect put the project "on the map" and well on its way to realization. 1959 The Wyckoff House Foundation received its charter for the Board of Regents of the New York State Education Department of the University of the State on New York on May 1, 1959 wit its 22 members with the Association as incorporators and trustees. The foundation was set up as an independent entity on order to deal directly with officers of New York and to effect purchase of the House and its restoration. Details of this matter are set forth fully in the "Foundation Issue" of The Wyckoff Family Bulletin, September 1959, and in the Bulletin of September 1960. 1961 On June 29, 1961, a contract was signed with the Aliferis finally for the purchase of the Wyckoff House. 1962 On March 4, 1962, a "325th Anniversary Celebration of Pieter Claesen Wyckoff's Landing in New Amsterdam" was held at the Flatlands Reformed Church. Speakers were Dr. Albert B. Corey, Historian of the State of New York and Chairman of the Foundation's Advisory Council; S.B. Slingerberg, Dutch Consul General of New York; James A. Kelly, Historian of Kings County; Abraham Stark , President of the Borough of Brooklyn; and Ernest H. Wyckoff, President of the Association. The Foundation report states: "The Wyckoff House Foundation owns the Wyckoff house and has actual possession of it." 1965 In October, the Landmarks Preservation Commission of the City of New York designated the Wyckoff House as Landmark 0001, listing it as the city oldest building." the designation was made final by the Board of Estimate on December 2, 1965. 1966 Adding to the Line Vice Presidents, Richard A. Scudder was named to represent the Marten line. in April 1966 a European trip was arranged fro family members, a good group from five states and the District of Columbia. The tour included England, Scotland, Holland (of course), Switzerland, and France. 1968 Edith Schwenke, of the Garret line, at great personal sacrifice, was living in the Wyckoff House to keep it safe be being occupied. It was reported that she endured many troubles while keeping it safely for us." 1969 The Foundation determined that the task of restoration of the Wyckoff house was beyond the resources of the family, and that it was planned to deed the house to the City of New York. Alexander Wyckoff, President of the Foundation, reported, "Shortly after the Mayor of the City of New York accepts the Wyckoff House, planning for the restoration will begin. The program of the Annual Meeting was devoted to the Wyckoff House restoration with presentations by Lloyd A. Kaplan, Deputy Director of Public Affairs, New York City Planning Commission, and Loring McMillen, Executive Director for the Staten Island Historical Society, who had been involved in the Richmondtown restoration. At the Annual Meeting, Frederick A. (Rick) Wyckoff, Jr., became Executive Vice President. In subsequent years he was to serve with great effectiveness as President. 1970 A meeting was held on January 10, 1970, at which merger of the Foundation and the Association was discussed for the first time. Col. Streeter was honored at this meeting. Described as the "staunchest friend to Edith Schwenke and The Wyckoff House." he and Mrs. Streeter were leaving to make their home in Seattle. The climax of the years of effort to save the Wyckoff house was reached on August 19, 1970, when Mayor John V. Lindsay; Harmon H. Goldstone, Chairman of the Landmarks Preservation Commission William R. Ginsberg, First Deputy Administrator of the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs Commission; and Donald H. Elliott, Chairman of the City Planning Commission, gathered with a large crowd at the House for a ceremony marking the beginning of the restoration. The speakers were D.A. Van Hamel, Consul General, the Netherlands; Ernest H. Wyckoff, who praised the work of James Kelly, Edith Schwenke, Arnold Albert, and Elizabeth Lazenski and her young volunteers form Nazareth High School for their local work on behalf of the House; and Mayor Lindsay. The three major television networks covered the event. With the appointment of Wilbur L. Korrow, a Vice President was added for the Geertje line. The position of Regional Vice President was added in recognition of the increasing national character of the Association and the desirability of encouraging regional meetings. Vice Presidents were appointed for the North East, Mid-Atlantic, South East, North Central, South Central, North west, California, and Southwest. 1971 Frederick A. Wyckoff, Chairman of the Foundation, reported that the city had awarded a contract to undertake research and prepare actual drawings for the restoration of the Wyckoff House. Legal arrangements were underway for merging the Association and the Foundation. 1972 four meetings wee held on June 23, 1972, to consolidate the Wyckoff Association in America and the Wyckoff House Foundation into one corporate body, the Wyckoff House and Association, under Section 402 of the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law of the State of New York. Its purposes were stated as: To promote and foster interest in Pieter Claesen Wyckoff and the Wyckoff house in the Flatlands Section of Brooklyn, New York; to assemble, publish, distribute and disseminate materials related thereto; and in connection therewith to acquire, restore, maintain, and dispose of property of all kinds and descriptions, provided that the corporation is organized and at all times shall be operated exclusively for charitable, literary, or educational purposes. The first meeting of the Wyckoff house and Association, Inc., was held in the First Presbyterian Church, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, October 7, 1972. Rick Wyckoff, Jr., was elected President. Looking ahead, both the restoration of the Wyckoff House and the publication of The Wyckoff Family in America were contemplated. D.Campbell Wyckoff Albuquerque, New Mexico Spring 1996 |
Wyckoff
Farmhouse Museum, 5816 Clarendon Road, Brooklyn NY 11203
Tele:
(718)629-5400, Fax: (718)629-3125, info@wyckoffassociation.org
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