Gomez Mill House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Gomez Mill House
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Mill House in 2007. Original 1714 fieldstone still visible in first story.
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| Location | Town of Newburgh, NY |
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| Nearest city | Newburgh |
| Built | 1714 |
| Architect | Jacob and Daniel Gomez (first floor) Wolfert Acker (second floor and attic) |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001245 |
| Added to NRHP | 1973 |
The Gomez Mill House is a very old building located in the Town of Newburgh, New York, USA. It sits on Mill House Road, not far from US 9W. This amazing house is over 300 years old!
It is known as the oldest surviving home in North America that belonged to a Jewish family. It's also the oldest house in Orange County listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
The Historic Gomez Mill House
Early Beginnings: The Gomez Family
The story of the Gomez Mill House begins with Luis Moses Gomez. He was a Sephardic Jewish merchant and trader. His family had to leave Spain to escape the Spanish Inquisition. They found a new home in France before coming to New York in the late 1690s.
In 1705, Luis Gomez received a special document called an "Act of Denization." This document cost him 56 pounds. It gave him the right to do business, own land, and live freely in the British Colonies. He did not have to promise loyalty to the Church of England.
Gomez became a very important businessman. He was also a leader in New York's early Jewish community. In 1714, he bought 1,000 acres of land in Marlboro. This land was on the west side of the Hudson River. Later, he and three of his sons bought another 3,000 acres.
The property was a busy spot where old Native American paths met. Many other people seeking a new life also settled in the Hudson Valley. On the western edge of the Gomez land, they built a strong stone house. It had walls three feet thick and was built into a hillside. A stream nearby became known as Jews Creek.
For over 30 years, Luis's son Daniel managed the family's lumber and limestone businesses. They sold goods from the stone house. This original stone house is still the foundation and first floor of the Gomez Mill House today.
New Owners, New Looks
In 1772, just before the Revolutionary War, a Dutch colonist named Wolfert Acker bought the property. He added a second story and an attic. He used bricks made from local clay for these additions. This made the house look much like it does today.
Wolfert Acker was active during the war. He served with the local soldiers. He also led the area's Committee of Safety.
Papermaking and Preservation
In 1835, a rich landowner named Edward Armstrong bought the Mill House. After he passed away, his wife Sarah owned it. Their oldest son, William Henry, moved into the house in 1862. His brother was the famous artist and diplomat Maitland Armstrong. During the 50 years William Henry lived there, a kitchen wing and garden walls were added.
Over the next century, the house had several different owners. One of the most interesting was Dard Hunter. He was a famous papermaker connected to the Arts and Crafts movement. Hunter bought the Mill House in 1912. He built a small paper mill on the property. It looked like a Devonshire cottage with a thatched roof.
For seven years, Dard Hunter worked on his passion for making paper by hand. He created some of his most famous works there. He sold the house in 1918.
After World War II, in 1947, Mildred and Jeffrey Starin bought the house. They used a G.I. loan to do so. Mildred Starin and her family lived there for 50 years. They were the first to understand how important the house was to history. Mildred was a well-known antique dealer. She helped get the property listed on the National Register in 1973.
Becoming a Museum
Eleven years later, in 1984, the Gomez Foundation for Mill House bought the house. This foundation was started in 1979 by descendants of Luis Moses Gomez and other interested people. Today, the foundation runs the Gomez Mill House as a museum. This allows many people to visit and learn about its long and interesting history.
