Newkirk House facts for kids
The Newkirk House, also known as the Summit House, is the oldest building still standing in Jersey City, New Jersey. This two-story house was built way back in 1690! It's made from strong materials like sandstone, brick, and wood siding, showing off a style called Dutch Colonial.
When it was first built, the house was only one story tall. Its outer walls are very thick, about two feet of stone held together with lime and mortar. The wooden beams in the basement are big and strong, and even the beams on the second floor are well-built. Instead of nails, the builders used eight-inch wooden pegs to put the house together.
Contents
Early Days in Old Bergen
The area that is now Hudson County was first settled by Europeans in the 1630s. It was part of a Dutch colony called New Netherland. In 1660, the leader of New Netherland, Petrus Stuyvesant, allowed a fortified village to be built. This village is now known as Bergen Square.
When the British took over New Netherland, the area became Bergen Township. The people living there kept their Dutch traditions and were known as the Bergen Dutch. Later, in 1840, Bergen County was divided. The southern part became Hudson County, often called "Old Bergen." The Newkirk House is one of many old buildings in Northern New Jersey built by these early Dutch settlers.
Mattheus Cornelissen Newkirk and his brother Gerrit Newkirk came to America in 1659. Their last name, van Niewkercke, means "from new church" in Dutch. Mattheus C. Newkirk moved to Bergen in 1665. His family bought land in and around the village and built other homes nearby.
The Newkirk House During the American Revolution
During the American Revolution, the British technically controlled Bergen. However, American soldiers often came into the area. They would gather information (called reconnaissance) and look for food and supplies (called foraging). The Newkirk House was located near Five Corners, an important crossroads.
After a battle called the Battle of Paulus Hook, American soldiers planned to leave by crossing the Hackensack River. But they had to change their plans and wait near the Newkirk House. British military maps from 1781, made for General Henry Clinton, even showed the house.
Journal Square Area Changes
The Newkirk family owned the house until 1899. After that, it was used as an orphanage by a group called the Queen's Daughters Day Nursery Association. Later, different shops and businesses used the building.
In 1912, a new train station opened nearby. This led to big changes around Bergen Square. Many old homes were torn down to make way for new buildings. The headquarters of the newspaper Jersey Journal was built here, and the area was named Journal Square after it. Another important building was the Labor Bank Building, which was one of the city's first skyscrapers.
Another Newkirk family property was torn down, but a street still carries their name. The Sip Manor, built in 1666, was the oldest private home in New Jersey. It was moved to Westfield to save it. In 1928, Summit Avenue was changed, which affected the Newkirk House property. The front of the house was changed, and new windows were added to its side.
New Life for the Newkirk House
In 1979, the Newkirk House was recognized as an important historical site and was listed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. It then became a restaurant called the Summit House. During renovations, workers discovered that the house was originally only one story tall.
Later, the building became a restaurant called Sanai's, owned by Terry Dehere, a famous NBA basketball player and activist from Jersey City. The Newkirk House is located between the busy Journal Square Transportation Center and a neighborhood called The Hilltop. In 2012, the city approved plans for a very tall 42-story apartment building and a parking garage to be built right next to the Newkirk House.
See also
In Spanish: Casa Newkirk para niños
