Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site facts for kids
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Philipse Manor Hall
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The Manor house
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| Location | Yonkers |
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| Built | c.1682 |
| Architect | Frederick Philipse |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000585 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | November 5, 1961 |
Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site is a cool old house in Yonkers, New York. It's now a museum you can visit! It used to be the main home for the Philipse family. This building is the second oldest one still standing in Westchester County. You can find it near the Hudson River. The State of New York takes care of it now.
Contents
History of Philipse Manor Hall
Building the Manor House
The oldest part of the house was built around 1682. It was started by Frederick Philipse, a rich merchant from the Netherlands. He was the first "Lord" of Philipsburg Manor. Frederick and his wife, Margaret, built this part of the house.
Frederick Philipse owned a huge amount of land. It was about 52,000 acres! This land covered all of modern-day Yonkers. It also included much of western and lower Westchester County.
At first, the building was just a stopover point. Frederick used it when traveling along the Hudson River. He went between his home in New Amsterdam (now New York City) and the northern parts of his land. Later, his grandson and great-grandson made the house bigger. They made it the main family home.
The American Revolution and the Philipse Family
On November 28, 1776, something big happened. This was after the Declaration of Independence was signed. Frederick Philipse III and over 200 others signed a paper. It said they were loyal to the British Crown. They did not want to support the American Revolution.
Because he was loyal to Britain, Philipse was called a traitor. General George Washington ordered his arrest. Philipse was held in Connecticut for a while. He was allowed to go back to Yonkers to sort out his things. But he promised not to help the British.
He broke his promise and ran away with his family. They went to New York City, which the British controlled. Later, they moved to Great Britain. Their land and Philipse Manor Hall were taken by the new American government in 1779.
From Family Home to City Hall
The Philipse family's lands were sold off. This happened during the American Revolution. Philipse Manor Hall was lived in by different families for many years.
In 1868, the building became the main office for Yonkers. It was first the Village Hall, then the City Hall. It stayed this way until 1908. During this time, a monument was put on the lawn. It honored Yonkers people who died in the American Civil War.
Becoming a Museum
By 1908, the city government had grown too big for the building. People talked about adding new parts or even tearing it down. But then, Eva Smith Cochran stepped in. She was from a rich local family. She gave the city $50,000. This allowed the city to give the building to the State of New York.
From 1911 to 1912, the house was carefully restored. It was made to look like it did in colonial times. Since 1912, it has been open as a museum. It teaches about history, art, and architecture. In 1961, it was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important historical place.
Collections at Philipse Manor Hall
Amazing Ceilings
The house has a special ceiling from around 1750. It's made of papier-mâché and plaster. This type of ceiling is called Rococo. It's one of only two such ceilings still in their original place in the United States.
The ceiling has many designs. They show things important to Frederick Philipse III. For example, you can see lute players and singers. These show his love for music. There are also hunting dogs and birds, showing his love for hunting. Busts (head sculptures) of famous thinkers like Alexander Pope and Sir Isaac Newton show his interest in learning.
Another important part is the City Council Chamber. It was designed in 1868. Its high, arched ceiling and wooden details look like a grand hall in an English manor house.
Famous Paintings
Inside the house, you'll find many paintings. These are from the Cochran Collection of American Portraiture. This collection was put together by Alexander Smith Cochran. He was Eva Smith Cochran's son.
The collection includes works by famous artists like Charles Willson Peale and John Trumbull. There are about 60 paintings in total. They show almost all the early presidents of the United States. You can also see war heroes, other historical figures, and members of the Philipse family.
See also
- Philipsburg Manor House
- List of National Historic Landmarks in New York
- List of the oldest buildings in New York
