Van Pelt Manor facts for kids
Van Pelt Manor was the name given to an area in Brooklyn, New York. Today, this area is part of Bensonhurst. In the early 1900s, the name "Van Pelt Manor" was used for a railroad station, a post office, and even Public School 128. The original Van Pelt family house, built around 1670-1690, stood on what is now 18th Avenue, between 81st and 82nd Streets.
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What Was Van Pelt Manor?
Van Pelt Manor was a special area within New Utrecht, which was one of the original Dutch towns in Brooklyn. This land was first owned by the family of Teunis Laenen van Pelt, who was an early Dutch settler. Some people thought Teunis Van Pelt was a "Patroon". A patroon was a person who received a large grant of land and had special rights, almost like a lord of a manor. Other places in New York, like Pelham Manor and Livingston Manor, were true manors.
Was It a Real Manor?
Even though it was called "Van Pelt Manor," it wasn't officially a "manor" in the legal sense. An expert named Harold D. Eberlein said that the name "Van Pelt Manor" has no real historical reason. The Van Pelt family did buy a lot of land in New Utrecht between 1675 and 1680. They were a very important family in the area. These large land holdings might have made people think they were going to create a legal manor, but it never actually happened.
The Van Pelt Family and Their Home
The Van Pelt family lived at Van Pelt Manor for eight generations! Many members of the family were important in their community.
Important Family Members
- Captain Petrus Van Pelt was chosen for the New York Provincial Congress in 1776. This was an important group that helped govern New York during the American Revolution.
- Teunis Van Pelt Talmage was elected to the New York State Assembly. This is a part of the state government that makes laws.
- John V.B. Van Pelt was the last elected Supervisor of New Utrecht. A Supervisor was like the mayor of the town. New Utrecht later became part of the City of Brooklyn in 1894.
The Manor House and Milestone Park
In 1910, Townsend Cortelyou Van Pelt, who was John V.B. Van Pelt's brother, gave the Van Pelt Manor House and the land around it to New York City for just one dollar. The old Manor House was sadly torn down after a fire in 1952. Before the fire, the house was not protected and neighborhood children would often play inside. The fire was thought to have started when children made small fires to keep warm while playing.
Today, the land where the house stood is known as Milestone Park. The New York City Department of Parks takes care of it as a small recreation area for everyone to enjoy.
