Voorlezer's House facts for kids
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Voorlezer's House
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 Location in New York City
Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Richmondtown, Staten Island, NY |
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| Built | 1760s |
| Architectural style | Dutch-influenced vernacular |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000565 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | November 5, 1961 |
The Voorlezer's House is a very old wooden house in Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island, New York. Many people believe it's the oldest schoolhouse still standing in the United States. However, the only person called a voorlezer who lived there, Hendrick Kroesen, was only on the property from 1696 to 1701.
The house later became a private home for over 100 years. Today, the Staten Island Historical Society owns and takes care of it. Even though some think it was built before 1696, it was probably built later, around the 1760s. Jacob Rezeau's family, who owned the land since 1705, likely built it.
By 1936, the house was in bad shape and almost torn down. The museum bought it in 1939. They fixed it up to look like it did around the 1700s. It first opened to visitors in 1942. After more repairs, it opened again in 1985. The house became a National Historic Landmark in 1961. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.
Contents
What is a Voorlezer?
The word "Voorlezer" comes from Dutch. It means "fore-reader" or "someone who reads to others." In early Dutch settlements in North America, a Voorlezer was a very important person. They helped with local laws, education, and religion.
This title was common from the mid-1600s to the late 1700s. A Voorlezer could help a pastor (a religious leader). If there was no pastor, they might lead church services and read from the Bible. They could also run a school.
House Design and Features
The Voorlezer's House has a unique roof. The front part of the roof is about 2 feet higher than the back. Its foundation walls are also very thick, about 2 feet wide. They are made of rough stones held together with mud and mortar.
All the wooden parts of the house are made from oak or white wood. These trees were cut from nearby forests. A huge chimney made of stone and brick is at one end of the house. Around 1800, the original ladder-like stairs were replaced with the stairs you see today. The house shows a style called Dutch-influenced vernacular architecture. This means it's a local building style with Dutch ideas.
The first floor has a small living area and a large room. This large room was used for church services. Upstairs, there's a small bedroom. There's also a big room that people believe was used for the school. This room has extra floor beams. This suggests it was built to hold many people. The floors are made of wide white pine boards, about 14 to 16 inches wide. The windows and doors have been replaced, but they keep the original low and wide look.
History of the Voorlezer's House
Early Land Ownership
In 1680, an English Governor named Sir Edmund Andros gave Robert Rider a large piece of land. It was about 320 acres of land and 37 acres of salt meadow. In 1697, a Dutch church group bought a smaller piece of this land. It was about 271 square feet. They bought it to build the house.
Dutch Church Use
The Voorlezer's House itself was never officially a church. But a building nearby, possibly the first schoolhouse, was used by the Dutch Reformed group. They met there until a new French Church was built in 1698. Later, in 1718, a permanent Dutch Reformed Church was built on the north side of Staten Island.
Even though the church group only stayed in Richmond for a short time, the Voorlezer's House was important. It was one of the first buildings in the village. Its presence helped Richmond become a key center for Staten Island. Soon after, the county government was set up there. An English church, St. Andrew's Church, was also built there between 1709 and 1712.
Serving as a Schoolhouse
It's not completely clear if the current building was ever used as a school. The Voorlezer, Hendrick Kroesen, only lived on the site from 1696 to 1701. The building he lived in might have been lost in the early 1700s.
Children who went to school at the Voorlezer's house were likely between 7 and 12 years old. Both boys and girls attended. Parents probably paid for their children's schooling by subject. Lessons were likely taught in Dutch.
Here are some subjects they might have learned:
- Reading: Students may have used hornbooks. There were also many textbooks from Amsterdam, like "Stairway of Youth." This book had 12 lessons that built on each other. "Great and Small ABC" was also used.
- Writing: Not all students might have learned to write.
- Arithmetic: This was an important skill for both boys and girls. It helped them manage household and business money as adults.
- Religion: Students were expected to memorize the 129 questions and answers of the Heidelberg Catechism. This was used from 1563 until the 1800s.
- Dutch history: This new subject taught students about the Dutch Independence War from Spain.
Restoration Efforts
In 1981, the house was closed for a big renovation. The goal was to make the building strong again. Workers tried to keep as much of the original parts as possible. The kitchen was fixed up. Most importantly, new leaded glass windows were put in. These windows look more like what the house would have had around 1696.
People Who Lived Here
Many different people lived in the Voorlezer's House over the years. Here's a look at some of them and what they did:
- 1696–1701: Hendrick Kroesen; He was the Voorlezer.
- 1701–1705: The house changed owners three times.
- 1705–1720: Rene Rezeau; He was a farmer.
- 1720–1793: The Rezeau family; They were farmers.
- 1793–1871: The Van Pelt family; They were farmers.
- 1871–1872: Harriet Wheately; She lived there.
- 1872–1883: Martin Mooney; He was a farm worker and lived there.
- 1883–1893: Solomon Rosenberg & family; They ran a store and lived there.
- 1893–1924: Solomon Rosenberg & family; They ran a hotel-saloon called the Arlington Hotel and lived there.
- 1925–1938: Nicholas George; He was a restaurant owner and tavern keeper (Acorn Inn) and lived there.
- 1939: Mrs. T. Livingston Kennedy gave the house to the Staten Island Historical Society.
See also
