Wyckoff-Bennett Homestead facts for kids
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Wyckoff-Bennett Homestead
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 Location in New York City
Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1669 East 22nd Street, Brooklyn, NY |
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| Built | 1766 |
| Architectural style | Dutch Colonial |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001253 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 24, 1974 |
| Designated NHL | December 8, 1976 |
The Wyckoff-Bennett Homestead is a very old house in Flatlands, Brooklyn, New York City. It is a special place called a National Historic Landmark. This means it's important to the history of the United States. People think it was built before the year 1766.
During the American Revolution, which was a big war for America's freedom, soldiers from Germany called Hessian soldiers stayed in this house. Two of these soldiers, Captain Toepfer and Lieutenant M. Bach, even scratched their names into the windowpanes! The house became a National Historic Landmark in 1976. It is also part of the Revolutionary War Heritage Trail.
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A Home Through History
This old house has been home to only a few families over many years. It is one of the last privately owned houses in New York City built in the Dutch Colonial style. This style was popular when Dutch settlers lived in the area.
The Families Who Lived Here
- Wyckoff Family: An old needlepoint artwork in the house shows that the Wyckoff family owned and lived here from 1776 to 1835.
- Bennett Family: After the Wyckoffs, the Bennett family owned the house from 1835 to 1983.
- Mont Family: Since 1983, the Mont family has owned and lived in the homestead.
In 2020, the house was put up for sale. A blog called Brownstoner shared that only these three families had ever lived in the house.
The Battle of Brooklyn and the Homestead
A special sign outside the Wyckoff-Bennett Homestead tells an important story. It reminds us that the Battle of Brooklyn happened nearby. This was one of the biggest fights during the American Revolution.
Farm Country in the 1700s
Back in 1776, the area around the house was mostly farmland. Not many people lived in Kings County (which is now Brooklyn). Many people who lived there were farmers.
Hessian Soldiers' Stay
The house was built by Hendrick Wyckoff in 1766. He chose a spot along Kings Highway, which was the main road back then. After the British army invaded in 1776, Hessian soldiers were housed here. They left their marks by scratching their names and ranks on the windows. These included "Toepfer Captain Regt. De Ditrurth" and "M. Bach Lieutenant V. Hessen Hanau Artillerie's".
Near a Major Battle
When the Battle of Brooklyn started on August 27, 1776, these soldiers might have been part of the attack. This attack pushed American soldiers away from Battle Pass, which is now in Prospect Park. The battle almost destroyed the American army, which was led by George Washington.
