Yereance–Berry House facts for kids
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Yereance–Berry House
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The Yereance–Berry House
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 Location in Bergen County, New Jersey
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| Location | 91 Crane Avenue Rutherford, New Jersey |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| MPS | Stone Houses of Bergen County TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 83001594 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | January 10, 1983 |
The Yereance–Berry House is an old stone house built in the early 1800s. It is located in Rutherford, New Jersey, in Bergen County, New Jersey. This historic house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 10, 1983. Today, it is home to the Meadowlands Museum, where you can learn about the area's history.
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About the House
The Yereance–Berry House is found at 91 Crane Avenue, right on the edge of the New Jersey Meadowlands. In 1938, experts from the Historic American Buildings Survey studied the house. At that time, people thought the house was built in 1804. It was also known by other names, like the John W. Berry House or the Juria Jurianson House.
What's in a Name?
The name Yereance comes from the Yereance family. This family once owned a lot of land around the house. However, a local historian named Frederick Bunker looked into the house's history in 1979. He found no proof that a Yereance family member ever owned this specific house.
The Historic American Buildings Survey report suggested that John W. Berry built the house. He was a direct descendant of Major John Berry. Major Berry received large pieces of land from Governor of New Jersey Philip Carteret way back in 1668. Major Berry had lived in Barbados before coming to New Jersey. He named his new land "New Barbadoes," a name that was used until 1826. Even today, Berrys Creek is named after Major Berry.
Who Built the House?
Historian Frederick Bunker did a detailed search of the property's records. While he couldn't find the exact date the house was built, he believes it was likely constructed in 1818. He thinks Brant Van Blarcom and his wife, Getty Van Riper, built it. Getty was the daughter of the previous landowner, Jacob Van Riper. Jacob passed away around 1807.
Getty Van Blarcom received the property in 1817. This happened after a court process divided her father's land among his children. Her family's original home was near the Passaic River, not far from Meadow Road.
Later Owners and Changes
William Berry, another descendant of John Berry, bought the house in 1867. He bought it for his son Stephen and Stephen's wife, Margaret. Stephen died in 1872, and Margaret passed away in 1882. The house was then sold at an auction in 1891. By the time of the 1938 survey, Charles Smithson owned the house.
Over the years, the house saw some changes. A new kitchen was built on the west side. The old kitchen had to be removed because it was in the way of Crane Avenue. This road was officially extended in the 1930s.
The House Today
In 1974, the Rutherford Museum bought the house. This museum is now known as the Meadowlands Museum. The museum takes care of the house and has also paid for research to learn more about its past. In 1983, the house was studied again as part of the Bergen County Stone House Survey. This study helped the house get its spot on the National Register of Historic Places.
House Features
The Yereance–Berry House has a strong foundation made of brownstone. This brownstone goes up to the water table, which is a stone layer at the base of the walls. Above that, the walls are made of brick. Inside, the walls are also brick, covered with plaster. The house has brick chimneys inside. The roof is a special type called a gambrel roof, which has two different slopes on each side.
Images for kids
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The Yereance–Berry House in 1938
See also
