Hidden between modern skyscrapers and nineteenth century row houses are remnants of the City’s Dutch past. While the Bronx and Manhattan only have a couple of vestiges of their Dutch past remaining, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island still possess numerous remnants from that era. Below, we explore the oldest building in each borough, which range from a 17th century farmhouse to an 18th century church.
1. Pieter Claesen Wyckoff House, Brooklyn (1652)
The Wyckoff Farmhouse is located at 5816 Clarendon Road, in Canarsie, and its oldest section dates from circa 1652. Pieter Claesen Wyckoff arrived in New Netherlands in 1637 as an indentured servant to the van Rensselaer family. He went on to become a successful farmer and magistrate. Over the centuries, additions were made to the house and its land was sold away. On December 24, 1967, it became the first building designated as a New York City landmark. Today, the house is open to the public and is operated under the auspices of the Historic House Trust.