The Society for the Preservation of Hudson Valley Vernacular Architecture

April-May 2007 Newsletter Vol. 9, No. 4-5

The Society for the Preservation of Hudson Valley Vernacular Architecture is a not-for-profit corporation formed to study and preserve vernacular architecture and material culture.

Peter Sinclair - Founder West Hurley, Ulster County, NY (845) 338-0257 [email protected] Jim Decker - President Wallkill, Ulster County, NY (845) 895-3272 [email protected] Dennis Tierney - Vice President Wappingers Falls, Dutchess County, NY Welcome our newest HVVA Member - Willa Louise Spencer-Shimkin, born March 6th, (914) 489-5262 2007 at 3:08PM (6 Ibs 15oz), the newly born daughter of our Past President and trustee, Maggie MacDowell - Secretary Paul Spencer. Congratulations to both Paul and Mary! Gardiner, Ulster County, NY (845) 255-2282 mmacdowell @ hvc.rr.com Robert Sweeney - Treasurer From the Editor Kingston, Ulster County, NY This past month the HVVA office has the problem of what it should be used for, (845) 336-0232 seen a great deal of activty. With spring office and archive, meeting house, muse- [email protected] weather approaching our little outbuilding um? Perhaps it should just be preserved Paul Spencer - Past President and Trustee of an office is close to becoming a reality. as a wonderful relic of the past. In order to Ancramdale, Columbia County, NY It is hoped that we will plan a bit of a cele- debate these issues your elected trustees (518)329-2616 [email protected] bration including the customary bowl of need to hear from you. Please use the punch, when it is complete. The tentative email addresses in the side bar to offer John Stevens - Sr. Architectural Historian Huntington, Suffolk County, NY date will be July 21, 2007 and we'll com- your opinions to the board. As resolutions (631)239-5044 bine the dedication with our annual picnic are made this newsletter will help keep our dutchjam ©optonline.net and a small house study tour. So mark that membership informed. Joyce Berry - HWA.org Webmaster date on the calendar! I would also like to extend a thank you to St. Johnsville, Montgomery County, NY In an effort to document several "new" those who have been renewing their dues [email protected] structures in Ulster County our meetings on the honor system and thank the many Todd Scheff - Trustee for the next couple of months will be split folks who have contributed beyond the Germantown, Columbia County, NY over the Shawangunk Range. In April we stated amounts. We do rely on these con- (518) 537-6993 will continue to meet at the Bevier House tributions to keep us running. Thank you! ctschetf @ valstar. net in Marbletown. In May, we cross over the Also I would like to inform everyone that Bob Hedges - Trustee ridge to meet at the Bevier/ Elting House, Peter Sinclair is making progress in his Pine Plains, Dutchess County, NY in New Paltz. Each of these days will begin recovery and enjoys the mail he receives (518) 398-7773 at 10:00 am with a business meeting and from his many friends. Work is being done [email protected] will include a Study Tour which will end by Bob Hedges and Alvin Sheffer to Conrad Fingado - Trustee up at a local lunch spot. All members are prepare Peter's home for his arrival in the Pleasant Valley, Dutchess County, NY encouraged to attend these meetings. near future. HVVA's great friend Roberta (845) 635-2714 Membership input is greatly needed for Jeracka, gladly prints and delivers email [email protected] our newest project, the brick Van Housen messages to Peter a couple times a week. William McMillen - Trustee House, near Hudson, New York (see article If you wish you may send your greetings Glenmont, Albany County, NY by David Voorhees). This superb example using her address: [email protected] (518) 462-1264 [email protected] of 18th Dutch Architecture is in need of an I look forward to visiting with everyone owner that is able to protect and preserve during the spring season. Walter Wheeler - Trustee Troy, Rensselaer County, NY it. HVVA has been asked to help out in this Happy house repairs to all! (518) 270-9430 effort. It is obvious to everyone that has [email protected] seen this house that it is very special and Karen Markisenis - Trustee a rare example that must be saved. Lake Katrine, Ulster County, NY But the question is where will the money (845)382-1788 come from; our pockets, the slate and fed- kmarkisenis @ hvc.rr.com eral treasury, local businessmen? And then Rob Sweeney - HVVA'S sheepdog April-May 2007

Upcoming Events Early Days with Peter Sinclair by Greg Huber

Fort Edward It was thrilling for me to visit the Old Introduction to Stone Fort in Schoharie in Schoharie Historical Records County, New York in early October 1988 and learn that an upstate New Friday, April 13,2007 York based organization was formed 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM that was dedicated to the preservation Washington County Municipal Center of Dutch-American barns. They called 383 Broadway, Bldg. B themselves The Dutch Barn 2nd Fl. Classroom Fort Edward, NY Preservation Society (DBFS). I thought - "other people share the same inter- FREE. Registration required. est as I do. It is about time." I could not wait to join and learn of their specific Historical or archival records have interests and the kinds of activities long-term value not only for the they were pursuing. I then learned the organization that created them, name of Shirley Dunn who headed the but also for use in research. Peter Sinclair This workshop will discuss methods group at that time. My dad was very to ensure that these records are sick at that point and as things turned large he really was in more ways identified, organized, properly stored, out I did not send in my ten dollars for than one. He was a prominent meteor- available for use, and preserved. dues until about the middle of January ologist and somewhat a friend of my It will also suggest ways to develop 1989. In about a week I received a silent mentor - Eric Sloane. I also support for these activities. packet of information including the first recall Shirley Dunn and Chris Albright Attendees will be encouraged issue of the Newsletter and I found out and I believe Mark Hesler being there. to discuss issues related to their that the group was having a tour of All of these people proved to be major historical records with the instructors barns in the general Guilderland area figures in the Barn Society. But the and with other attendees. Although this workshop is presented by local of Albany County on Saturday, person whom I most remember - by government records staff, most of February 10. Goodness. I believe far - was Peter Sinclair. Here was a the information will be useful to I called Shirley and asked her a few man approaching sixty years of age. anyone responsible for the care questions of the group. Bald or mostly so I saw but still of permanent records. possessive of some very definite I got up very early on that Saturday youth. There was also a certain For more information or to register, morning at a friend's house in quietude about him and yet a very contact Denis Meadows Mahwah, and at about definite enthusiasm shone through his at 518-798-5717 or 6:15 AM headed the radiator of my car reserved demeanor. This part of him [email protected] north to the hinterlands of New York was plainly obvious. It is quite curious State with a destination not far from - in view of the fact that Peter Albany - the state capital. I thought became far and away my closest friend to myself - "whom would I meet. Who in the society - that his name was the was actually interested in looking at very first one that I recorded in my these barns with hopefully discerning (ever present) notebook. His name and wondering eyes?" I basically appeared on the second page of my waited for this to happen for more than notes along with his phone number. a dozen years. I would soon find out His name came right after the entry of who these people were. the SHBO (a Netherlands historic organization) that was mentioned at There were perhaps twenty people or the trustee meeting. The only very so that I met in the adjacent parking lot distinct memory that I have of Peter to the historic Frederick house on during the barn tour were comments Route 146 in Guilderland Center. But I that he made at the so-called Altamont do know one very definite thing - it Orchards barn. He was pointing out was darned cold. As in C-O-L-D. I very certain traits of the H-frames. I was distinctly remember the hulking pres- seeing things that were new to me that ence of Vincent Schaefer. There was a I had not seen in other Dutch barns large man. I was soon to find how that I had visited in the more southern www.hvva.org

reaches of New York. Somehow from many sources adorned the walls Upcoming Events I sensed that a friendship would ensue and corners and what-not (and a few with this man who was close to twenty cob-webs). And he had hundreds of years my senior. books on Indian lore and country life. In very short order I realized that Peter was in love with Indian life. And he It was likely after the second DBFS Let's Talk About the Role trustee meeting that I attended in could talk about them ad infinitum. March 1989 that I went to see Peter In the first year or two that I knew him of the Municipal Historian at his homestead place in West Hurley he sadly had to part with one of his in Ulster County New York. He had treasured native masks - I guess from Monday, April 16, 2007 Africa - for many dollars as he was 10:00 am to Noon moved there about 1973. One got the Newburgh Historian's Office instant impression that the place was short of funds. I also learned that his that of an independent individual. Dad, Gerrit Sinclair, which is also the FREE. Registration required. The word iconoclast came to my mind. name of Peter's son, was a quite major Later on I learned that this word very This informal roundtable will discuss definitely applied to Peter. All manner the role of the municipal historian in theory as well as in practice. of stuff was about the place that consisted of about twenty acres. There To register, contact Dianne was a frame house of somewhat Macpherson at (914) 592-6726 or rambling type from the middle third of [email protected] the nineteenth century. There was the obligatory garden and perhaps a few sheds. But most important of all, the biased person that I am, it had a barn - not of Dutch-American type, one can not have everything - that was of side wall entrance English type, maybe 1840 to 1850. The posts Switchman's Shanty- Gerrit Van Sinclair even had raising holes. Peter thought artist in the mid-west. Gerrit depicted it was a Dutch derivative barn but I many genre scenes of the midwest tried to steer him away from that idea. and so the environment that I was I don't know how successful I was. introduced to at the Sinclair home- At least one of the nineteenth century stead was really a natural sequel to Glens Falls landowners at the homestead was Van his father's orientation. If memory Crandall Folklife Center Steenburgh - a good and healthy and serves Gerrit also painted a number of Temporary Move unmistakable Dutch name. The barn barn scenes. Bless his soul. had wood working tools in it that Peter Crandall Public Library will begin a used on various projects. The roof at I believe I stayed overnight at Peter's major renovation in April. During the that point needed attention. place that night and then left in the renovation, the library's Center for morning. In a few days I received Folklife, History and Cultural The interior of the house on the prop- some information in the mail from him Programs will have a temporary home erty was not fashionably decorated - and a note appeared that said - "You at the Southern Adirondack Library that was not Peter's style - not by a are welcome here anytime." I knew System headquarters in Saratoga Springs (22 Whitney PI, Saratoga very long shot. But important artifacts that I found a friend. In the ensuing Springs, NY 12866). The tentative months Peter and I attended many timeline is for the Folklife collections trustee meetings of the DBPS. He had and staff to be located in their tempo- become a trustee in the fall of 1988 rary home from April 2007 through and I later became a trustee in the fall the end of 2008. During this transition of 1989. After the meetings I would period, researchers will be able to often stay at his place. However, on access the collections by appointmenl one occasion we followed each other only. In addition, artifacts from the folk home and we got lost and nearly art collection may be available to SALS member libraries as traveling ended up in Massachusetts due to a exhibit cubes. wrong turn and I ended up not getting back to New Jersey until nearly 2 AM. For more information contact Director Peter was never great on directions - Todd DeGarmo at (518) 584-7300 something that he freely admitted. x214 or [email protected]. April-May 2007

While at Peter's place we would dis- One barn that I knew about in the cuss barns for hours on end and what 1970s that was apparently in the we could do to document them but Lamontville area of Marbletown but mostly in his area of Ulster County. I that I was never able to find was very soon learned that he had a quite likely the greatest barn that Peter ever interesting system of categorizing showed me, the superb Bogart barn barns in certain ways relating to their off Route 209.1 just marveled at this locations. It must not have been until barn. It was so original and it had sometime in 1990 that I learned of the the privilege of retaining interesting full extent of the barns that Peter features - to say the least. This was knew most of which were in a U-barn - a term that originated with his county. They amounted to a few Peter. In this case the Bogart barn dozen barns - a number of which was what I later called a true U-barn I was not aware of. I copied many of use. We both knew John quite well at as dirt surrounded the threshing floor the notes that Peter had taken over that time so he knew that all would be at three sides forming the letter "U." the course of perhaps two years and okay. Peter and I got into the'barn A number of variations on the basic except for the Napanoch barn (off with our new forms and Peter became format exist. What particularly inter- Route 209 near the prison), the Rest busy connecting the electric lines. ested us both were the miraculously Plaus barn (in Marbletown off Route I put the lights in front of the first intact virtually 100% original threshing 209) and the excellent "Dutch/Anglo" inner anchorbeam and then sat in floor doors with the first rate folk-like barn with the ninety degree re-orient- front of the first inner H-frame on a carvings on one of the door halves. ed roof in the Katsbann area north- pile of hay while Peter was finishing These Peter traced. Another virtually west of Saugerties I was ultimately with the connections. Peter flipped the unique feature in the barn is the fully able to see all the barns on Peter's switch and the light shone brightly on carved name of Jacob Osterhoudt on list. I deeply regretted not seeing the the bent and there before me in the one of the purlin plates. This Peter last barn as it had in its core pre- middle of the anchorbeam was a traced too. Later we documented the Revolutionary War era framing. carved date of 1766 and the letters barn in part with the help of Mike AHM. I let out a scream. Peter rushed Bathrick in late 1990. It appears that the first Dutch barn over and saw the date for himself. that Peter had ever been in was the Although I knew a number of Dutch superb Nieuwkirk-Kaufman barn on related barns in Ulster County before Hurley Mountain Road west of joining the Barn Society, it was only Kingston. He related that he wanted by way of association with Peter that to learn some of the characteristics of It turns out, amazingly, that no mortal I learned how truly great the barns of Dutch barns before he attended his man in at least the last half of the Ulster really were. It took me about first DBPS trustee meeting that likely twentieth century had ever seen the four years to fully appreciate this. occurred in April 1988. Little did he date. This was Fitchen barn number Currently, Ulster easily has the great- know at the time that his first barn 42. At first we believed that the letters est number of Dutch barns and rem- visit proved to involve a barn that were initials of the farmer or perhaps nant ones in the entire Dutch barn remains one of the most interesting builder (unlikely). We only later found kingdom at 113. It also likely has the Dutch style barns in either New York out that the letters meant Anno greatest diversity of barn subtypes. or New Jersey! Heerem Machem (Made in the year There are other Ulster County barns of our Lord). John had never known that were among Peter's favorites. The mention of this barn brings up that the date and letters were on the These included the circa 1770 an interesting story. Peter and I were anchorbeam as the light source at the Scolnick barn off Route 212 near working on a new documentation form roof peak did not shine on that face Woodstock, the circa 1810 Shultis in the late summer of 1991 and we (lay-out face) of the H-frame. John's barn near Woodstock, the circa 1760 of course had to choose our first barn son later that day told John of the Oliver barn (with addition) on Route to document. We decided on the date and letters. Peter had always 209 in Marbletown, the circa 1825 Kaufman barn. One of us had called thought that this was one of his Henry Snyder variant U-barn south ol John Kaufman, the owner of the barn, greatest discoveries in a Dutch barn. Saugerties, the circa 1820 one aisle to tell him that we wanted to take a It certainly was for me. This is the Vinicor barn near Woodstock and the number of measurements. John had barn that Jack Sobon has called the circa 1820 John Snyder "Dutch/Angle lived at the homestead since about most European-like barn in North barn off Route 212 near Veteran. It 1953 or so. He indicated that he America that he had ever seen. was particularly the last barn and the would not be there but that he would We finished our form and went rather homestead itself that Peter probably leave some electric leads for us to gleefully home that day. found the most intriguing. This was a www.nvva.org side entrance true open bay barn. to contact in the mid Hudson River study barns. For a period of over one Inner almost all original threshing Valley for information. But it was true and one-half years that wish did not floor doors appear at the first inner H- too that he had visited a number of materialize. Later it would. frame. Anchorbeams from an earlier other counties in New York State and barn were recycled into the H-frames. even made a few trips to New Jersey, Things really started to formulate in The one side bay contained remnants one of which was the double-day tour Peter's mind about what he wanted of a very old hanging type horse of barns for the Bam Society that I to do as far as publishing his own partition wall. Curious pigeon nesting put together in late September 1990 newsletter. It was in 1991 that he boxes adorn the front facade wall. in both centrally located Somerset started his Living History journal - I would venture to guess if Peter had County and northern Bergen County. which lasted for close to four years - to choose among a favorite barn of Early Society members such as Alicia the pursuit of which he very much his that he has seen, it just might be Jettner, Bob and Amelia Andersen enjoyed. I provided some seed money the Snyder barn. He has gotten to and Shirley Dunn attended the tours. and I wrote one article that Peter know the owner Kenneth Snyder very Actually Peter had made a preliminary included. The publishing of Living well in the last nearly twenty years. trip with me to Somerset County in History in a very real sense catapult- the early part of that month when we ed Peter into a position of meeting One other barn that held high promi- made a tour of barns in the county many people fairly prominent in the nence in Peter's list was the circa with Ursula Brecknell. With these trips field. His name 1810 Joy barn not far from Saugerties to New Jersey Peter gained a good was basically affixed on the proverbial that was re-located to south of New deal of knowledge of the structure map. Ultimately Living History went Paltz in late 1991. The fact was that of barns south of his area of Ulster the way of other good publishing ven- Peter passionately wanted to save County. He had helped me so much tures that lost steam in early 1995. this barn as the land and the barn in his area, I felt that I in a sense were being threatened by "official returned the favor by showing him By the time spring 1992 had arrived intrusions" - shall we say. He met "my" area of New Jersey. Peter was exploring certain areas of many government people to tell them Dutchess County and had discovered of the importance of the barn. I a few barns whose locations he believe that he even wanted to hire a shared with me. This supplemented lawyer at his own expense. Peter also my own visits to barns in the county formed The Joy Farm Preservation that had first started with John Society and published several issues Adriance in the fall of 1990. These of a newsletter. All this was to no visits provided me with knowledge to avail. I am sure that he learned much do a barn talk in Hyde Park in April from the experience, none the least of 1992. One of the attendees was Anne which were the obstacles in trying to Bienstock who still owns the wonder- convince people "in power" of the ful Decker homestead with a dated importance of saving local cultural Peter had become a Vice-President of 1750 three-aisle barn in southern heritage. His efforts in trying to save the Barn Society in the early 1990's Ulster County. It was sometime in the Joy barn probably made the and was then the editor of what was 1992 that Peter, myself and John greatest impression on me in knowing called The Reporter. This was actually Stevens got together at the excellent his true level of dedication. a means by which the Barn Society four-bay classic barn owned by Mike disseminated information on various Kelley in Coeyman's Hollow in Albany It was during the first three years that related current barn activities in a County. This is one of the four Albany I knew Peter Sinclair - 1989 to 1991 number of the counties where barns County barns with anchorbeams that - that each of us had visited close to had been found. The Reporter was had the very distinctive extended one hundred Dutch type barns. Peter rather short lived as Peter had tenon contours. This was likely the had gotten to know a great deal about become disgruntled with the Barn first examination of a building that these barns and he likely knew more Society in which his level of active Peter, John and I did together. I very than John Fitchen ever did about the participation was much diminished for clearly recall that Peter and I showed barn types. And that was good since perhaps close to two years. Peter and John the very distinct two-foot scribe he could help a number of people in I had maintained our closeness and marks on the very big anchorbeams. educating them about their fundamen- I had continued to see him in Ulster These very much impressed John. tal structural and functional nature. County innumerable times where our This circa 1805 barn has one of the Membership in the Dutch Bam documentations of area barns grew very widest naves seen in any classic Preservation Society had swelled to ever more extensively. As early as barn in either New York or New about 250 members then and every- January 1992 he suggested to me Jersey at just over 32 feet. I believe one knew Peter was the main person that we form an informal group to John attended the Dutchess County April-May 2007 barn tour that I put together for the It should be said that when Peter that Roger Scheff of Red Hook Barn Society in May 1992. That same would call me at the time he made a became aware of Peter's interest in time I conducted classes for second new barn discovery and most espe- barns and invited him to give a talk at and seventh graders in Albany County cially when a new construction tech- the Elmendorph house in Red Hook for one of the schools in the Ravena nique revealed itself, his enthusiasm in Dutchess County. Roger was a area. Peter had originally put me in and wonderment really manifested person that Peter very much vibrated touch with the head teacher Pat itself. This made my friendship with to and a friendship ensued. A few Schuler who arranged the program. him so worthwhile. We were really months later in the fall I gave a barn reveling in reflected glory in old ways talk in the High Falls area of Ulster We visited the re-located Wemp barn of early vernacular timber framing. I County. Both Peter and Roger attend- in Feura Bush - in June 1992 - where remember the time in the early 1990s ed the meeting. I suggested that inter- students were exposed to many of that Peter found original Dutch fram- ested people get together periodically the principles of barn construction ing recycled into a very improbable and compare their notes of places techniques. Then in late September late nineteenth century gambrel and buildings they visited. Then the 1992 both John and Peter attended roofed barn in the Lyonsville area of idea was introduced that meetings be the Rensselaer County barn tour that Marbletown in Ulster County.,He said held every month. The idea was I put together again for the Society. in a very pronounced way - "By God accepted and the monthly informal John later commented that he thought - there was Dutch framing in that gathering of people - The Bam that was one of the best barn tours barn." Another barn that Peter Enthusiasts Group - was born. The that he had attended as several new became very enthused about was the first meeting held in August 1993 was barn sub-types were introduced to circa 1820 Bruce Ratner three-bay put together by Peter and total atten- him. Peter and I had first actually met barn not far from Krumville in Olive dance was eleven people including John at the 1990 annual meeting of Township in Ulster County. This was a Maggie MacDowell, Joe Naccarato - the Bam Society. It was at this time variant U-barn with a very unusual the owner of the Joy barn and myself that we also met Richard Babcock. open bay somewhat reminiscent of among others. The second meeting the Snyder barn near Veteran. It also was held at Madeline Bleecker's barn One barn re-location project that had a rare haar-hung door. in Lyonsville in September and was Peter and I became somewhat attended by nine people. Attendees involved in was Fitchen barn number were John Kaufman, owner of the 43 that was located in Greene County excellent 1766 Nieuwkirk barn, Bob on the west side of Route 32. Andersen and Maggie. Peter showed six gambrels (pig leg stretchers) and The barn was to be moved only about indicated there were cultural region- two miles or so away and we both alisms among them. Tools were of helped the new barn owners with course a favorite topic of his. He also understanding fundamentals of Dutch- showed Don McTiernan's slide collec- American barn framing. It was also a tion of Ulster County Dutch barns good opportunity to document an some of which date to the mid 1970's. original Fitchen barn. In this project Peter and I made a trip to Staten the chores were more or less split - Island in November 1992 to see And so it went. The Group usually met I did much of the documentation and Richmondtown and Bill McMillen for the third Sunday of each month. We Peter did much by way of conversa- the first time. When we first went to would go to a barn owner's place and tion with the owner and visitors to the the main desk I made the inquiry - document the barn and exchange our homestead. Peter's one particular "Yes - we would like to see your file latest ideas of interest and memories intrigue with the barn was the regional on Dutch barns." Peter chuckled at of places we had been to. Most of our method of gable wall pentice support this knowing full well that no such meetings were in Ulster County and a that he explained to various people. file existed. The last Dutch type barn few occurred in Dutchess County and Peter also thrilled to the fact that the came down on the island perhaps even one in southern Columbia name of Sinclair apparently held a fifty or more years beforehand. Bill County. Peter moderated most of the prominent position at some point in believes his father Loring may have meetings. The January 1994 and the either the ownership or use of the seen a Dutch barn earlier in the March and June 1995 meetings were homestead land. This was one of the twentieth century. the best affairs as twenty one people few times I had ever seen Peter (first meeting) and twenty four people become very openly excited. Fitchen In the spring of 1993 came a pivotal (two other meetings) attended. called this barn the Sagh barn when point in Peter Sinclair's "walk of life" in Besides Peter and me, the Scheff the name was actually Sax - a fact documenting vernacular buildings in brothers and Maggie were the most that Peter uncovered. the mid Hudson River Valley. It seems regular attendees. John Stevens www.nvva.org attended his first Barn Group meeting Stissing barn has over-sailing rafters of Dutch-American culture that in turn in April 1994 where we documented - a very rare trait in Dutch-American actually helped him in knowing the the two-bay circa 1770 Richers barn barns shared by only one other barn, cultural milieu that fostered the envi- in the Katsbann area and the Brink- the non-extant three-bay DeMott barn ronment in which Dutch type barns Muller variant U- barn in Mount in Franklin Township in Somerset proliferated. John in turn benefited Marion south of Saugerties. John County. We visited a total of four greatly from Peter's ability to find a made some interesting comments barns that day that included the wide array of buildings in the Hudson on the very peculiar notches in the Wendell Hinkey and Lobotsky barns. River Valley that John had not been H-frame posts. John became quite Bob has been a quite major source really subjected to prior to about 1990 a regular attendee at that point. of information on barn and house as far as many out-of-the-way places We also met at several historic locations on the east side of the mid- were concerned. I very vividly recall houses and several of us compared Hudson area in the last twelve years. John saying at one point: "No matter notes. The last meeting of the Group He, as everyone knows, has much how much you think you know there was in June 1995. A total of about enthusiasm for pre-Civil War are always places and buildings out twenty meetings were held. buildings. The Group later made a there that you are not familiar with." Peter gave a talk at the Senate house trek back to the Hamm barn in , Amen. There are still to this very day in Kingston in May 1994 attended by October 1994. places that are being discovered a rather remarkable number of about whose understanding are for 75 people. He showed an excellent the betterment of all. array of barn slides that went much beyond the Hudson River Valley. On a November 1994 day Peter and I Shots included barns on Long Island, documented for about two hours the New Jersey, Pennsylvania and dated 1766 Hoornbeck Dutch barn Virginia along with a number near Accord off Route 209 in Ulster of buildings in the Netherlands. County. This was very important for two reasons. One - the barn would Of primary importance it seems in soon fall into a heap of timbers. Two - Peter's partial shift from an almost the structure was remarkably similar exclusive interest in barns to vernacu- At the Stissing Mountain Road to the 1766 Nieuwkirk barn. Both lar houses was the Group's July 1994 meeting of the Group Peter showed barns were marked with AHM. To visit to the Gemmerling Dutch stone us all a copy of his 1945 book printed make a comparative study between house on the east side of Route 9W of Old Dutch Houses of Brooklyn by the two barns proved to be really north of Saugerties in the so-called Maud Esther Dilliard. At this point informative. The fact that ostensibly West Camp area of early eighteenth- Peter had shown a growing interest in the same builder constructed two century German Palatine settlement. old houses for perhaps a year, the barns in the same year is basically The house, besides possessing the active study and pursuit of which that unique to our experience anywhere in very rare jerken-head roof and several was quite lacking in our friendship the northeast and the documentations (probable) original Dutch doors with and historic site visits from early 1989 were very revealing of many of the pancake hinges, had a very intriguing to the first few months of 1993. dynamics of barn building technology. cellar kitchen that was of particular I strongly believe that it was John The fate of the Hoornbeck barn was interest to John Stevens. Of course Stevens who influenced Peter by far one reason I chose to write the article he added many other general the most to appreciate Dutch houses. in Ulster Magazine in late 1994 - The comments on the house as he had John had been studying and docu- Disappearing Barn. On the front cover studied Dutch type houses for more menting houses in New York State was Alf Evers, our mutual friend - the than twenty five years. and to some degree in New Jersey remarkable historian who wrote the since the mid to late 1960s. John at book Catskill. I first interviewed Alf Enter Bob Hedges in the Group at that point could add a perspective on in April 1976. He wrote an article on about the start of 1994. Bob and house construction techniques that barns as early as 1951 that I told Peter of course became close friends no one else could. Peter increasingly Peter about. and remain so to this day. Bob put us took advantage of John's insights and on to the quite interesting Stissing enthusiasm to the benefit of everyone. Mountain Road or Hamm barn in Pine I was still concentrating on barns Plains in north-central Dutchess then that houses took a back seat to, County that ten members of the although early houses had interested Group visited in February 1994. Both me then for almost two decades. The Scheff brothers, John Kaufman, Bob new focus on houses gave Peter a Andersen and Maggie attended. The better general overall understanding 8 April-May 2007

Turpin Bannister Chapter Likely by the end of 1995 Peter and in fine toothed comb fashion in the last Society of I had documented to varying degrees nearly twenty years that it is very Architectural Historians more than one hundred barns in both unlikely that even a few barns lurking in Spring 2007 Schedule New York and New Jersey. Today this the background will be uncovered. Why? would not be possible as many of the It is because one man has already done April 10, Tuesday barns we visited and measured are it - Peter Sinclair. Clifton Park-Half Moon Library now gone. The passage of time takes 475 Moe Road, Clifton Park. its toll and documentation of barns is He was the man whom fate chose to Talk at 6:30, followed by a tour. no exception. Since 1995 Peter has have the necessary enthusiasm, energy The new Library opened in December likely added another one hundred barns and intelligence to accumulate the 2006. Bill Connor, of the architectural or more to his total list. That and many basics or fundamentals of so many of firm Woodward Connor Gillies & the barns of Ulster County such as Seleman will speak to us and lead dozens of houses - of frame, stone and even brick construction were locations and structural timbering of the the tour. The Library is certified as great majority of the barns. Peter has a "green" facility as part of the U.S. also recorded. Green building Council's Leadership laid the groundwork. No one before him, in Energy and Environmental Design and no one during his time of barn visits (LEED) Program. did what he did. Now the baton must be April 22, Sunday passed on. Self-drive tour of Dutch houses in and Summary It must be so gratifying to know that near Schenectady. Teller House, Stockade; Teller-Schermerhorn It is true that not all barn research no person can ever do again what you House, Wemple House and Barn (or house research) in the mid-Hudson first did in a particular endeavor. Peter (now Lazzari); details to follow. Valley has been completed to date Sinclair can say that. So could that by Peter Sinclair or myself or anyone other fellow (in his own field) - Charles else. Nor will the apparent broad based Lindbergh. Peter did not do everything architectural survey of Dutch-American as far as the fundamentals are con- buildings that is now underway cerned but he came remarkably close. accomplish all that can be ever done in the few counties of the mid Hudson Many individuals and organizations area and elsewhere. That time will be have benefited from Peter Sinclair's in the distant future if it ever comes. assiduous efforts in documenting All of this is of course self-evident. and promoting the preservation of vernacular buildings in the mid-Hudson May 22, Tuesday Any individual in the next several Kevin O'Connor on Patrick Keely, at decades or beyond can come along River Valley. I knew - only a short while St. Peter's Church in Troy, which was and far exceed what any of us has ever after I first met Peter in February 1989, designed by Keely in 1848. done in this area since the 1980s as far when he was just starting out in his May 30, Wednesday as overall insight and knowledge of quest to know and understand barns Annual Dinner, Tosca's in Troy barns is concerned, assuming that the built in his area 150 to 250 years ago - that I had met someone who had to be For more information barns will still be around for extensive please call Ned at 432-0220, or studies to be undertaken. But most reckoned with. But I never thought that e-mail to [email protected] importantly and this is never said (but his influence would run as deeply as it known by everyone subconsciously) - eventually did. He has become rather NOW AVAILABLE! that what Peter did in discovering so an icon. And that is good. Early Houses - many barn locations in a ten-year peri- Staten Island od from 1988 to about 1998 will never Photos from the Archives be repeated. While it is true that John Staten Island Historical Society. Fitchen came across six barns in the I know that he deeply influenced me. 70 rare B&W photographs of Dutch county during his research, and I knew If it were not for Peter Sinclair, son of Vernacular Architecture. Large photo of several barns before Peter got a mid-west artist, I would still be likely format (8.5"x11") with concise infor- involved in barn research (even John roaming the back dirt roads and old mation regarding Dutch construction Kaufman knew of a number of barns), farm lanes of Ulster County trying to and building traditions. Peter's list of barns is unique. When I find those remarkable barns built by Buy it through the HVVA office first met Peter in early 1989 his barn list artisans influenced by Dutch folk for the all inclusive price of included about 35 barns. After that it customs more than 150 years ago. $22.50 basically exploded. It is important to Peter Sinclair helped transform my life. Please mail checks to: point out that very few barn locations And for that I am eternally grateful. HVVA have been revealed since 1998 in Ulster Perhaps we should all feel that way P.O. Box 202. West Hurlev. NY 12491 County. The county has been gone over for what he has done. www.hvva.org

ENDANGERED: The Naugle House in Bergen County

By Greg Huber

Bergen County, New Jersey continues to loose its Dutch-American stone houses at perhaps one or so a year but still retains about 210 of them. One of the very best as far as a quaint "settled into the ground" look is concerned is the little stone house that sits just off East Saddle River in Ridgewood. It overlooks Rt. 17 on its east side and is now threatened with demolition.

A few hundred thousand dollars will buy - NQRTJI' ELEVATION - it and preserve one of Bergen County's finest. Its extreme closeness to the main road does not make it appealing to many would-be buyers. The house has been in full open view to motorists for years because of its immediate adjacency to the road and this condition poses as possibly its greatest challenge to preservation.

Rosalie Fellows Bailey wrote about i*. the house in her classic book Pre- Revolutionary Dutch Houses and Families • \msfr-VjiVATnoy • (plate 73). She called it the Ackerman - Naugle house. Unfortunately, it is very likely that the Ackermans had nothing to do with the construction of the house. It appears that house dates to about 1800. The Naugle family lived at the homestead by the mid-nineteenth century. Houses with twin front facade doors which the Naugle house has are most often constructed after about 1790 in the county. Nothing on the interior of the house as far as elements of design, structure and fabric are concerned suggests a date of early 18th Century vintage which was Bailey's assertion. The east room of the first floor has rather small ceiling joists which in general is indicative of a later date of construction. The fireplace mantle may be original and is quite plain in appearance - not the often ostentatious look that so many Federal fireplace surrounds have. Two fully intact fireplace supports are seen in the cellar; one of which is arched and the other is a "flat at top with hewn timbers" type.

While the house may not have distinct advantages for family buyers, the house offers an excellent opportunity for some commercial interest to come in and save a very interesting piece of turn of the 19th Century Dutch-American architecture. Adequate parking would appear to be no problem and exposure on a main road would appear to be a major asset. This two-hundred year old house needs to be saved and time is of the essence. 10 April-May 2007

HVVA members attending the Forum. Back row: Eddie Cattuzzo, Rob Sweeney, John Stevens, Bill Krattinger, Neil Larson, Walter Wheeler. Front row: Jill Fisher, Marion Stevens, Roberta Jeracka, Russell Ley. Robyn Bauw (not in the photo) also attended.

New England Architectural Forum A report by Marion F. Stevens

A sizeable contingent of HVVA members compiled from throughout the United attended the winter meeting of the States during the Depression. Covering New England Chapter of the Vernacular the period from 1775 to 1840 when 'balloon Architecture Society on March 3, framing' was coming into use, the last at Old Sturbridge Village. speaker, Jack Larkin chose a selection of these photographs, and added historic The event was an informative and varied background material from his stunning new Top: John and Marion Stevens one with slides and/or drawings illustrating book Where We Lived, which was the enjoying the lunch break all talks. Each topic was followed by a lively basis for the talk. In addition to houses, at Sturbridge Village. question-and-answer session. we saw such structures as a Maryland Above: Friendly but heated smoke house and privy combined, lunch time discussions. The program commenced with beautiful a family home that was also a 'gaol' (jail) Below: Interior detail of a Dutch illustrations of the transformation of and a round church in Vermont that barn in Sturbridge. houses of worship from meeting houses provided accommodation for five to churches from 1790 to 1840. Perhaps denominations. the most exciting presentation was on new evidence for original features uncovered Mr. Larkin is Director of Research at Old in 'Old Ship'- the famous 17th Century Sturbridge Village and affiliate professor at meeting house in Hingham, Mass. Clark University. Introduced by Bill Flynt, A complete original double door was other distinguished speakers were James uncovered as was evidence of the size of Garvin, State Architectural Historian at the the original windows, which had much larg- New Hampshire Division of Historic er areas of glass than previously expected. Resources and author of A Building History The attractive historic village of Deerfield, of Northern New England- who spoke on Mass, provided surprising archaeological the timber frame trade; Robert Paynter, and documentary evidence of changes in Professsor of Anthropology at the the 18th century streetscape. University of Massachusetts/Amherst who spent many summers at Deerfield teaching Following lunch, the group learned of New students the rudiments of archaeological Hampshire's large and important trade in research; Brian Powell whose topic was the building frames. The trees were cut down, discoveries he made in the Hingham meet- shaped, assembled, parts numbered and ing house, spent ten years with the Society moved along New Hampshire's waterways for the Preservation of New England on special watercraft [gundalows]. Some Antiquities (now Historic New England) and frames went to New England settlements is now a contractor for preservation conser- and others were transported farther afield vation, specializing in paint and decorative to the West Indies, Newfoundland and else- finishes. The first speaker was Gretchen where along the East Coast. Buggelin who taught for ten years in the University of Delaware's Winterthur The day concluded with photographs from program, and is now on the staff of Christ among the 15,000 image HABS archive, College, Valparaiso, Indiana. www.hvva.org 11 The Jan Van Hoesen House by David William Voorhees

Driving northeast on Route 66 from Hudson to Chatham, just east of Claverack Creek, stands sentinel a vacant medieval-looking brick structure over the Dutch Acres Mobile Home Park. Like the Columbia County Historical Society's Luykas van Alen house in Kinderhook, this steeply pitched roof, parapet gabled house is a rare surviving example of a type of rural house characteristic of the upper Hudson Valley in the first half of the eighteenth century.

The house, built between 1715 and 1724, is one of approximately seven similar brick dwellings to survive into the 21st Century.

Built usually in an elongated rectangular form of brick over a timber frame, these residences varied in the arrangement of windows, doors, and rooms according to The south gable of the Van Hoesen house, located on Route 66, north of the City of the tastes of their owner. The style origi- Hudson. The question remains: what will become of it? nated in the sixteenth-century Netherlands (Photo taken during a HVVA Study Tour on March 24). and was descendant of medieval long- houses. The form was introduced into New The house's southwesterly gable wall con- Hendrick Witbeck of Claverack, was a Netherland before the mid-seventeenth tains a thin engaged chimney flue that grandson of Jan Franse van Hoesen. It century, but did not become prevalent in enabled the occupants to benefit from fire- was the elder Van Hoesen who in 1662 the region of Columbia County until about places in the cellar and on the main floor. purchased from the Mohicans the tract of 1715, a period of economic prosperity. This is also a rare example of such con- land that included the present city of According to cultural historian Ruth struction although it is known to have Hudson and town of Greenport. Jan, Piwonka, such brick houses are not mere- once been common throughout the nonetheless, served as a deacon in the ly farmhouses but substantial upper mid- region. The doorway at the corner leading Lutheran church at Lunenberg (present- dle-class residences expressing tastes to a cellar kitchen is original to the house day Athens) across the Hudson River and, and prosperity in a northern European as are the garret and granary window along with his wife, was extremely active manner. openings and frames. Wrought-iron fleur- in Lutheran church affairs. Jan and de-lis beam anchors on both gables and Tanneke had eleven children, of whom Originally the approach to the Dutch iron gutter hangers are also distinctive three sons appear at the locality of this Acres' house was from the southwest and surviving features. The tin roof is a later house at the time of the Revolution. northeast on a road that led to Claverack replacement for the shingled or possibly And the house remained in the family Landing (present-day Hudson). In a rever- tiled original roof. for several generations. sal of the well-known Dutch urban house, which places the main entrance in the The easterly gable of the house contains As the most intact remaining example of gable end, the house has its entrances in five windows and a door. The first floor a type of Dutch architecture unique to the the side walls and its chimneys in the windows and door are later additions. Hudson Valley, the Jan van Hoesen house gables. The present back of the house The second floor windows are alterations is significant. It reflects the tastes and life was originally the front. Five openings of of original windows and one even shows style of the prosperous Hudson Valley equal width, height, and spacing are indi- evidence of an early window frame. The Dutch freeholder, who is often overlooked cated on this fagade. These openings are granary windows are also original open- by an historical emphasis on the lifestyle marked by gauged flat arches in the ings. The truly principal feature of this of the manor lords. The house was nomi- masonry made decorative through the use gable, however, are die initials "T* and nated to the New York State Inventory of of red vertical stretchers alternating with "I V H" worked in the masonry in black Historic Resources in January 1976. blackened Winker headers. These arches klinker headers. These are the mono- are a rare survivor of such decorative grams of the first occupants of the house, technique. All the openings are altered Jan van Hoesen (1687-1745) and his wife Reprinted courtesy of the from their original form, either made small- Tanneke. Jan van Hoesen, who married Columbia County Historical Society. er or changed in function. in 1711 Tanneke Witbeck, a daughter of Special thanks to David Voorhees. 12 April-May 2007

Membership info An important house tour! Save the date!

If you have been receiving this October 13, 2007 newsletter, but your membership is HVVA and not current and you wish to continue to receive the HVVA newsletter and Friends of Historic Kingston participate in the many house study Will join forces to showcase the work tours offered each year, please send of in your dues. Myron Teller Membership currently pays all the Recommended by Helen Wilkinson HVVA bills and to keep us operating Reynolds, "as an architect member in the black each of us must of the Holland Society with specialized contribute a little. architectural knowledge of stone houses of Ulster County." Membership dues remains at a low His restorations demonstrated "the $20 per year ($15 for Students). So if you haven't sent in your dues possibilities latent in many old dwellings or given a tax deductible donation to for the creation of artist modern homes." the HVVA mission, please consider More information will be forthcoming in the doing so now. next newsletter. Think beautiful homes, beautiful foliage! Stay tuned...

Upcoming HVVA meeting schedule

House and barn tours planned after each meeting. Lunch to follow at local restaurants. All members are welcome! April 21, 2007-10:00 am Bevier House, Route 209 just north of Stone Ridge, NY

Q Yes, I would like to renew my membership in the amount of $ Q Yes, I would like to make a tax deductible contribution to help the effort of preserving the Hudson Valley's Architectural Heritage. Enclosed please find my donation in the amount of $

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Address. May 19, 2007-10:00 am Bevier-Elting House on Huguenot Street, New Paltz, NY

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E-mail Please mail checks to: HVVA P.O. Box 202, West Hurley, NY 12491

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