The Homestead (Haverstraw, New York)
Encyclopedia
The Homestead is a historic house
on Hudson Avenue in the village of Haverstraw
, New York, United States. It is one of the oldest buildings in the village, dating to the early 19th century.
Since then it has been home to a number of prominent local residents, and passed down through two different families. It has been altered slightly, with the original front now the house's rear, but it remains mostly intact. In 1983 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
on the east side of Hudson Avenue near the junction with Tor Avenue. The ground slopes steadily down toward the Hudson River
to the east, exposing the house's basement on that elevation. The neighborhood is residential, with a few multiple-unit dwellings.
It is a two-story, five-by-two-bay
frame
structure sided
in clapboard
. It is topped by a gable
d roof shingled
in asphalt with a plain cornice
. A small kitchen wing extends from the east.
All the windows are flanked by louver
ed shutters
. The main entrance is located within a small enclosed porch. Its double inner doors have rose-tinted glass. On the east is a two-story, three-bay open porch with square posts, brackets
and a central gable on the roof top. At basement level is a door with sidelights and transom
; the first floor's double door has colonnettes and an architrave
.
Inside, the floor plan remains unchanged. Finishings are plain and simple with the exception of the main hall and large first floor rooms, which have classically-inspired
decoration
.
, most of today's Haverstraw was the property of two farmers. One of them, John Denoyelles, had left his lands to his son Peter
just before the war. Peter Denoyelles, later to serve in the New York State Assembly
and Congress
, built the house around the beginning of the 19th century; the exact year is not certain. The area's first Methodists also met with itinerant
preachers at the Homestead, due to Denoyelles' interest in that denomination.
Peter left the property to his brother Asbury, then the county sheriff
, in his will. Asbury sold the property to his brother George in 1853, the year before the village of Haverstraw incorporated
. Shortly after that, George sold it to Edward Pye, first president of the Village Board. Pye would later be elected to local judgeships and serve in the state militia
. In 1861, as the Civil War
was beginning, Pye (who would later die in action at the Battle of Cold Harbor
) sold it to his brother Isaac.
Isaac's tenure as owner would be as short as several of the others. He sold it in 1863 to a lawyer, Abraham Conger. Seven years later, George Snedeker bought it. He died in 1873 and willed the house to his wife, who remained until her death in 1901. Their son Samuel inherited the house, passing it to his sister Lucretia Fowler in 1914. She sold it a year later to a man named Abbie Kennedy.
Kennedy lived in the house until selling it to Aloysius Lynch, a longtime Haverstraw schools superintendent
, in 1937. He made many overdue repairs and renovations to the house, and shortened the windows on the east and west sides. As the area grew more suburb
an in the 20th century, streets were laid out in what had been farmland. Hudson Avenue was located such that the house's rear elevation had to be converted into its front.
Historic house
A historic house can be a stately home, the birthplace of a famous person, or a house with an interesting history or architecture.- Background :...
on Hudson Avenue in the village of Haverstraw
Haverstraw (village), New York
Haverstraw is a village in the town of Haverstraw in Rockland County, New York, United States located north of Congers; southeast of West Haverstraw; east of Garnerville, New York; northeast of New City and west of the Hudson River at its widest point...
, New York, United States. It is one of the oldest buildings in the village, dating to the early 19th century.
Since then it has been home to a number of prominent local residents, and passed down through two different families. It has been altered slightly, with the original front now the house's rear, but it remains mostly intact. In 1983 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Building
The house sits on a 135 by lotLot (real estate)
In real estate, a lot or plot is a tract or parcel of land owned or meant to be owned by some owner. A lot is essentially considered a parcel of real property in some countries or immovable property in other countries...
on the east side of Hudson Avenue near the junction with Tor Avenue. The ground slopes steadily down toward the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
to the east, exposing the house's basement on that elevation. The neighborhood is residential, with a few multiple-unit dwellings.
It is a two-story, five-by-two-bay
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
frame
Framing (construction)
Framing, in construction known as light-frame construction, is a building technique based around structural members, usually called studs, which provide a stable frame to which interior and exterior wall coverings are attached, and covered by a roof comprising horizontal ceiling joists and sloping...
structure sided
Siding
Siding is the outer covering or cladding of a house meant to shed water and protect from the effects of weather. On a building that uses siding, it may act as a key element in the aesthetic beauty of the structure and directly influence its property value....
in clapboard
Clapboard (architecture)
Clapboard, also known as bevel siding or lap siding or weather-board , is a board used typically for exterior horizontal siding that has one edge thicker than the other and where the board above laps over the one below...
. It is topped by a gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
d roof shingled
Roof shingle
Roof shingles are a roof covering consisting of individual overlapping elements. These elements are typically flat rectangular shapes laid in rows from the bottom edge of the roof up, with each successive higher row overlapping the joints in the row below...
in asphalt with a plain cornice
Cornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
. A small kitchen wing extends from the east.
All the windows are flanked by louver
Louver
A louver or louvre , from the French l'ouvert; "the open one") is a window, blind or shutter with horizontal slats that are angled to admit light and air, but to keep out rain, direct sunshine, and noise...
ed shutters
Window shutter
A window shutter is a solid and stable window covering usually consisting of a frame of vertical stiles and horizontal rails...
. The main entrance is located within a small enclosed porch. Its double inner doors have rose-tinted glass. On the east is a two-story, three-bay open porch with square posts, brackets
Bracket (architecture)
A bracket is an architectural member made of wood, stone, or metal that overhangs a wall to support or carry weight. It may also support a statue, the spring of an arch, a beam, or a shelf. Brackets are often in the form of scrolls, and can be carved, cast, or molded. They can be entirely...
and a central gable on the roof top. At basement level is a door with sidelights and transom
Transom (architectural)
In architecture, a transom is the term given to a transverse beam or bar in a frame, or to the crosspiece separating a door or the like from a window or fanlight above it. Transom is also the customary U.S. word used for a transom light, the window over this crosspiece...
; the first floor's double door has colonnettes and an architrave
Architrave
An architrave is the lintel or beam that rests on the capitals of the columns. It is an architectural element in Classical architecture.-Classical architecture:...
.
Inside, the floor plan remains unchanged. Finishings are plain and simple with the exception of the main hall and large first floor rooms, which have classically-inspired
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
decoration
Ornament (architecture)
In architecture and decorative art, ornament is a decoration used to embellish parts of a building or object. Large figurative elements such as monumental sculpture and their equivalents in decorative art are excluded from the term; most ornament does not include human figures, and if present they...
.
History
At the time of the RevolutionAmerican Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, most of today's Haverstraw was the property of two farmers. One of them, John Denoyelles, had left his lands to his son Peter
Peter Denoyelles
Peter Denoyelles was a Representative from New York; born in Haverstraw, New York, in 1766; completed preparatory studies; engaged in the manufacture of brick; member of the New York State Assembly in 1802 and 1803; held several local offices; elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Thirteenth...
just before the war. Peter Denoyelles, later to serve in the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
and Congress
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, built the house around the beginning of the 19th century; the exact year is not certain. The area's first Methodists also met with itinerant
Itinerant
An itinerant is a person who travels from place to place with no fixed home. The term comes from the late 16th century: from late Latin itinerant , from the verb itinerari, from Latin iter, itiner ....
preachers at the Homestead, due to Denoyelles' interest in that denomination.
Peter left the property to his brother Asbury, then the county sheriff
Sheriffs in the United States
In the United States, a sheriff is a county official and is typically the top law enforcement officer of a county. Historically, the sheriff was also commander of the militia in that county. Distinctive to law enforcement in the United States, sheriffs are usually elected. The political election of...
, in his will. Asbury sold the property to his brother George in 1853, the year before the village of Haverstraw incorporated
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
. Shortly after that, George sold it to Edward Pye, first president of the Village Board. Pye would later be elected to local judgeships and serve in the state militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
. In 1861, as the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
was beginning, Pye (who would later die in action at the Battle of Cold Harbor
Battle of Cold Harbor
The Battle of Cold Harbor was fought from May 31 to June 12, 1864 . It was one of the final battles of Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign during the American Civil War, and is remembered as one of American history's bloodiest, most lopsided battles...
) sold it to his brother Isaac.
Isaac's tenure as owner would be as short as several of the others. He sold it in 1863 to a lawyer, Abraham Conger. Seven years later, George Snedeker bought it. He died in 1873 and willed the house to his wife, who remained until her death in 1901. Their son Samuel inherited the house, passing it to his sister Lucretia Fowler in 1914. She sold it a year later to a man named Abbie Kennedy.
Kennedy lived in the house until selling it to Aloysius Lynch, a longtime Haverstraw schools superintendent
Superintendent (education)
In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
, in 1937. He made many overdue repairs and renovations to the house, and shortened the windows on the east and west sides. As the area grew more suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
an in the 20th century, streets were laid out in what had been farmland. Hudson Avenue was located such that the house's rear elevation had to be converted into its front.