Voorlezer's House
Encyclopedia
The Voorlezer's House is a historic clapboard
frame house in Historic Richmond Town
in Staten Island, New York. It is the oldest known schoolhouse in America, although it became a private residence for more than a century, and it is now owned and operated by the Staten Island Historical Society
. It was built before 1696, and the date of the patent on which it is located is 1680.
"Voorlezer
" is a Dutch word that can be translated as "Fore-reader". A voorlezer is an assistant to a pastor
who, in the absence of a pastor, may hold religious services and read scripture, as well as run a school.
Though well-maintained for many years, by 1936 it had fallen into disrepair and was threatened with demolition. It became a National Historic Landmark
in 1961 and was added to National Register of Historic Places
when that registry was created in 1966.
. All timbers are of oak or white wood, cut in nearby forests and hewn to size with a broadaxe
. A massive stone-and-brick chimney
is at the northeast end of the house. Around 1800, the present staircases were substituted for the straight, ladder-like stairs believed to have been used originally.
The first floor contains a small room used as living quarters and a large room for church services. The second floor has a small bedchamber, and a large room that is believed to be the one used for the school. The extra set of floor beams indicate that the room was designed to accommodate a large number of persons. The floors in the house are of white pine
boards, 14–16 in (35.6–40.6 cm) wide. The windows and doors, the originals of which have been replaced, have the low and wide proportions of the originals.
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...
frame house in Historic Richmond Town
Historic Richmond Town
Historic Richmond Town is a living history village and museum complex in the neighborhood of Richmond, Staten Island, in New York City. It is located near the geographical center of the island, at the junction of Richmond Road and Arthur Kill Road....
in Staten Island, New York. It is the oldest known schoolhouse in America, although it became a private residence for more than a century, and it is now owned and operated by the Staten Island Historical Society
Staten Island Historical Society
The purpose of the Staten Island Historical Society is to create opportunities for the public to explore the diversity of the American experience, especially that of Staten Island and its neighboring communities, from the colonial period to the present day...
. It was built before 1696, and the date of the patent on which it is located is 1680.
"Voorlezer
Voorleser
Voorleser was the title given to a highly responsible citizen in colonial Dutch settlements in North America, who had semi-official duties in local law, education and religion.-Origin and use:...
" is a Dutch word that can be translated as "Fore-reader". A voorlezer is an assistant to a pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
who, in the absence of a pastor, may hold religious services and read scripture, as well as run a school.
Though well-maintained for many years, by 1936 it had fallen into disrepair and was threatened with demolition. It became a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1961 and was added to 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...
when that registry was created in 1966.
Description
The roof has an unequal pitch because the front of the house is 2 foot (0.6096 m) higher than the rear. The foundation walls are 2 foot (0.6096 m) thick, and constructed of undressed field stone laid up in mud and mortarMortar (masonry)
Mortar is a workable paste used to bind construction blocks together and fill the gaps between them. The blocks may be stone, brick, cinder blocks, etc. Mortar becomes hard when it sets, resulting in a rigid aggregate structure. Modern mortars are typically made from a mixture of sand, a binder...
. All timbers are of oak or white wood, cut in nearby forests and hewn to size with a broadaxe
Broadaxe
A broadaxe is a large-headed axe. There were two types of broadaxes both used for shaping logs by hand hewing. On one type, one side is flat and the other side beveled, a basilled edge, this is a hewing broadaxe...
. A massive stone-and-brick chimney
Chimney
A chimney is a structure for venting hot flue gases or smoke from a boiler, stove, furnace or fireplace to the outside atmosphere. Chimneys are typically vertical, or as near as possible to vertical, to ensure that the gases flow smoothly, drawing air into the combustion in what is known as the...
is at the northeast end of the house. Around 1800, the present staircases were substituted for the straight, ladder-like stairs believed to have been used originally.
The first floor contains a small room used as living quarters and a large room for church services. The second floor has a small bedchamber, and a large room that is believed to be the one used for the school. The extra set of floor beams indicate that the room was designed to accommodate a large number of persons. The floors in the house are of white pine
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus, commonly known as the eastern white pine, is a large pine native to eastern North America, occurring from Newfoundland west to Minnesota and southeastern Manitoba, and south along the Appalachian Mountains to the northern edge of Georgia.It is occasionally known as simply white pine,...
boards, 14–16 in (35.6–40.6 cm) wide. The windows and doors, the originals of which have been replaced, have the low and wide proportions of the originals.