Van Wickle House

The Meadows
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
New Jersey Register of Historic Places
Van Wickle House in 2006
Location	1289 Easton Avenue,Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey
Coordinates	40.522887°N 74.492728°W/40.522887; -74.492728
Area	5.8 acres (2.3 ha)
Built	1722
NRHP referenceNo.	73001134
NJRHPNo.	2504
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	December 4, 1973
Designated NJRHP	September 18, 1973

TheVan Wickle House,also known as theSymen Van Wickle House,is a historical house located at 1289 Easton Avenue in theSomersetsection ofFranklin Township,Somerset County,New Jersey,United States. It was built in 1722 by Symen Van Wickle, also known as Symen Van Wicklin. The house, historically known asThe Meadows,was added to theNational Register of Historic Placeson December 4, 1973.

Evert Van Wickle

Evert Van Wickle was a carpenter from theNetherlandswho emigrated toNew Amersfoort,which is nowFlatlands, Brooklyn,and married Elizabeth Van Liew. Around 1700, Evert purchased almost 800 acres (320 ha) of land on theRaritan Riverin Somerset. Evert had a son: Symen Van Wickle (c1700-1754) who married Geradina Couwenhoven (1705-?).

Symen Van Wickle

Symen built his home facing theRaritan Riverin 1722. The location was called the "upper fording place". Behind the house was the link betweenMiddlebush, New JerseyandRaritan Landing, New Jerseycalled "Old Middlebush Road" (now DeMott Lane in Somerset). Evert and Geradina had the following children: Elsje Van Wickle (c1723-?); Evert Van Wickle (c. 1726-?); Nicholas Van Wickle (c. 1728-?); Mattje Van Wickle (c. 1730-?); Seytje Van Wicklin (1732-?); Anne Van Wickle (c. 1734-?); Dinah Van Wickle (1734-?); and Mary Van Wickle (c.1738-?).

Delaware and Raritan Canal

Around 1835, theDelaware and Raritan Canalwas built between the Raritan River and the Van Wickle House.

Preservation

In 1976 the house was put up for sale and was eyed by developers until a grassroots group of concerned citizens organized to protect the historic house. "The Meadows" was a name long associated with the house so this group took the nameMeadows Foundationfor the name of their organization. Through fundraising and a Green Acres grant they were able to acquire and preserve the house. The Meadows Foundation runs programming at the Van Wickle house such as their Candlelight Concert and Fireside Chats series as well as seasonal celebrations such as Sinterklaas (Dutch Santa) Festival and, in cooperation the Franklin Township Parks and Recreation Department, programs such as the Pumpkin Patch Halloween Celebration and the Bunny Jamboree. Nominal donations accepted at events help with maintenance and restoration costs.

Temporary closure

In late October 2014 the Meadows Foundation closed the Van Wickle House to the public, citing structural damage from flooding that had occurred duringHurricane IreneandHurricane Sandy.The organization added that it was "working diligently with county, state and federal agencies to save this historic structure with a complete restoration." The grounds surrounding the house remain open to the public.

See also

• List of the oldest buildings in New Jersey

References

• Harry Macy, Jr.; The Van Wicklen/Van Wickle Family: Including its Frisian Origin and Connections to Minnerly and Kranchheyt; The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 128, No. 3 (July 1997); p. 184.

External links

• Van Wickle House- Meadows Foundation
• Historic American Buildings Survey(HABS) No. NJ-479, "Symen Van Wickle House, Easton Turnpike",4 photos, 13 measured drawings, 5 data pages, supplemental material