Westervelt-Ackerson House

Westervelt-Ackerson House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
New Jersey Register of Historic Places
Location	538 Island Road, Ramsey, New Jersey
Coordinates	41°4′25″N 74°8′39″W / 41.07361°N 74.14417°WCoordinates: 41°4′25″N 74°8′39″W / 41.07361°N 74.14417°W
Area	118 acres (48 ha)
NRHP Reference #	77000846[1]
NJRHP #	636[2]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	July 20, 1977
Designated NJRHP	June 18, 1976

The Westervelt-Ackerson House is located in Ramsey, in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 20, 1977.

Early history

The Westervelt-Ackerson house, also known as The Old Stone House is currently believed to have been constructed in the early to mid-1700s. Corroborating evidence has been found on the grounds themselves, an old barn beam bears the date 1747 and the stone construction of the structure also supports this.^[3] The house was built as a Dutch Colonial farmhouse, its materials were Rubble, stone, clay mortar, chopped straw and hogs hair.

The Old Stone House

Controversy

Before the Westervelt's became the owners of the land, it was occupied by a faction of the Lenape nation known specifically as the Ramapough Indians. The Natives forfeited their land by a much disputed deed signed in 1710. For the price of 50 ounces of silver Remopuck(Ramapo), Pasqueck(Passaic), Hackensack, Tappan and Saddle River were sold to Elias Boudinot, John Aubeneau and Peter Fauconnier. Some question the veracity of the deed, one of the signatures found on it belonged to a squaw, Ayamanugh. She signed the deed with the mark of a cross, a Christian symbol on an Indian deed and a woman signing such a document were both highly unusual for the time.^[4]

Uses throughout the years

The Old Stone House's uses have been varied throughout the years. Originally it was built as a residence, but after its inhabitants departed it went through several transformations. It served some time as a stagecoach stop, where teams of horses were changed. Later in its life it was believed to have been a tavern. One undocumented but frequently told tale is that Aaron Burr stopped for the night for drink and sleep before he continued on to the Hermitage.^[5] In the Early 1950s the house and property were bought by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, with the intent to demolish the house in order to facilitate the construction of an overpass over Route 17. The State was convinced to spare the house by numerous petitions from groups including the Ramsey Women's Club.^[3]

In film

In 2000, the "Stone by Stone" docudrama of the Old Stone House's history was recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as a "Save America's treasures project."^[3]

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Bergen County, New Jersey

References

1. National Park Service (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
2. "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places - Bergen County" (PDF). NJ DEP - Historic Preservation Office. July 7, 2009. p. 19. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
3. "Ramsey Historical Association." November 5th, 2010. http://www.ramseyhistorical.org (accessed November 5th, 2010).
4. "Ramapough Indians." http://www.ramapoughlenapenation.org/ (accessed November 5th, 2010).
5. The Old Stone House [Plaque outside museum]. Ramsey New Jersey: The Ramsey Historical Association.