Locust Lawn Estate
Encyclopedia
Locust Lawn is a surviving 19th-century farm complex situated on the bank of the Plattekill Creek on New York State Route 32 South
, outside of New Paltz
, Ulster County, New York
.
The centerpiece of Locust Lawn is the Jeffersonian mansion of Colonel Josiah Hasbrouck
which remains without modern heating, plumbing and electrical systems. The site also features the earlier Evert Terwilliger House.
Locust Lawn has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places
since 1974. The site was donated to Historic Huguenot Street
by Hasbrouck descendant Annette Young in 1958. The site is open to the public on weekends from June through October.
returned from his first stint in U.S.Congress during the administration of Thomas Jefferson
eager to create for his family a home worthy of their position in the small but growing community, which was founded by Huguenot
s in 1678. Hasbrouck was a descendant of Huguenot Jean Hasbrouck
, one of the founders, or patentees
, of New Paltz
. In addition to his service in Congress, Hasbrouck served with the Ulster County Militia during the American Revolutionary War
, in the New York State Assembly
and as New Paltz town supervisor
Along with his wife Sara Decker, Hasbrouck purchased the Terwilliger family homestead a few miles south of the village of New Paltz. At the time, the site was a small farm and mill and featured a modest stone house built 67 years earlier. Over the next several years, Hasbrouck acquired additional acreage, ultimately increasing the size of the farm to 1200 acres (4.9 km²). He also set about building a dramatic Federal style mansion
, which was completed in 1814.
The 3-story house features a center arched doorway and a symmetrical arrangement of windows. In the back of the house, there is a -story kitchen wing. Inside, the arrangement of rooms on the first and second floors is, for the most part, symmetrical as well, with rooms opening up from a wide center hallway. Faux marble plaster walls in the first-floor hallway date to 1814.
The home was lived in by Josiah and Sarah's descendants until 1885, when the family locked all of their belongings in one half of the house and rented the remainder to tenants who farmed the surrounding land. So things remained for almost 75 years, when the house was donated to Historic Huguenot Street
. Today, the house features many of the Hasbrouck's family possessions set up as they were when the house was occupied by Josiah, Sarah and their descendants.
bought in 1805 was originally settled by Evert Terwilliger, a Dutch man, in 1738 after he married Sara Freer. Sara was the daughter of Hugo Freer, one of the French-speaking Huguenot
founders, or patentees, of New Paltz
. Evert and Sara's son Jonathan expanded the home in 1764. The house is a good example of the Dutch-style stone houses built in this region during the eighteenth century. One and a half stories in height, the house originally had a gable-end entry (similar to that which still exists in the Bevier-Elting House at Historic Huguenot Street
). A porch running the length of the house, another feature of front-gable Dutch houses in America and the Netherlands
in the 17th and 18th centuries, overlooks the Plattekill Creek. This creek and the falls just beyond the house were used by the Terwilliger family to operate a grist mill and saw mill at the site. The house was acquired by Historic Huguenot Street
in 1973 with the financial assistance of the then newly formed Terwilliger Family Association. The Terwilliger Family Association continues to support the maintenance and preservation of the home.
New York State Route 32
New York State Route 32 is a north–south state highway that extends for through the Hudson Valley and Capital District regions of the U.S. state of New York. It is a two-lane surface road for nearly its entire length, with few divided and no limited-access sections. From Harriman to Albany,...
, outside of New Paltz
New Paltz (village), New York
New Paltz is a village in Ulster County in the U.S. state of New York. It is about north of New York City and south of Albany. The population was 6,818 at the 2010 census.The Village of New Paltz is located within the Town of New Paltz...
, Ulster County, New York
Ulster County, New York
Ulster County is a county located in the state of New York, USA. It sits in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 182,493. Recent population estimates completed by the United States Census Bureau for the 12-month period ending July 1 are at...
.
The centerpiece of Locust Lawn is the Jeffersonian mansion of Colonel Josiah Hasbrouck
Josiah Hasbrouck
Josiah Hasbrouck was a United States Representative from New York. Born in New Paltz, he completed preparatory studies and conducted a general merchandising business. He was a second lieutenant in the Third Regiment of Ulster County Militia in 1780, and was supervisor of New Paltz from 1784 to...
which remains without modern heating, plumbing and electrical systems. The site also features the earlier Evert Terwilliger House.
Locust Lawn has been 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...
since 1974. The site was donated to Historic Huguenot Street
Huguenot Street Historic District
The Huguenot Street Historic District is located near downtown New Paltz, New York, approximately north of New York City. The seven stone houses and several accompanying structures in the district were built in the early 18th century by Huguenot settlers fleeing discrimination and religious...
by Hasbrouck descendant Annette Young in 1958. The site is open to the public on weekends from June through October.
Josiah Hasbrouck House
In 1805, Josiah HasbrouckJosiah Hasbrouck
Josiah Hasbrouck was a United States Representative from New York. Born in New Paltz, he completed preparatory studies and conducted a general merchandising business. He was a second lieutenant in the Third Regiment of Ulster County Militia in 1780, and was supervisor of New Paltz from 1784 to...
returned from his first stint in U.S.Congress during the administration of Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
eager to create for his family a home worthy of their position in the small but growing community, which was founded by Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
s in 1678. Hasbrouck was a descendant of Huguenot Jean Hasbrouck
Jean Hasbrouck House
The Jean Hasbrouck House in New Paltz, New York, is the centerpiece of Historic Huguenot Street. The house is a National Historic Landmark in its own right and is part of the larger Huguenot Street Historic District, which also enjoys the same status....
, one of the founders, or patentees
Land grant
A land grant is a gift of real estate – land or its privileges – made by a government or other authority as a reward for services to an individual, especially in return for military service...
, of New Paltz
New Paltz, New York
New Paltz is a town in Ulster County, New York, USA. The population was 14,003 at the 2010 census. The town is located in the southeastern part of the county and is south of Kingston, New York. New Paltz contains a village also with the name New Paltz...
. In addition to his service in Congress, Hasbrouck served with the Ulster County Militia during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, 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 as New Paltz town supervisor
Town supervisor
Town Supervisor is an elective legislative position in New York towns. Supervisors sit on the town board, where they preside over town board meetings and vote on all matters with no more legal weight than that of any other board member .Towns may adopt local laws that allow them to provide for an...
Along with his wife Sara Decker, Hasbrouck purchased the Terwilliger family homestead a few miles south of the village of New Paltz. At the time, the site was a small farm and mill and featured a modest stone house built 67 years earlier. Over the next several years, Hasbrouck acquired additional acreage, ultimately increasing the size of the farm to 1200 acres (4.9 km²). He also set about building a dramatic Federal style mansion
Mansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
, which was completed in 1814.
The 3-story house features a center arched doorway and a symmetrical arrangement of windows. In the back of the house, there is a -story kitchen wing. Inside, the arrangement of rooms on the first and second floors is, for the most part, symmetrical as well, with rooms opening up from a wide center hallway. Faux marble plaster walls in the first-floor hallway date to 1814.
The home was lived in by Josiah and Sarah's descendants until 1885, when the family locked all of their belongings in one half of the house and rented the remainder to tenants who farmed the surrounding land. So things remained for almost 75 years, when the house was donated to Historic Huguenot Street
Huguenot Street Historic District
The Huguenot Street Historic District is located near downtown New Paltz, New York, approximately north of New York City. The seven stone houses and several accompanying structures in the district were built in the early 18th century by Huguenot settlers fleeing discrimination and religious...
. Today, the house features many of the Hasbrouck's family possessions set up as they were when the house was occupied by Josiah, Sarah and their descendants.
Evert Terwilliger House
The homestead Josiah HasbrouckJosiah Hasbrouck
Josiah Hasbrouck was a United States Representative from New York. Born in New Paltz, he completed preparatory studies and conducted a general merchandising business. He was a second lieutenant in the Third Regiment of Ulster County Militia in 1780, and was supervisor of New Paltz from 1784 to...
bought in 1805 was originally settled by Evert Terwilliger, a Dutch man, in 1738 after he married Sara Freer. Sara was the daughter of Hugo Freer, one of the French-speaking Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
founders, or patentees, of New Paltz
New Paltz, New York
New Paltz is a town in Ulster County, New York, USA. The population was 14,003 at the 2010 census. The town is located in the southeastern part of the county and is south of Kingston, New York. New Paltz contains a village also with the name New Paltz...
. Evert and Sara's son Jonathan expanded the home in 1764. The house is a good example of the Dutch-style stone houses built in this region during the eighteenth century. One and a half stories in height, the house originally had a gable-end entry (similar to that which still exists in the Bevier-Elting House at Historic Huguenot Street
Huguenot Street Historic District
The Huguenot Street Historic District is located near downtown New Paltz, New York, approximately north of New York City. The seven stone houses and several accompanying structures in the district were built in the early 18th century by Huguenot settlers fleeing discrimination and religious...
). A porch running the length of the house, another feature of front-gable Dutch houses in America and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in the 17th and 18th centuries, overlooks the Plattekill Creek. This creek and the falls just beyond the house were used by the Terwilliger family to operate a grist mill and saw mill at the site. The house was acquired by Historic Huguenot Street
Huguenot Street Historic District
The Huguenot Street Historic District is located near downtown New Paltz, New York, approximately north of New York City. The seven stone houses and several accompanying structures in the district were built in the early 18th century by Huguenot settlers fleeing discrimination and religious...
in 1973 with the financial assistance of the then newly formed Terwilliger Family Association. The Terwilliger Family Association continues to support the maintenance and preservation of the home.