Garretson, Peter, House
About this property
Garretson Forge and Farm is a farm owned by the Garretson Family since 1719. Located in Fair Lawn, Bergen County, New Jersey, United States, it is one of the oldest historic sites in the county. The Peter Garretson House (also known as Garretson-Brocker Home) was built in 1720 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 19, 1974. The history of Garretson Forge and Farm began during the 17th century, with the immigration of three Dutch emigres: Gerrit Gerritse, his wife Annetje Hermansse, and their son Gerrit. In 1719, Gerrit purchased a huge plot of land known as the Slooterdam Patent from a businessman named David Daniellse. This plot of land was very large, encompassing many towns that are now in Bergen and Passaic, one of these towns being Fair Lawn. Gerrit's son Peter started construction shortly after the land purchase, and the history of Garretson Forge and Farm began. Originally called "The Garretson-Brocker home", Garretson Forge and Farm housed six generations of Garretsons for over 100 years. During its early existence, Garretson Forge and Farm was a large plantation that grew various types of crops and also housed multiple slaves. Over the years, however, pieces of Garretson Forge and Farm were sold off. Currently, the property is just under 2 acres. Many additions were made to Garretson Forge and Farm throughout the years including the construction and renovation of the main estate, which is part of the living museum. In 1902, major changes were made to the manor house, adding a second floor, outside porch, and a new roof. These 1902 renovations made Garretson Forge and Farm look like what it does today. Garretson Forge and Farm is located in Fair Lawn, New Jersey on 4-02 River Road. It is also in very close proximity to the Passaic River. Water from the river was used to make bricks in the early stages of construction of Garreston Forge and Farm. Numerous Lenape artifacts have also been found on the property. The region around the Passaic River was the territory of the Acquackanonk and Hackensack. Today, patrons can visit Garretson Forge and Farm to explore the outdoor living museum as well as the extensive garden. The living museum contains numerous historic buildings and artifacts which patrons can explore and interact with. The main estate contains a rustic kitchen that was used by the Garretson Family. Outside the main estate, is an authentic water pump which was used until renovations brought running water into the house. There are numerous buildings around the property that are used to store farm equipment for the garden as well.
Location
Categories
Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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Questions about this property
When was Garretson, Peter, House listed on the National Register?
Garretson, Peter, House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 19, 1974.
What type of historic resource is Garretson, Peter, House?
Garretson, Peter, House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Garretson, Peter, House?
The period of significance for Garretson, Peter, House is recorded as the industrial era.
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Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Garretson, Peter, House will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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