Rites of Passage Exhibit Opening! Please join us on Saturday, July 26, 2008 at 4:00 pm, at the opening reception for Rites of Passage, an exhibit of cemetery monuments, symbolism and ritual curated by George Miller and Richard Asbell.
Party Space Rentals! Each summer, the Greater Ridgewood Historical Society makes the Onderdonk back yard available on weekends during daylight hours to rent for parties, family reunions, children's birthdays, etc. For information, call (718) 456-1776, or evenings, speak to Linda at (718) 821-9127; available dates are listed here. Click here for a sample rental agreement.
Contributions!
This year, why not consider making a tax-deductible gift to the Greater Ridgewood Historical Society, joining the Society, or giving the gift of membership to friends or family. Contributions and memberships allow us to continue offering the many fine educational programs, exhibits and events we give each year, as well as help with care and upkeep of the Vander Ende-Onderdonk House. Click to give.
Educators!
It's not too early to start planning class trips for the fall to the Onderdonk House by checking available dates here. For information and reservations, call (718) 456-1776 or write to theonderdonkhouse@earthlink.net.
Front exterior view of the Onderdonk House from Flushing Avenue. (Photo: Ellen Brody-Kirmss, 2005) 
Rear exterior view of the Onderdonk House from Flushing Avenue. (Photo: Ellen Brody-Kirmss, 2005) 
Arbitration Rock, the most prominent marker along the January 7, 1769 Survey Line, settled the century-old boundary dispute between the towns of Bushwick and Newtown, and the counties of Queens and Kings. The rock was originally located 297 feet northwest of the Vander Ende-Onderdonk House, several feet below the current roadbed of Onderdonk Avenue. It was buried about 1930 when the area on the northerly side of Flushing Avenue was graded in preparation for the opening of part of Onderdonk Avenue. Arbitration Rock was moved to its current site behind the Onderdonk House along the old boundary line on August 8, 2001. (Photo: Robert Alan Espino, 2006) 
Curators Arthur Kirmss and Ellen Brody-Kirmss in 17th-century dress. (Photo montage by Ellen Brody-Kirmss)
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Ridgewood, NY
Updated Saturday, July 05, 2008 3:51 AM
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The Greater Ridgewood Historical Society and The Vander Ende-Onderdonk House The Vander Ende-Onderdonk House, located in Ridgewood on the border of Queens and Brooklyn, is the oldest Dutch Colonial stone house in New York City. Peter Stuyvesant granted the land it sits on in the mid-seventeenth century, and by 1660, Hendrick Barents Smidt occupied a small house on the site. In 1709, Paulus Vander Ende of Flatbush purchased the farm and began construction of the current house. The building was a prominent marker in the 1769 settlement of the boundary dispute between Bushwick in Kings County and Newtown in Queens County. During the 1820's, Adrian Onderdonk erected a small frame addition to the stone house immediately above the remnants of the foundation of the 1660 building. Its architectural features are typical of Dutch buildings in this period: a gambrel roof, Dutch doors, central hallway and double hung windows with shutters. The Greater Ridgewood Historical Society was established in 1975 by a group of local residents to prevent the demolition of the Vander Ende Onderdonk House. From 1975 until 1981, the GRHS raised funds to reconstruct the house which had been seriously damaged by fire, and in 1976, published a history of the greater Ridgewood area, entitled Our Community, Its History and People. In 1977, the House and property were listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and in 1978, granted the same status on the New York State Register. The House was given New York City landmark status in June of 1996. With the help of Federal, State and local funds, the Onderdonk House was opened to the public in 1982.  The House serves as a museum for a permanent exhibit on the archaeology of the Onderdonk site, as well as changing exhibits relating to history, the arts and culture. The Society also maintains a history and genealogical research library, and offers many cultural events annually, including: guided house tours, history lectures and programs, genealogy workshops, craft classes and special events, such as St. Nicholas Day and other Dutch celebrations. The history and location of the house provide a rich educational and cultural experience for visitors. Our programs are supported by public service contracts from the City of New York, Department of Cultural Affairs, State Senator Serphin Maltese, State Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan, Queens Borough President, Helen Marshall, and the membership and friends of the Society. If you would like to receive notices about upcoming events, send your email address to theonderdonkhouse@earthlink.net and we will add you to our distribution list. 
Recently uncovered fireplace, the oldest in the house, with interior side bake oven. (Photo: Robert Alan Espino, 2006)
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This page was last modified on Saturday, June 28, 2008 09:58:09 AM