Sponsored by: Archaeology Society of Staten Island
The Dr. George G. Hackman Memorial Lecture, given by Kurt Hirschberg, of Jan Hird Pokorny, Assoc.
The Voorlezer’s House at Historic Richmond Town in New York City has long been believed to be one of the oldest school houses in the country, tracing its roots back to the 1690s. Recent investigations have revealed that there is still much to learn about this important symbol of early American education and the Dutch community in Staten Island in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Come learn about the recent findings of the prominent historic preservation firm Jan Hird Pokorny Associates which recently completed a Historic Structure Report detailing the building and its history, using documentary evidence, archaeological studies, architectural analysis and dendrochronology — the science of analyzing the patterns of tree rings in the structure’s wood timbers. Based upon their findings, it is now believed that the current building was constructed in the mid-1700s, rather than 1696 as previously believed.