Voorlezer's House

Voorlezer's House is a wooden structure with steeply pitched gabled roofs and characteristic Dutch colonial design details in Staten Island's historic district. The plainly furnished interior contains residential rooms and a teaching space that reveal how the building served both as a home and a schoolhouse.

The structure was built during the 1760s to replace an earlier building dating back to 1696 that housed the Dutch Reformed Church reader. It represents the continuation of the Dutch community's presence on Staten Island during the colonial period.

The house served as a gathering place where Dutch language and values were passed on to the community. Visitors can see the modest spaces that housed both family life and the teaching of fundamentals to local children.

The site is part of the Historic Richmond Town museum and can be visited through guided tours arranged by the Staten Island Historical Society. It helps to plan time for exploring the restored rooms and the surrounding historic buildings within the museum grounds.

Analysis of growth rings in the wooden beams revealed the true construction date, disproving previous assumptions about the building's age. This wood-ring examination provided unexpected insights into when the structure was actually built and helped clarify the colonial period timeline.

Location: Staten Island

Inception: 1695

Architectural style: vernacular architecture, Dutch colonial architecture

Made from material: wood

Address: 59 Arthur Kill Road

GPS coordinates: 40.57142,-74.14750

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:43