The Oldest Farmhouse In Scarsdale, New York, Is On The Market For $1.395M

In 1687 there was no United States; there were barely a few colonies huddled against the eastern seaboard. But a European immigrant built a house in what is now Scarsdale, New York. That house, still standing on its original site, is now for sale, along with its over 325 years of American history.

In the 17^thcentury, the area between New York City and Albany, all of New Jersey, parts of eastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware and the southern half of Connecticut were settled by the Dutch. Superb traders and financial managers, the Dutch first established an outpost near what is now Albany as an adjunct to the profitable fur trading industry run by the French from their vast northern American holdings.

Now called Underhill, a house was built on Post Road, formerly known as the Indian Trail. We know nothing about the farmer who built it; in fact, the house does not appear on any maps or land records until 1774. But it is squarely in the tradition of the Dutch Colonial house style and still evinces the hallmarks with a bell-shaped roof, a saltbox shape in which the rear of the house slopes nearly to the ground, board-and-batten shutters and a front porch under the kick of the overhanging roof.

“This was originally a 129-acre farm,” the homeowner says. “The house was first just a small cottage, with two more parts added in the early 1700s. On a rise above the water, it faces south, with windows on the south façade bigger than those on the opposite side.”

One of the house’s endearing elements is a divided, or “Dutch” door.

“They said that it was to keep the children in and the pigs out,” the homeowner laughs.

Today, the lot measures just over half an acre. The 2,146 square foot home has three bedrooms, three baths, two fireplaces, a detached garage and a fresh water spring in the front yard. Surviving historic elements include hand-hewn ceiling beams and lovely old floorboards. The current owners have, however, installed air conditioning and a generator, as well as spacious modern bathrooms.

In 1906 the house formed the nucleus of the prestigious Heathcote Association, which placed 40 large residences on 130 acres of land, most likely the house’s original acreage. It is part of this neighborhood today.

Offered for sale for $1.395 million by Dawn Knief of Compass Realty

“When we were looking for something to buy, we never thought that we’d buy a historic house,” the owner says. “But when we walked into this house, we fell for it. We hope that the next owner loves and appreciates it, too.”

This post first appeared on Forbes.com. To see the original, click here.