Picture this. You stand before the Hendrick I Lott House a venerable structure steeped in history. This isn’t just a house. It’s a living testament to Brooklyn’s rich past.
The Hendrick I Lott House is more than a landmark. It’s one of Brooklyn’s oldest Dutch Colonial houses. It holds a unique place in New York City’s history. The current structure built in 1800 by Hendrick I Lott incorporates parts of his grandfather’s 1720 homestead. That makes it exceptionally old for the area.
Hendrick I Lott wasn’t just any man. He was a prominent figure in his community. He married Mary Brownjohn in 1792 finding his grandfather’s house inadequate for his family’s stature. So he built larger blending Dutch and English architectural styles. This created a distinctly American home a fusion of cultures. He didn’t entirely discard his grandfather’s 1720 house though. He cleverly incorporated it as the kitchen wing. He balanced this older section with a new west wing creating symmetry. The gambrel roof with graceful spring eaves is distinctly Dutch Colonial. The interior boasts 18 rooms organized around a central hall. It’s a true masterpiece of colonial architecture.
The Lott family’s farm once spanned over 200 acres. They were major agricultural producers relying on enslaved labor. However the Lotts weren’t just slaveholders. They were ahead of their time. They freed most of their enslaved people by 1805 well before slavery’s abolition in New York State in 1827. They then hired them as paid workers. This suggests they might have been abolitionists. Some believe the Hendrick I Lott House even served as a stop on the Underground Railroad a secret route to freedom for enslaved people.
For two centuries the Lott family lived and farmed this land. The last Lott descendant Ella Suydam lived there until 1989. Later researchers uncovered intriguing details. Windowless rooms suggested slave quarters. Beneath the floors they found corncobs and other spiritual objects. These artifacts point to religious practices linking slaves to their West African heritage. It’s a powerful reminder of the lives lived within these walls.
Today the Hendrick I Lott House stands preserved on three-quarters of an acre. The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation purchased it in 2001. The Hendrick I Lott House Preservation Association manages it. Restoration is ongoing. It’s a testament to the combined efforts of the city the Historic House Trust and the community. Soon this incredible piece of Brooklyn history will become a museum opening its doors to share stories of the Lott family the farm and all those who lived and worked there. It’s a story waiting to be discovered.