Pierre Billiou House

Did Pierre Billiou ever imagine his modest dwelling would become a landmark? Here we stand before the Pierre Billiou House, the oldest surviving building on Staten Island. It’s a time capsule, whispering tales of New York’s earliest days. Pierre Billiou, a French Fleming, built the first section around 1663. He was part of a small group who established Staten Island’s first permanent settlement. Imagine, New Netherland, a Dutch colony. Can you picture Billiou on this very spot, overseeing his home’s construction? The house grew over the centuries, reflecting the lives and times of its inhabitants. Martha Billiou, Pierre’s daughter, and her husband Thomas Stillwell added a second structure around 1680. Later, the Britton, Dongan, Holmes, and Perine families each left their mark. Think about the enslaved people who lived and worked here, their stories woven into the very fabric of this house. The Pierre Billiou House witnessed history unfold. It stood through the English takeover of New Netherland in 1664. Thomas Stillwell, once a resident here, became involved in English colonial politics. During the Revolution, Ann Perine and her children sheltered here while British troops occupied the property. They even cut down numerous trees! Ann Perine later sought reparations. Her claim letter and will, which mentions enslaved individuals named Peter, Phoebe, and Mike, are preserved at Historic Richmond Town. In the early 20th century, the house even hosted the “Box Tree Tea Room,” run by Alice Austen and Gertrude Tate. The Pierre Billiou House, a New York City landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places, isn’t just a building. It’s a testament to centuries of lives lived, history witnessed, and stories whispered within these very walls.