18th-century Dutch Colonial house is a portal to NYC’s past

It’s not every day that an 18th-century Dutch Colonial house in New York City hits the market, but lucky for history buffs, today is one of those few.

Dating to 1735, the Cornelius Van Wyck House in Douglaston, Queens has come to market for what appears to be the first time in nearly 40 years. Seeking $3.25 million, the house is both a New York City landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places—and for good reason.

“The history of this house is intimately connected with that of the Dutch settlers,” the property’s 1966 NYC landmark designation report reads. The report goes on to explain that Cornelius Van Wyck, the eldest son of Stephen Van Wyck who emigrated from Holland in 1660, made his home here, eventually handing it over to his son Stephen, a delegate in the Continental Congress.

Stephen added to the house—the original footprint includes the dining room, master bedroom, and living hall—before selling it in 1819 to Winant Van Zandt, who would go on to add 120 acres to the property. While those 120 acres are no longer appended, the house still maintains an impressive swath of land along Little Neck Bay, making it one of the largest waterfront properties in Queens.

The home has been intimately cared for over the years, and still displays the same “interesting details of the Dutch period” noted by Landmarks at the time of its designation, including “superb oak beams” in the house’s original rooms. Georgian mantlepieces throughout the home and a fully-paneled fireplace wall with a classic box cornice round out the exceptional details highlighted by Landmarks. The report also makes note of the kitchen wing that dates to the 1930s but has since been updated, as listing pictures suggest.

The house, said to make a significant contribution to the legacy of early Colonial craftsmanship, is one of the few Dutch Colonial houses remaining in New York City. (Many of the others are among the city’s oldest buildings—even older than the Cornelius Van Wyck House.)

The listing is held by Nina Kowalski and Carol Bellomo with Daniel Gale Sotheby’s.

• Listing: 126 West Avenue [Daniel Gale Sotheby’s via StreetEasy]
• New York City’s 20 oldest buildings, mapped [Curbed]