Diane Morgan
Curator
207 Old Niskayuna Road
P.O. Box 212
Newtonville, NY 12128
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Welcome Message | |
Pruyn Family History |
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Directions To The Pruyn House | |
How to Contact Us |
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Friends of Pruyn House | ||
The Board of Trustees and the Friends of the Pruyn House are pleased to announce the release of our new website:
This
beautifully restored home situated on 5 ½ acres is a connection
to the Dutch heritage of this area. Built by Casparus Pruyn about 1830
as a country home for his wife, Ann, and their eight children, it is a
blend of Federal and Greek Revival architecture. Along with his job as
land and business agent for Stephen Van Rensselaer III, the last patroon,
Mr. Pruyn used a portion of his over 170 acres for farming.
Over the years, the property had many owners, the longest
being members of the Henkes family. John and Carrie Henkes purchased the
property in 1893. In 1982, the Town of Colonie purchased the home, began
extensive repairs and opened it to the public in 1985 as a historic and
cultural center.
The interior original Greek Revival details include doors,
moldings, grey marble mantles, newels, balusters and a majestic staircase.
There are ten outbuildings including the Buhrmaster Barn reconstructed on the grounds in 1987 and the Verdoy Schoolhouse which arrived in 1996. Other structures include a smokehouse, a potting shed, a woodshed/privy building, a carriage house, wellhouse and restroom facility.
The lovely herb and flower gardens maintained by two garden clubs are a focal point for this site. The gardens grace the grounds of the complex complete with brick walks, painted fences, and a sun dial.
The Buhrmaster Barn was originally
located along the Mohawk River where it was rebuilt in the late 1800's
following a fire. Displaced from its original spot in 1911 when the Erie
Barge Canal was built, it was moved to Troy-Schenectady Road. When condemned
at that location in 1987 by the Federal Aviation Administration, it was
moved to its present home at the Pruyn House. Reconstruction contractors
were visibly excited at the sight of many of the early features of the
structure such as hand-hewn beams and wooden pegs. The barn features double
doors, and is a lovely site for a summertime party when the gardens and
the grounds are at their best. For a more detailed history click
here.
The Verdoy Schoolhouse was built in 1910 and is a good example of the early one-room schools built in the Town of Colonie until the 1950's. In 1995 the North Colonie School district donated the schoolhouse to the Town of Colonie and it was moved to the Pruyn House where it has been restored as a living memorial to the Town's Centennial.
Heading North on I-87 (the Northway)
Take Exit 5. At the bottom of the ramp, turn RIGHT onto Rte #155. Just BEFORE the bridges turn LEFT onto Old Niskayuna Rd. DO NOT go under the bridges. The Pruyn House is about 1 mile down on the left (#207).
Heading South on I-87 (the Northway)
Take Exit 5. At the bottom of the ramp turn LEFT onto Rte #155. Go under the Northway bridges and take immediate first RIGHT onto Old Niskayuna Rd. The Pruyn House is about 1 mile down on the left (#207).
Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Mail: Pruyn House
Town of Colonie Cultural Center
207 Old Niskayuna Road
P.O. Box 212
Newtonville, NY 12128
Phone: 518-783-1435
Fax: 783-1437
e-Mail: pruynhouse@colonie.org
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00am - 4:30pm
Weekend Hours: Special events and tours by appointment
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URL: http://www.colonie.org/pruyn