Wyckoff-Bennett Homestead
Why it's listed
This one-and-one-half-story wood-frame farmhouse at 1669 East 22nd Street in Brooklyn is a rare survivor of the Dutch building tradition once common in Kings County. A beam inscription in a barn, since lost, indicated the house was probably standing in 1766, and it is believed to have been built by Henry and Abraham Wyckoff. Window panes carry inscriptions naming Hessian officers, suggesting they were quartered on the farm during the Revolution. Cornelius W. Bennett bought the roughly one-hundred-acre farm in 1835, and his family worked the land until it was subdivided for housing around 1900. In the late 1890s the house was turned to face west and placed on a brick foundation, with dormers and a curved-roof porch on six slender columns added. Inside, panelled woodwork, original Dutch tiles, sash windows and bulls-eye glass in the front door remain. Its scale, proportions and family association give it significance.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a fine wood example of the vernacular domestic architecture of 18th-century Dutch settlements in New York State, and one of few of its type left in densely developed Brooklyn. Its association with an old Kings County family and with the Revolutionary War period adds to its importance. Window-pane inscriptions suggest Hessian officers were quartered on the farm.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 74001253, listed December 24, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1669 E. 22nd St., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Brooklyn |
| Listed | December 24, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001253 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Believed built by Henry and Abraham Wyckoff |
| Architectural style | Vernacular 18th-century Dutch domestic architecture |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 8, 1976 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition, unaltered, and occupied; the Bennett family has lived in the house for four generations. The barn is no longer standing. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.61079, -73.95110 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 74001253.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8039590
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.