Voorlezer's House
Why it's listed
Built around 1695 in what was then Coccles Town, now Richmondtown on Staten Island, this two-story clapboarded frame building served the early Dutch community as a church, a school and the home of the voorlezer, a layman who led services, kept church records and taught reading, writing, arithmetic and catechism. It is described as the oldest elementary school building in the United States. Its oak and whitewood timbers were hewn by broadax and joined with mortises, tenons and wooden pegs, and it keeps wide white pine floorboards and a large kitchen fireplace. Church records show it was the only Dutch Reformed place of worship on the island until the congregation moved to the north shore in 1701. The house then served as a private residence until the Staten Island Historical Society acquired it in 1939. It was later moved back 13 feet from the road and now operates as a museum.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the oldest elementary school building in the United States and one of the most important surviving relics of 17th century Dutch settlement in New York. It was the only Dutch Reformed place of worship on Staten Island from about 1695 to 1701. It was also the first property in the Staten Island Historical Society's restoration of Richmondtown.
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 66000565, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Arthur Kill Rd., opposite Center St., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Staten Island |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000565 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | circa 1695 |
| Areas of significance | Education |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated November 5, 1961 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Maintained as a museum by the Staten Island Historical Society; the form lists it as occupied, with restricted public access. Visit reports note dampness and a partly furnished interior. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Richmond Town Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.57142, -74.14750 (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 66000565.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7941724
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.