Popular Searches
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Share
Lindenwald slowly but surely regains lost acreage
Andrew Amelinckx
KINDERHOOK — When Martin Van Buren, America’s eighth president, retired from political life and settled into the role of a farmer at Lindenwald, his Kinderhook home, looked out his windows much of what he saw belonged to him.
By 1845 Van Buren owned 226 acres that included farmland, orchards and gardens, but by the time Lindenwald became a National Historic Site in the 1970s it was down to 22 acres.
Thanks to federal legislation passed earlier this year, the process to return the site to an approximation of its former size is becoming a reality and continues to move ever closer.
One hundred twenty-seven acres — 101 in easements and 26 in full value — will become a part of the park along with a farm cottage built during Van Buren’s time at Lindenwald.
According to Dan Dattilio, Martin Van Buren National Historic Site superintendent, the transfer takes about a year. “The process started in May 2009,” he said, adding that they should have the property by mid-2010.
The Open Space Institute provided the 26-acres and the farm cottage.
“It’s one of only three surviving structures built by Van Buren,” Dattilio said.
The OSI, established in 1964, works to protect “scenic, natural, and historic landscapes to ensure public enjoyment, conserve habitats, and sustain community character,” according to its Web site.
The organization has protected more than 100,000 acres in New York State, through land acquisition and conservation easements.
Dattilio said additionally there were two fields owned by OSI that the organization hadn’t yet made a decision on.
The 101 acres belong to Equity Trust, a non-profit founded by Charles Lee Matthei in 1991, with the mission of changing the way people relate to material relationships, according to its Web site.
Roxbury Farm, owned by Jean-Paul Courtens and Jody Bolluyt, has a 99-year lease on the property from Equity Trust. The land is to remain farmland in perpetuity.
“We find ourselves coming into an unusual partnership,” said Dattilio of the site’s relationship with Roxbury.
While the land’s agricultural use belongs to Roxbury, the National Park Service is responsible for the development of the land said Dattilio.
He said they would soon be devising a document that identifies mutual values between the two and eventually mutual goals.
“Their success helps us be successful,” he said of Roxbury.
Roxbury Farm sits on land that was used for the same purpose in Van Buren’s day. He farmed at Lindenwald for 21 years, utilizing both the property’s “Upper Terrace”—near his home—and the “Lower Terrace”—where Roxbury Farm is now located— for agricultural endeavors.
The legislation that made it all possible was sponsored by U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, when she was the 20th District’s Congresswoman and now Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton.
It allows for a total of 261 acres to be added to the site, but, said Dattilio, much of it is privately owned.
“It’s on a seller basis,” said Dattilio. This means that the government can’t take the land, but can acquire it if the landowner wishes to sell.
The legislation was passed by the both Houses in March, but the idea for the restored property has been in the works by Friends of Lindenwald, a non-profit that promotes the site and Van Buren, and local supporters for more than 30 years.
To reach reporter Andrew Amelinckx call 518- 828-1616, ext. 2267 or e-mail aamelinckx@registerstar.com
KINDERHOOK — When Martin Van Buren, America’s eighth president, retired from political life and settled into the role of a farmer at Lindenwald, his Kinderhook home, looked out his windows much of what he saw belonged to him.
By 1845 Van Buren owned 226 acres that included farmland, orchards and gardens, but by the time Lindenwald became a National Historic Site in the 1970s it was down to 22 acres.
Thanks to federal legislation passed earlier this year, the process to return the site to an approximation of its former size is becoming a reality and continues to move ever closer.
One hundred twenty-seven acres — 101 in easements and 26 in full value — will become a part of the park along with a farm cottage built during Van Buren’s time at Lindenwald.
According to Dan Dattilio, Martin Van Buren National Historic Site superintendent, the transfer takes about a year. “The process started in May 2009,” he said, adding that they should have the property by mid-2010.
The Open Space Institute provided the 26-acres and the farm cottage.
“It’s one of only three surviving structures built by Van Buren,” Dattilio said.
The OSI, established in 1964, works to protect “scenic, natural, and historic landscapes to ensure public enjoyment, conserve habitats, and sustain community character,” according to its Web site.
The organization has protected more than 100,000 acres in New York State, through land acquisition and conservation easements.
Dattilio said additionally there were two fields owned by OSI that the organization hadn’t yet made a decision on.
The 101 acres belong to Equity Trust, a non-profit founded by Charles Lee Matthei in 1991, with the mission of changing the way people relate to material relationships, according to its Web site.
Roxbury Farm, owned by Jean-Paul Courtens and Jody Bolluyt, has a 99-year lease on the property from Equity Trust. The land is to remain farmland in perpetuity.
“We find ourselves coming into an unusual partnership,” said Dattilio of the site’s relationship with Roxbury.
While the land’s agricultural use belongs to Roxbury, the National Park Service is responsible for the development of the land said Dattilio.
He said they would soon be devising a document that identifies mutual values between the two and eventually mutual goals.
“Their success helps us be successful,” he said of Roxbury.
Roxbury Farm sits on land that was used for the same purpose in Van Buren’s day. He farmed at Lindenwald for 21 years, utilizing both the property’s “Upper Terrace”—near his home—and the “Lower Terrace”—where Roxbury Farm is now located— for agricultural endeavors.
The legislation that made it all possible was sponsored by U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, when she was the 20th District’s Congresswoman and now Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton.
It allows for a total of 261 acres to be added to the site, but, said Dattilio, much of it is privately owned.
“It’s on a seller basis,” said Dattilio. This means that the government can’t take the land, but can acquire it if the landowner wishes to sell.
The legislation was passed by the both Houses in March, but the idea for the restored property has been in the works by Friends of Lindenwald, a non-profit that promotes the site and Van Buren, and local supporters for more than 30 years.
To reach reporter Andrew Amelinckx call 518- 828-1616, ext. 2267 or e-mail aamelinckx@registerstar.com
Share this Article
 |
 |
|
| Hard-working engines showcased at Old Time Days | Town of Kinderhook presents preliminary budget |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of registerstar.com.
You must register with a valid email to post comments. Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here: |
Become a Registered User |
