They came to the New World early and alone, twelve Huguenots fleeing their ancestral home. They found a new home deep in the Hudson Valley, the land of the Esopus. After over three hundred years, their houses still stand today, a legacy written in stone.
Early History of Ulster County
In 1677, twelve Huguenots purchased nearly 40,000 acres of land from the local Esopus Indians. This in itself is notable because the Esopus had been warring with the Dutch in the area for several years beforehand in what is now referred to as the Esopus Wars. Though the Dutch eventually forced the Esopus to sue for peace, tensions remained very high in the area.
The settlers named this new land ‘New Paltz,’ after “Die Pfalz,” the area in Germany where they sought refuge before immigrating to America. With authority from the royal government, these founders formed a ruling circle called the “Duzine” (bastardized French meaning “dozen”). the names of the founding families are still prevalent through the area--streets and houses named after the Hasbrouck, Deyo, Dubois, and others are not an uncommon sight.
The fledgling community enjoyed relatively calm relations with the local Esopus and grew as more Huguenots and others settled in the area. The town spread out along the Wallkill River and east towards the Hudson River.
Huguenot St
By the early 18th century, the new community had become stable enough that many settlers began replacing their temporary wood houses for houses made of stone. These houses, clustered against the east bank of the Wallkill River, are still standing today. Called Huguenot Street, This is the oldest street in America with its original houses, and one of the oldest continuously inhabited streets in America.
The houses still standing are the following:
Bevier House--A small dwelling built in the very early 1700s. It was later expanded with a cellar to house slaves.
Jean Hasbrouck House--This house, built in 1721, was built on the remains of founder Jean Hasbrouck’s original house by his son Jacob.
Abraham Hasbrouck House--Also built in 1721 by Daniel Hasbrouck, son of founder Abraham Hasbrouck.
Dubois Fort--Built in 1705 as a refuge from the Esopus attack that never came.
Freer House--This house has been altered considerably over the years by the descendents of founder Hugo Freer.
Deyo House--Pierre Deyo built this house around the turn of the 18th Century. It was subsequently expanded over the years. This home was recently restored in 2003.
LeFevre House--This house was built in 1799, almost a century after the others on Huguenot street. The style is considerably different, representing a more American style than Dutch.
French Church--A 1972 reconstruction of the original church dating back to 1717. A graveyard dating back to the Duzine is nearby.
Locust Lawn
Not far from Huguenot Street is Locust Lawn, a farm complex dating back two hundred years. Locust Lawn was once the home of Colonel Josiah Hasbrouck, a Congressman for New York and officer in the Revolutionary War. His dwelling is an excellent example of Federal-style architecture.
Also on the land is the Evert Terwilliger House, which was built in 1738 by the namesake after marrying the daughter of one of the Duzine. The house was bought by Josiah Hasbrouck, and he lived there while building his mansion.
See for Yourself
Huguenot Street and Locust Lawn are popular attractions on Colonial New York in the Hudson Valley. Guided tours are available for Huguenot Street fro May to October on all days but Wednesday. Locust Lawn can be toured on weekends from June through October.
