Legendary House Goes On Market
Stone building owners aim for warmer clime
by Tinker Twine
Correspondent

    "Particulary notable," McMahon said, "is its construction of local quarried limestone with random and decorative bluestone, and rubble filled walls."

    In 1667, Cornelius Wynkoop arrived in Hurley, about 15 miles south of Saugerties. His family grew and Wynkoop's descendants had settled in Saugerties by the mid-18th century, according to information provided by the National Register of Historic Places.

    This house was built on land originally part of a patent granted in 1688 by King James II to Richard Hays and George Mealls. It's not clear which descendant built the Wynkoop house, but local tradition places the family in this location.
    "The Wynkoops played an active role in the Revolutionary War and local politics in the 19th century. Descendants occupied the house until the early 20th century, which may have contributed to its remarkable preservation," according to the National Register documentation.
    The Wynkoop house has been the residence of Margaret and Frederic Randles since they moved here from Cheshire, England, in 1979. The Randles operate Peacock Antiques in an adjacent building. That's the same line of business they had in England.
    While sipping coffee and munching biscuits by the fireplace in an elegant-yet-cozy parlor one recent snowy morning, the couple said they want to move to a warmer climate.
    Dutch stone houses grew in predictable stages. The original one-room structure, which pre-dates the rest of the house by some 20 years, remains intact as a kitchen. A small but solid pine door leads to a winding stairway. Upstairs are two old-fashioned bathrooms and five bedrooms with gabled windows.
    The garret story also can be reached via an open staircase in the center hall, typical of 18th century Dutch architecture. The center hall has Dutch doors that open to the front and rear of the house. On one side of the hall is the parlor. Across the hall, opposite the parlor, is a dining room and another large fireplace. Both fireplaces can be seen from the hall.
    Frederic Randle has played host to many a visitor who has offered information concerning the history of the house. He's been told that as recently as 50 years ago, local American Indians traveled from Blue Mountain to fill buckets with water from a spring on the property. The spring house was evidently removed when state Route 32 was realigned some years back.
    The Randles favor the proposed Woodstock 1994 festival planned for an expected audience of 250,000 in August at the adjacent Winston Farm. They hope the festival results in a permanent performing arts center.
    "It would be better than a big dump," Frederic Randle said, referring to the possibility that Ulster County may locate a landfill there. "For that reason alone, we hope the festival happens," he added.

Source:

Saugerties, New York newspaper, (name unknown), dated February 17, 1994.

    This newspaper article was sent to me by Gerard E. Wynkoop, [email protected] of Beaverton, Oregon. [By the way, you're right Gerard, this is a different house than the Van Deusen House. They sure look a lot alike though. ;-) ]

    Many thanks,

    Chris