DUTCH HOUSE TOUR

COMMEMORATING THREE HUNDRED-FORTY-NINE YEARS

OF

DUTCH CULTURE IN AMERICA

On October 25, 2008, representatives from various historical and cultural organizations within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (DWGNRA) and the surrounding region met, at the Foster-Armstrong House, to commemorate 349 years of Dutch culture in America and to focus on the continuation of land and architectural preservation for this region.

The Foster-Armstrong House, located in Montague, NJ, is a collaborative showcase between DWGNRA historical and cultural groups, such as the Montague Association for the restoration of Community History (M.A.R.C.H.) and the National Park Service (NPS).  The tour began here with a walk through the house and a slide show presentation by historian Robert Longcore, one of the representatives from M.A.R.C.H.

The Dutch House Tour developed through the group effort of Longcore, Natalia Petrianyk, a founding member of the Pahaquarry Association for History and the Arts, Inc. (PAHA), and M.A.R.C.H.

The tour traveled southwest, from Sussex County, along Old Mine Road and ended at the Abraham Van Campen House/Jean Zipser House in Warren County.  Some of the sites on the tour included the Shimer House, the Westbrook-Bell House, the Ennis House and the Minisink Cemetery.

On behalf of all the historical and cultural groups within the DWGNRA and surrounding area PAHA extends its gratitude to the Netherlands Consul General Gajus Scheltema, Heleen Westerhuys, Reverend Everett Zabriskie, of the New York Holland Society and Marion Harris, of the Morris County Trust for Historic Preservation for attending the tour.

               PAHA representatives Natalia Petrianyk and Caroline Goldsmith sitting outside

the Foster-Armstrong House with the Netherlands Consul General Gajus Scheltema.

Other attendees included:  Alicia Batko - M.A.R.C.H., Gene Crawford – Friends of DEWA, Brian P. Daum – PAHA, Caroline Goldsmith – PAHA, Greg Huber – Past Perspectives, Richard and Beth Jones – M.A.R.C.H., Bill Kiger – Friends of Marie Zimmerman, Ken and Trudi Sandri – USFS Grey Towers, Carol Van Buren – Minisink Museum, and Jen Wycalek – Walpack Historical Society.

Reverend Everett Zabriskie and M.A.R.C.H representative and

historian

Robert Longcore inside the Foster-Armstrong House.

Historian Robert Longcore and the Netherlands General Consul

Gajus Scheltema cutting the house tour cake commemorating the event.

Heleen Westerhuys viewing a tombstone during the Dutch House Tour.