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The General and the “Stream House”: The Van Allen/Vygeberg Estate

At the intersection of Ramapo Valley Road and Franklin Avenue in Oakland, New Jersey, two buildings stand as silent witnesses to two very different centuries of American life.

One is a sturdy stone Dutch homestead that sheltered George Washington during the Revolution; the other is a crumbling, mysterious structure built directly over a running brook. Together, the Van Allen House and the Vygeberg Office tell the story of a small Bergen County settlement that transformed into a massive Edwardian dairy empire.

A Revolutionary Headquarters

The story begins in 1748, when Hendrick Van Allen moved his family of ten into a new stone home. Van Allen was a prominent figure in the local Dutch community, serving as a deacon at the nearby Ponds Church.

His home was built in the traditional Jersey Dutch style: thick sandstone walls, a gambrel roof, and a practical four-room layout. Its location was strategic, sitting along the main supply route (now Route 202) that connected Morristown to points north.

Washington’s Stay: On July 14, 1777, General George Washington was marching his troops toward Sussex when a torrential summer storm turned the roads into an impassable “slough of despond.” Washington sought shelter in the Van Allen House for two days. While the soldiers camped in the surrounding fields, Washington sat inside these stone walls and penned three critical military dispatches that shaped the summer campaign.

The “Gentleman Farmer” Era

For over a century, the property remained a quiet farm. But in 1900, the land was purchased by Edward Day Page, a wealthy New York dry-goods merchant. Page was part of a wave of “gentleman farmers” who moved from the city to the New Jersey countryside to build vast, self-sufficient estates.

Page’s Vygeberg Estate eventually grew to a staggering 700 acres, encompassing much of what is now the Mountain Lakes section of Oakland.

The Mystery of the Stream House

To manage his massive dairy operation, Page built the Vygeberg Office (often called the Stream House) in 1902. Architecturally, it is a fascinating example of Dutch Colonial Revival—a 20th-century “tribute” to the 18th-century homes like the Van Allen House next door.

The Engineering Marvel: The building’s most unique feature is literally its foundation: a stream runs through the center of the basement. * The Purpose: Before modern refrigeration was common, the cold running water of the brook served as a natural cooling system for the estate’s dairy products.

• The Layout: While the first floor was used for dairy storage and farm business, the upper floors served as living quarters for estate employees.

During this era, the original 1748 Van Allen House was repurposed as the home for the farm manager, Alexander Ross, and served as a dining hall for the dozens of workers who kept the Vygeberg Estate running.

Preservation and Resilience

The 20th century was not kind to these structures. In the 1950s, the property was nearly demolished to make way for a gas station. It was saved only by the quick action of local citizens and the Borough of Oakland, which purchased the site in 1966.

While the Van Allen House was restored in the 1970s and 80s, the Vygeberg Office has struggled. It has sat vacant since the late 1950s, suffering from vandalism and decay. However, local advocates like the Ramapough Conservancy continue to work on stabilizing these structures, viewing them as the “twin pillars” of Oakland’s history.

If You Visit

The Van Allen House and the Vygeberg Office are located in a high-traffic area, making them easy to spot, though the interiors are usually only open for special events.

• Location: 325 Ramapo Valley Road, Oakland, NJ 07436.
• The Exterior: You can view the exterior of both buildings from the sidewalk. Note the contrast between the genuine 18th-century stonework of the Van Allen House and the 20th-century stucco “mock-stone” of the Vygeberg Office.
• The Connection: The site is a key stop on the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route, a national historic trail.

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For More Information

Oakland Historical Society (www.oaklandhistoricalsociety.org)