Historic Structure Report: Farm Cottage

Krieger, Rebekah

The Farm Cottage became part of Martin Van Buren National Historic Site in 2009, and its deed was transferred to the park in 2011. The farmhouse was sold separately from Lindenwald in 1946, and its acquisition by the NPS reunited the cottage with Lindenwald mansion. The following study pieces together documentary and material evidence to reconstruct the original configuration of the Farm Cottage as built by Martin Van Buren and the chronology of modifications made by subsequent owners. It details the occupancy history of the cottage and describes the historic forces that shaped its design and construction. The overall treatment for the site is rehabilitation in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Structures. The Farm Cottage was acquired by the park service in a state of disrepair and requires repair or replacement of existing building fabric and structural assessment in order to be adaptively reused by the NPS. The Farm Cottage will need extensive repairs due to deferred maintenance and deterioration, as well as modifications in order to comply with accessibility and safety codes, if it is to be re-purposed as park administrative offices. The Farm Cottage should be rehabilitated and maintained in accordance with park policy and the Martin Van Buren NHS General Management Plan/ Environmental Impact Statement. All changes to the cottage should preserve its character-defining features and place a priority on retaining all historic built fabric in compliance with the Secretary’s Standards. Recommendations for treatment of the Farm Cottage are described in more detail in Chapter 6 of this report. This chapter outlines the Secretary’s Standards and provides specific guidance on anticipated material changes that may be required during rehabilitation of the Farm Cottage.

Historic Structure Report: Farm Cottage

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