Brief History of the Horton House

     The Historic Joseph Horton House was built in 1752 by a young Englishman, Joseph Horton.  Both Joseph and his brother were know as carpenters by trade and they certainly built the house to last more than just one lifetime.  
 
     Joseph, his wife Jeanette Van Voorhees, and their three slaves, Caesar, Harry, and the little boy Jack, lived on the original 299 acre homestead for about 4-6 years.  During this time the house was completed and then promptly sold.  
  
     The second owners were the retired Rev. Cook and his wife from Connecticut.  The Cooks lived in the home about 6 years and then sold it to the Sewards, distant relatives of the Secretary of State, William Seward, famous for "Seward's Folly" or the purchase of Alaska.  The Seward family promptly sold off about 200 acres and kept the much smaller farm in the family for 100 years.  It was these 100 acres for 100 years whereby the house got the nickname "Old Hundred" as featured in many books on Dutch Architecture of the Hudson Valley.  By 1806 the Sewards completed the construction of the Grand
Victorian home which is now the parsonage for the New Hackensack Reformed Church.

      During the first half of the 20th century the homestead became a dairy farm known as Snug Harbor and was owned by Mrs. Janes.  Mrs. Janes lived in the Grand Victorian while renting out the Horton House and farm.

      In 1988, while in the possession of the 19th owners, the Horton House was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places.  During the time their two boys were in the 4th grade, the owners opened their home to school feildtrips.  They also hosted one or two weddings on the property.  

     The home is now owned by John and Cynthia Vergilii.  The Vergiliis actually live in the 258 year old home with their children Lauren and Rick.  John and Cynthia have created The Horton House Family Center which is now a non-for profit organization serving the Hudson Valley specializing in bringing all their talents and "Colonial Experience" to schools, churchs, clubs, organizations and private homes.

Please call John and Cynthia Vergilii for information on all that they offer.

845-849-1512