This historic site is located in Beacon, New York on 50 VanNydeck Avenue. It was built in 1708 and is the oldest home in Dutchess County. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The land was inherited by Madame Brett from her father, Francis Rombout. He was one of three patentees who purchased the land from the Wappingers tribe of Native Americans. He bargained with the Indians for "all the land he could see" from the top of Mt. Beacon. This grant became known as the Rombout Patent. His daughter's name was Catheryna and she was born in 1687. In 1703 she married Roger Brett who was a Lieutenant in the British Navy. In the summer of 1708 they came up to live on the land her father had deeded to her. Their land included a section on the banks of the Fish Kill. This is where they built a very successful mill. It has been said that eventually all roads led to Madame Brett's mill.

The Bretts had three sons, Francis, Robert and Rivery. Often the family returned to New York City by traveling on a sloop down the Hudson River. On one occasion in 1726 when Lieutenant Brett was returning home he was hit in the head by the boom of the boat and died. Madame Brett continued on her own to become a very successful businesswoman while raising her three sons and taking care of her estate. She was a very influential woman in the area. She died in 1764 leaving her estate to her son Francis and the children of her son, Robert. Her other son Rivery died at an early age. Francis Brett and his wife, Catherine Margaret Van Wyck and their eight children lived in the house followed by six successive generations of Bretts. In the early 1950s there was a plan to build a supermarket on the site but the citizens of Beacon helped to save the house from destruction. Even schoolchildren saved their money to save the house. In 1954 with the support of many people the Melzingah Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution bought the building.

Famous Visitors: No, George Washington did not sleep here but he probably enjoyed a party or two here as guests of Major and Mrs. Schenck (granddaughter of Madame Brett). Other famous guests were Baron Von Steuben and the Marquis de la Fayette.



Interesting notes: Don't miss the large punch bowl in the dining room that has been repaired with staples. It was a gift to the Brinckerhoff family from the Marquis de la Fayette to thank them for caring for him while he was ill. La Fayette sent it to them from Paris and the Brinckerhoffs have donated it to the house. There is a gown upstairs that was most likely worn to the ball at which Washington was present. You can also find a glass that Washington drank out of at a local tavern. There is also an interesting collection of keys displayed in the kitchen. These were found when the gardens were being restored in the backyard. In the gardens they also discovered a well which has been restored. When you look at the house from the outside notice the scalloped shingles on one portion of the house. Can you tell which section is the original house? Also notice the sloped dormers.

Interesting phrase: "Sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite." During the colonial period beds were often stuffed with hay which attracted various bugs that you might end up sleeping with! You can also see how beds were tightened by turning a large screw which tightened the ropes in the bed.

We visited the Madame Brett Homestead on May 7, 1999


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