Historic Van Dien-Ruffgarten House in Paramus Begins New Chapter Amid Ongoing Construction

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Paramus Nj, Construction has commenced on the lot that houses the historic Van Dien-Ruffgarten House in Paramus, sparking renewed interest in the fate of the 1800s-era structure. Despite a change in ownership, it appears that the cherished sandstone home will remain standing, offering hope to preservation advocates.

Situated on a 9-acre lot on West Midland Avenue, the Van Dien-Ruffgarten House is one of only six remaining New Jersey Dutch stone homes in Paramus. Built between the 1840s and 1850s, the modest one-story, one-room stone structure likely served as a home for farmers and may have also been a residence for local African American families.

The house has seen better days, with visible damage including a large crack and a gaping hole in its stone walls. Last year, two local historians proposed relocating the house to nearby Bergen Community College in an effort to preserve it. However, that proposal did not move forward.

Despite the uncertainties surrounding the house’s future, recent developments have been encouraging. The new owners have taken steps to stabilize the structure, an action viewed by preservationists as a positive move toward saving the historic home.

Construction work has recently begun on the rear of the property to build a single-family home, according to Paramus Mayor Chris DiPiazza. The mayor confirmed that the Van Dien-Ruffgarten House “will be staying,” easing concerns about potential demolition.

The property, previously owned by 113-117 Midland Avenue LLC, was transferred to a new limited liability company, 113 W Midland Avenue LLC, for $510,000 last October, according to records from the county clerk’s office. Attempts to reach the current owners for comment have been unsuccessful.

The house narrowly avoided demolition in 2019 when a developer sought a permit to raze the structure while applying to subdivide the property. At the time, Bill Twomey, a manager for the previous owners, described the house as “beyond its useful life.” However, plans to demolish the stone portion of the building were abandoned in 2021. During Planning Board hearings, the owner’s attorney indicated a desire to preserve the original stone section of the house, while a later wood-frame addition would be removed. The board ultimately approved a subdivision plan that included designating a lot for the preservation of the home.

Local historian Tim Adriance, who has written a report on the building, noted that while the future of the Van Dien-Ruffgarten House remains uncertain, the recent stabilization efforts are a promising sign. “Whether or not that means the thing is going to be saved, I have no idea,” Adriance remarked.

H. Gelfand, chairman of the Bergen County Historical Society Historic Preservation Committee, had previously proposed moving the building to Bergen Community College, an idea that did not gain traction. However, Gelfand continues to keep a close eye on the property, driving by weekly to ensure the house is still standing. He expressed cautious optimism upon seeing that the doorway had been insulated, indicating some level of care for the structure.

Gelfand emphasized the significance of the Van Dien-Ruffgarten House as the last remaining example of Dutch sandstone architecture in Bergen County. Built in the 1800s and later expanded by Peter Ruffgarten, a Dutch immigrant, the house was declared one of New Jersey’s most endangered historic sites in 2016 by Preservation New Jersey.

“The fact that it really encapsulates that whole history of people who are just small-scale, average, middle-class [farmers] has kept me passionate about wanting to see it have a future,” Gelfand said last year.

As construction progresses on the property, the community and preservationists alike are hopeful that the Van Dien-Ruffgarten House will be restored and preserved for future generations to appreciate.

 

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