February 19,2018
John Paquin
Ridgewood NJ,Separated at Birth? Well, actually, yeah. The Zabriskie-Schedler House is a text-book example of the inspiration behind one of the most enduring American Vernacular Architectural styles, born right here in Bergen County — The Dutch Colonial. An example that needs to be preserved so we can tell this story and all the others that go with it. Right now you’re looking at the house on the left, and saying, “I know that house. I think it’s on Spring….or maybe Pleasant, or was it up on Monroe? Trust me, folks in just about every town in the United States would say the same thing. The “Dutch Colonial” became an iconic style as part of the “Colonial Revival” that swept the country from the centennial well in to the 1930’s, when most of these were built, and endures even today. Most of us know the Dutch “stone” houses that dot the region. But it’s actually the frame examples like Zabriskie-Schedler that provided the true inspiration. And because they were not made of stone, far fewer endure today. The style is our gift to the nation; the Zabriskie-Schedler a monument to that style that needs to be preserved for the future
Last time I saw a house in such good shape it was in a movie called “The Money Pit.”
If you want an example of “Dutch Colonial” then drive through Ridgewood, because there are plenty of them around, and they won’t cost the taxpayers any money.
And so should the seven acres of undeveloped land that the Schedler’s kept. As Jane Goodall said said in a recent TV interview. CHILDREN are educable and should be taught about the importance of undeveloped land , how necessary it is for human life. So they can’t do sports EVERYDAY. So what.
It is an outrage that the council veered from its decision not to develop Schedler to developing it. So they are saving a few trees. Big deal.
Let the countries with rain forests develop their land as much as they want. They are starving, Why should we criticize them when we can’t save any land and we have food abundance. Oh, you say let the other town or state do it. Yeah right. And laugh at me when I say the eagles will die as their habitat is destroyed. Members of the council said they were concerned about wild life there and they lied.
I must admit I was shocked at the new view as you approach from 17N. It’s very bare looking. I hope nothing else comes down.
I have a house in the same style and similar age that also needs a roof. Some big differences we paid to buy it, we paid to fix it, we pay to maintain it, and we pay taxes on it. Can’t believe we are really planning on doing improvements to this house.
This situation would funny except it has cost and will continue to cost the village millions of dollars and lost tax revenue.
Please sell this money pit pig of a house and property and take the money and fix the roads, or the water system, or parking lots, or many of the other things that a village should be concerned with.
The village is being taken advantage of by a small group of self serving residents.
1031… eagles r not going 2 die. It is not an eagle habitat. Yes they’ve scavenged there but do not nest there. These alternative facts play into the hands of those who want to develop the parcel for sports usage. Please stop the misinformation.
I moved my family to Ridgewood because I love nature, animals and birds. Obviously the key to wildlife are trees and forests. I get excited when I see a hawk, ducks, wild turkeys, deer, rabbit and especially foxes or even better coyotes. But since a couple of years I have seen a massive amount of trees cut and maimed across town. More will be cut to make way for housing mandates. It depresses me. Cutting trees to make sports fields is myopic. Kids find a way to play anywhere and there’s no need to deforest the limited amount of wooden areas in Ridgewood. I really believe we have an abundance of sports fields already. It is a shame what keeps happening. In a few years Ridgewood won’t be counted as a suburb but a city. This may make a lot of Brooklyn former residents happy but for me and my family is a drama. If I wanted my kids to grow up in a city I would have stayed in NY.
I moved my family to Ridgewood because I love nature, animals and birds
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REALLY?
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You moved to one of the most congested areas in the most densely populated state in America to commune with nature???
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Di you get your education from the Ridgewood School System??
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122… clear cutting for housing mandates? The hi density proposals are on vacant lots and repurposed buildings.
@6.12. Spare the childish irony. Ridgewood is in a great geographic position for those like me who commute to NYC daily. It is still a suburb, I never said I was looking for a rural setting.
@pesmith. If RWG will need to comply with all the low income requirements which right now are into hundreds of units then it has no choice but to change its landscape. Hundreds of low income units means thousands of units in general as low income is 10-15% of total units.
What a joke. This house needs to be razed.
Please please, find out if it is really historic (and listing in the historical houses only means people can investigate and see what is really there). Is it required to make it handicapped accessible? How much will the total rebuilding cost? If you don’t have an estimated total, which will easily be doubled, tear the house down. It is in horrible shape and will probably collapse when you try to remove the newer (most) pieces. It is all up and down inside. It isn’t worth supporting. Now the land is probably historic but the house is a pile of disaster awaiting you.
The house needs to go.
3:04 The house is in horrible shape because that’s exactly what the Village wanted. Can’t blame the old Council anymore. What has the new Council done over the last two years? NOTHING. Oh wait! They cleared the tress for the new field and don’t be surprised if the big tree they claim to be saving comes crashing down on the house. They left the Schedler work to Parks and Rec. The same group that wanted the house gone and a sports complex. Many ways to skin a cat.