It’s survived every American president, outlasted multiple wars, and outlived generations. And it’s now for sale.
The Van Buskirk Home in Saddle River—hailed as the very first home built in the town—was recently put on the market for $2.1 million. Built in 1707, the historic home includes exposed hand-hewn beams and architecturally distinct fireplaces.
“This is a really special home,” said Maureen Kuntz, the real estate agent representing the property. “With its historical legacy, it has been impeccably maintained and restored with an array of period-specific architectural details.”
The home, which includes five bedrooms and four bathrooms, is on over two acres of property in the central part of Saddle River. The renovated kitchen incorporates a number of modern amenities and the master suite is located on the first floor.
An open-plan solarium brings “natural beauty inside the home,” according to a release on the property, and the great room features 13-foot a cathedral ceiling and a wood-burning stove with an exposed brick chimney. An exterior patio leads to a pool, tennis court, waterfall, and a footbridge to another grassy area.
The heated, detached barn accommodates two cars and is equipped with two horse stalls, a workshop, and second floor space that could be used as an office or gym.
One of the rooms in the historic Van Buskirk home in Saddle River.Provided by Christie’s International Real Estate Northern New Jersey
Earliest records show the property was part of a purchase of more than 1,000 acres of land by Albert Zabriskie in 1675, from the local Algonquin Native American tribe. In the early 1700s, Thomas Van Buskirk owned the property and moved his family there from Greenville—now a section of Jersey City—becoming the first settlers to live in the Saddle River Valley.
A log cabin initially was built on the property, then replaced by the house, where nine generations of the family lived. Rocks from the surrounding hills were used to build the home’s foundation, and the house itself was expanded twice to fit more people.
The Van Buskirk children were given 100-acre tracts of land to build homes and start their own families as adults. The original home stayed in the family until 1922, when William Bond, a Canadian-born artist, bought it. Bond restored the home, but declined to add modern amenities.
Then, in 1979, James and Patricia Hall bought the home and restored its barns. Since 1993, Rosalind and Ed Zipfel have owned the property and continued its restoration.
“We have loved sharing the heritage of the house with family and friends, as well as hosting holiday parties and entertaining guests on the grounds in the warmer weather,” the couple said in a release.
“But, it’s the end of an era and time to hand over the opportunity of a lifetime to care for this very special piece of history,” they said.
The property is located at 164 East Saddle River Road and listed by Christie’s International Real Estate Northern New Jersey.
Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @briannakudisch. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.
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