Designated April 12, 2016
The Van Sicklen House is among the oldest surviving Dutch-American houses in Brooklyn and the only known extant 18th century house largely of stone construction in the borough. Located in the northwest quadrant of the historic town center of Gravesend, the house is linked to the earliest colonial history of Brooklyn in that it occupies part of the house lot of Lady Deborah Moody who founded Gravesend in the 1640s. Members of the Van Sicklen family were probably responsible for constructing the house, which was built in sections, beginning in the early 18th century, or perhaps earlier, and for expanding it in the mid-18th century.
In 1904, the house was acquired by realtor William E. Platt, who with his wife Isabelle, made extensive alterations, including the addition of dormer windows, incorporating decorative elements inspired by the Colonial Revival Style and the prevalent Arts and Crafts aesthetic.
*Excerpt from the Landmarks Preservation Commission designation report
