HomeHistory of the Old Fort

History of the Old Fort

The “Old Fort” built in compliance with Gov. Edmund Andros’ order was to be used “for a place of Retreat and Safeguard”. Although there are three gun ports on the ground floor, it is said no shots were ever fired from them against Native Americans.

The iron figures on the outside wall suggest the Fort was built in 1705. An early description cites it as “an old fashioned one story house with a basement”. The 1798 tax list indicated a one and one half story stone dwelling.

In the 1830’s the house evolved into the current structure with the addition of a second story, a full-length four-bay porch, and a two-story clapboard L-addition at one end of the building. A center stair hall replaced the original eighteenth century jamless fireplace and a pseudo jammed fireplace for stove heating was added.

Until the 1920’s, the Fort was lived in by DuBois family members or rented as a home to local New Paltz people. In the ’20’s, it became a tearoom, and then in the ’30s a restaurant run by Elsie Hanna Oates. Alice Crans, in 1976, continued the operation of this homestyle restaurant until her retirement in 1990.

The Fort now houses the gift shop of Historic Huguenot Street and the HHS Tour Office. The upstairs rooms are used for exhibits. In 2000, the DBFA helped HHS fund an Historic Structures Report that recommends an effective planning framework for appropriate restoration of the building. A 2004 dendochronology study of the growth rings in the wood used to construct the house confirmed its 1705 construction date.

Historic Huguenot Street, through its endowment for the Fort and the writing of grants, and the DBFA, through fund raising, together ensure that the building will continue to be restored and preserved.

The ownership of “The Old Fort” is as follows:

MARIA HASBROUCK DUBOIS (1664-1718) built the stone house in 1705. She was the widow of patentee ISAAC DUBOIS (1660-1690) and a daughter-in-law of co-patentee/immigrant LOUIS DUBOIS (1626-1693). Maria had been managing her husband's estate for 15 years by 1705 and continued to do so until her own death thirteen years later.

DANIEL DUBOIS (1684-1752). Son of ISAAC (1660-1690) and grandson of LOUIS (1626-1693) married Mary LeFevre. He left the homestead to a son.

SIMON DUBOIS (1719-1799) who married Catharine LeFevre, and left the property to a son.

DANIEL DUBOIS (1750-1817) who married Catherine Bessimer. They had no children, so Daniel bequeathed the homestead to the son of his brother Isaac.

DANIEL I. DUBOIS (1795-1852) who married Magdalena Hasbrouck. He enlarged and modified the house. In the division of his estate, the property was left to his daughter.

MARY DUBOIS BERRY (1838-1902) wife of Rowello William Berry. They had two daughters.

MARIE ANTOINETTE BERRY LEWIS, wife of Claude Isaac Lewis, and LOUISE DUBOIS BERRY DINGMAN, wife of Dr. John Clarence Dingman of Spring Valley. After the death of their mother, Mrs. Lewis and Mrs. Dingman inherited “The Old Fort” and finally Mrs. Dingman obtained full ownership, although she never lived in the house after her marriage.

Mrs. Dingman died July 16, 1966, and bequeathed the property to her husband, Dr. Dingman, with the suggestion that some arrangement be made to transfer the homestead to an historical group to ensure its preservation for the enjoyment of future generations of Americans. In accordance with her wishes, Dr. Dingman and Kenneth E. Hasbrouck of the Huguenot Historical Society Inc., New Paltz, New York entered into negotiations to affect a transfer of the property.

On April 10, 1968, a conveyance of the land and buildings was made to the Huguenot Historical Society. This symbol of American heritage is now assured of preservation with six other stone dwellings on “The Oldest Street in America with its original houses.”