History Sunnyside (Tarrytown, New York)

an artist s depiction of part of wolfert acker s former estate sold washington irving, called wolfert s roost before turning sunnyside

in sense, sunnyside began 200 years before irving wolfert acker (sometimes spelled wolfert eckert), dutch-american inhabitant of region. property, wolfert s roost , part of manor of philipsburg. among other buildings, wolfert s roost contained simple two-room stone tenant farmhouse, built around 1690.

the property came hands of van tassel family, married eckert family , owned until 1802. year, 150 acres (61 ha) deeded family of benson ferris, one-time clerk of old dutch church of sleepy hollow, wife, maria acker, descendant of wolfert acker s.

in 1832, washington irving visited nephew oscar irving lived near old stone farmhouse. irving had undertaken substantial trip through prairies of arkansas , mississippi rivers, , frontier lifestyle made him lament lack of home of own. frustrated because had lived of adult life guest in other people s homes. irving wrote, eager home , willing pay little unreasonably . irving purchased property on june 7, 1835 $1,800; later, through years, add property expand estate.

irving s study

irving wrote story, wolfert s roost , acker , site. in letter brother peter, described beautiful spot, capable of being made little paradise ... have had architect there, , shall build upon old mansion summer. idea make little nookery in dutch style, quaint, unpretending. of stone. irving requested friend , neighbor, english-born painter george harvey, become aesthetic collaborator , foreman in house s subsequent remodeling , enlargement, , landscaping of grounds in romantic style, included creating pond irving called little mediterranean , waterfall led babbling serpentine brook.

the result cottage known @ time, appearing in harper s weekly , in guidebooks area. dr. oliver wendell holmes sr. said sunnyside stood next mount vernon, best known , cherished of dwellings in our land. public interest in home, , in irving, america s first literary star, drew numerous visitors throughout year, hoping catch glimpse of irving working. irving s neighbor nathaniel parker willis joked, not sunny-side pay got ready boarding-house?

in 1842, irving accepted nomination ambassador court of isabella ii of spain. left sunnyside in care of brother ebenezer, lived there 4 grown daughters, supervised running of household. irving wrote, drawback upon hard trial of tearing myself away dear little sunnyside. returned new york on september 19, 1846. shortly after return, in 1847, added cottage spanish tower , influenced spanish monastic architecture , alhambra in granada. added 4 bedrooms house.

irving died of heart attack in bedroom @ sunnyside on november 28, 1859, @ age 76.