Billiou–Stillwell–Perine House
in undefined, United StatesCategory: Attraction
0 views 
0 shares 
0 comments
set bookmark!
Created/changed by:
System
Address details
1501 Richmond Rd, Staten Island, NY 10304, USA Print route »
Phone & WWW
Business hours
Info
The Billiou–Stillwell–Perine House is a Dutch Colonial structure and the oldest standing building on Staten Island, New York.The house was originally built by Pierre Billiou, a Huguenot who arrived at New Amsterdam fleeing religious persecution in Europe in 1661. He founded Oude Dorp (Old Town) in the same year, and subsequently received a land grant on Staten Island, erecting the original stone section of the house about 1662. His daughter Martha (1652–1736) inherited the property and resided there with her husband, Thomas Stillwell (1651–1705), and later with her second husband, Rev. David de Bonrepos (1654–1734). She married Rev. de Bonrepos in 1711.
About 1680, Thomas Stillwell, a well-to-do landowner, enlarged the house. His and Martha's descendants, the Brittons, owned it until the mid-18th century.
It was then acquired by Edward Perine in 1758. The Perine family owned it until 1913.The building has a shingled, sloping roof, and a Dutch jambless fireplace, which is very high and has a large stone hearth. A secret chamber opens into a room that features a ceiling with exceptionally large beams. Owned by Historic Richmondtown, the house is occasionally open to the public on a limited schedule or by appointment.
