One of the oldest homes in the country is up for sale once again in the quiet and bucolic borough of Saddle River. The Van Buskirk Home, located at 164 E. Saddle River Road, which traces its roots to the Algonquin tribe in the 17th century, has been listed for $2,799,500, bringing a piece of Garden State heritage back to the market amid a bull run in the affluent suburbs of Bergen County.
Christina Gibbons of the Christina Gibbons Group is marketing the five-bedroom, four-bathroom Dutch Colonial-style property built in 1707.
This 5,053-square-foot residence, which first served as a house of worship for early Lutheran settlers, has been preserved to retain several original elements from its construction, including hand-hewn beams, 13-foot beamed cathedral ceilings, and four fireplaces, making it a distinct landmark within the borough’s Center Historic District.
The residence has been a family heirloom, sold only twice in more than 300 years. It underwent a substantial renovation in the 1990s, which expanded the living quarters’ footprint and added modern amenities, including a full chef’s kitchen, radiant-heated floors, and new plumbing and electrical systems.
The first level of the living quarters features a home office and a primary suite with a steam shower, while the second level includes four bedrooms and bathrooms.
The property’s expansive grounds feature a heated barn with two car bays, horse stalls, and a second floor suitable for a gym, studio, or venue. There is also a pool, tennis court, and a pond with a waterfall within the grounds of the estate.
“164 E Saddle River Road [is] more than a home—it is a piece of early American history, appealing to a buyer who values legacy over convention,” Gibbons told Jersey Digs. “This [residence] is [for] someone who sees themselves as a steward of a historically significant property, drawn to authenticity, character, and story rather than new construction.”
The history of the 2.4-acre property goes back to 1675. Dutch settler Albert Zabriskie purchased a 1,000-acre tract of land from the local Algonquin tribe. Less than 30 years later, Thomas Van Buskirk acquired the land, and his family became some of the first settlers in Saddle River. While Thomas never actually lived in Saddle River, his son Andries Thomas Van Buskirk later built the Red Sandstone residence after Thomas passed away and divided the tract of land among his five sons.
The Van Buskirk home has been a part of a community that existed for nearly two centuries before the borough was incorporated in 1894 and 70 years before the Declaration of Independence was authored. In fact, the estate sits along the route George Washington used to rally his troops during the Revolutionary War and is located near other Van Buskirk family homes and the historic Saddle River Inn, all of which date back to the 18th century.
Archival photos of the Van Buskirk family’s influence on Bergen County—including the family’s theater, shops, and the Van Buskirk-Ackerman estate—can be found on the Vintage Bergen County Facebook page linked here.
