286 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



tily wooded ravines, through which a brook meanders pleasantly, and 

 threaded by foot paths, ingeniously contrived — so as sometimes to afford 

 secluded walks, and at others to allow fine vistas of the broad expanse 

 of river scenery."" 



Over the porch, is the following inscription : 



frrctrt 



^111110 1650, 



Bdniilt bi) 

 iNslntt8t0tt jlming, 



<&lttt0 1835. 



Geo. Harvey, 

 Architect. 



Above the peaked turret of the portal, glitters a horse at full gallop, 

 once the weathercock of the great Van der Hyden palace at Albany; 

 the other, upon the eastern gable, formerly surmounted the Stadt House 

 of New Amsterdam. 



The interrior is in perfect harmony with the exterior design of this 

 quaint and venerable edifice. In the library are preserved the elbow 

 chair and writing desk of Diedrich Knickerbocker. 



The " Van Tassel House " occupies the site of "Wolfert's Roost," 

 which was built by Wolfert Ecker, an ancient Dutch burgher of this 

 town. 



In 1697, we find recorded the name of Jan Ecker, first accepted dea- 

 con of the Dutch Church, Sleepy Hollow, which office he appears to 

 have held for several years. By his wife Magdelentje, Jan Ecker left 

 issue, Wolfert, Cornelis and others. 



The will of Wolfert Ecker, bears date 1753, "wherein he bequeaths 

 to his son Stephen, a cow, or the worth thereof, more than the others, 

 for his birth right; and to the child of his grand-son, Wolfert Ecker, son 

 of Sybout, twenty shillings, beside other bequests to the remainder of 

 his children, viz.: Sybout, Abram and Maretje." & A branch of this 

 family still resides in the neighborhood. From the Eckers, this property 

 passed by marriage to the gallant family of the Van Tassels, who figure 

 so conspicuously in the writings of Diedrich Knickerbocker. 



a Downintf's Kural Architecture, 335. 



b Kec. Su ace, X. V. lib. xlx. 29. 



