NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Mention the name Riker and the first thing that probably comes to mind is the infamous city jail.
"This is the original Riker Farmhouse," said Marion Duckworth Smith. "The island was part of this farm. The Rikers were among the first Dutch settlers. They were a prominent New York family. They settled here in 1656. They obtained a land grant from Gov. Peter Stuyvesant."
Duckworth Smith has lived in the original Rikers farmhouse in East Elmhurst, Queens, for 40 years. It's right across the street from the entrance to the jail that bears its name.
"This is the oldest private home in New York City," she added. "It's the only historical landmark that someone lives in. I live here."
She spent years scraping paint and ripping up linoleum to reveal wide plank floors, hand hewn beams and the original hearth.
She said she got to know the descendants through a treasure trove of documents, journals and letters discovered in the attic.
“Lavinia and Jacob and Abraham [...] they're all buried here in my backyard,” she said.
In fact, the backyard is the final resting place for 132 Riker descendants, as well as Duckworth Smith’s late husband.
"Michael's gone for 12 years," she said. "I'm trying to maintain the place. It's hard. I'm 82, but I'm still here and I'm going to carry on the legacy and I'm not leaving."
She gives tours of her home, which is also filled with antiques and theater memorabilia. Proceeds help with upkeep and preservation.
"I own a piece of New York history and that I'm making it live on and I hope to continue to have it live on," Duckworth Smith said. "It's been my privilege and I feel lucky and I feel this has been my greatest accomplishment."
Related
Related
