Where Brooklyn's battle began: The story of the Old Stone House
PARK SLOPE, Brooklyn (WABC) -- Tucked inside Washington Park in Park Slope, the Old Stone House stands as a quiet but powerful link to Brooklyn's earliest days -- where colonial life, Revolutionary War history, and even baseball heritage intersect in one small but storied footprint.
Originally built in 1699 by Dutch settler Claes Vechte, the structure began as a farmhouse along the banks of the Gowanus Creek, in what was then a rural farming community established on land once inhabited by the Lenape people.
Thick stone walls and a strategic location would soon place the home at the center of one of the most pivotal moments in American history.
That moment came during the Battle of Brooklyn -- the largest battle of the Revolutionary War.
On August 27, 1776, British forces advanced on American troops, and fierce fighting converged around the house. In a dramatic last stand, a group of roughly 400 Maryland soldiers launched repeated attacks against a much larger British force to delay their advance, allowing General George Washington's army time to retreat.
Though many of those soldiers were killed, their sacrifice is widely credited with helping preserve the Continental Army -- and the future of the American Revolution.
The original house did not survive into modern times. It was destroyed in 1897, and for decades the site remained largely forgotten.
In the 1930s, however, the building was reconstructed using some of its original stones, slightly repositioned within what is now J.J. Byrne Playground. Today's structure is a careful recreation of the original Vechte-Cortelyou House, preserving its historic footprint while serving a new purpose.
But the Old Stone House's story doesn't end with the Revolution.
In the late 19th century, the surrounding grounds became Washington Park, home to early professional baseball. The house itself even served as the clubhouse for the Brooklyn Superbas - later known as the Brooklyn Dodgers - tying the site to another iconic chapter of New York history.
Today, the Old Stone House operates as a historic interpretive center and community hub. Visitors can explore exhibits on the Revolutionary War, colonial Brooklyn, and the neighborhood's evolution, while the space also hosts concerts, lectures, school programs, and cultural events.
More than just a preserved building, the Old Stone House reflects layers of New York's past - from Indigenous land and Dutch settlement to wartime sacrifice and the rise of America's pastime.
In a borough constantly reinventing itself, it remains a rare place where centuries of history converge - right in the middle of a neighborhood park.
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