Historical Society: The Van Alen Home

The Van Alen home has been the centerpiece of the hamlet of DeFreestville since its completion in 1793. The house was initially constructed for one of the first representatives in Congress for Rensselaer County and his family, and remained in the Van Alen family for 100 years. Sam Swanson, Town Historian during his tenure at the home for 20 years from the 1970s to the 1990s, restored the house with a group of people who later became prominent in their fields.  Sam sold the house to Karen Hartgen in 1995.  Since that time Karen’s business, Hartgen Archeological Associates, has occupied the Van Alen house and has become identified with it.

Presented by Walter Wheeler is the Senior Architectural Historian at Hartgen Archeological Associates. Program sponsored by the Greenbush Historical Society.