Register of Historic Sites

31 Carterette Road (Piermont Road north)

32 Closter Publick Road
(Piermont Road south)

21 Conklin-Sneden House

18 Concklin's Cider Mill & Quarry Site

14 Abraham Cooper House & Blacksmith Shop Site

13 Joseph DuBois House

 7  Gesner-Conklin Burying Ground

13A John Henry Gesner Homestead Site

    Nicholas Gesner House
(in Palisades NY)

 6  James Gowdy House

24 Haring-Corning House
(Abraham D. Haring House) Rose Haven School

 3  Abraham A Haring House

24 Abraham D. Haring House (Haring- Corning House), Rose Haven School

26 Jacob Haring House

 1  John A. Haring House
& Barn

23 "Pegasus Club"
(A Ryker-R B Sloat House)

24 Rose Haven School

22 Ryker-Mabie-Conklin-
Sneden House

23 A Ryker-R B Sloat House, "Pegasus Club"

21A G Ryker - C Sneden House Site & Ice Pond

30 Rockleigh Road
(Snedens Landing Road) 

31 Piermont Road north (Carterette Road)

32 Piermont Road south
(Closter Publick Road)

33 Rockleigh Borough Hall

30 Rockleigh Road
(Snedens Landing Road)

24 Rose Haven School
(Abraham D. Haring House}

20 Sneden-Happel House

27 Moses T Sneden House

25 Sloats Saw Mill Ruins 

30 Snedens Landing Road (Rockleigh Road)

11  Henry Tory House I

 9  Henry Tory House II

16 Van Wickel-Moore House

29 Washington's Troop Encampment Site

    Willow Road

          Rockleigh Borough is rural in character with large open fields and meadow areas, natural glens, and dense wooded slopes that extend from the eastern side of the Borough up to the top of the Palisades ridge in Alpine Township, NJ. Occasional small waterfalls spill over the steeper inclines and drain into the Sparkill Brook which winds throughout the entire area. The woods provide a sanctuary for a plethora of bird species, Red and Gray fox, raccoon, deer, reptiles, and small wildlife. These natural aesthetics provide a park-like setting for the collection of historic old homes that dot the Boroughs two main roads.

          Many of the old dwellings are related through their architecture and genealogy of the families who built them. The traditional heritage of Bergen County is reflected in the architecture of the Dutch Colonial style sandstone farmhouse and the Dutch style clapboard frame dwelling. Most of these buildings are situated on large tracts of land ranging from 2 - 15 acres. This large acreage stemming from the early agricultural and dairy history of the area, which existed until the early 1940's. In the early 18th century, a 12-acre lot was consider the minimum necessary to provide a family with a living of the land. On the western slope of the Palisades, these consisted on a relatively level area of cultivatable land and for building a homestead, upland pastureland, and forested woodlots on upper slopes.

          The earliest farmhouses in the Rockleigh Historic District are typically Dutch, particularly the 18th century structures. These 1½ story gambrel-roofed red sandstone dwellings are indigenous to the Hudson Valley and Northeast New Jersey region. Rockleigh Borough has four good examples of this 18th century-early 19th century Dutch style of architecture. While all but the John A. Haring house have been significantly altered, they still present a visual exterior impression of Dutch style and have various original 18th century details and hardware as well as later Federal and Greek Revival elements, indicating continuous usage and development of the houses.

          Perhaps the most significant structure in the district, however, is the small Dutch form barn which was built in 1806. It is of the traditional three-bay Dutch barn plan with wagon doors on both gable ends which open up to a threshing floor flanked by storage and animal isles originally entered from the outside by doors at the corners of the gable end. As only a few of these barns still exist in New Jersey, particularly in this condition, the immediate association of this barn with the nearby John A. Haring house (1805) makes this farm an unparalleled document of a Dutch farm complex.

          As of 1982, there were 29 listed sites and two historic roads located in the Rockleigh Historic District. Of the sites, six are 18th century, five date from the early half of the 19th century, seven date from the second half of the 19th century, three are from the early 20th century, eight are mid 20th century. Between 1982 and 2000,  22 modern structures have been built. The recent structures are all residences set back a considerable distance from the road and are either in colonial style or provided with sufficient natural cover as to limit aesthetic encroachment. The styles of the majority of 20th century structures may be described as "Early American", "Dutch Colonial" or "Rural" architecture and thereby contribute to the traditional character of the historic district.

Bergen County Historic Sites Survey - Borough of Rockleigh - 1981-1982 
Bergen County Office of Cultural and Historic Affairs

Compiled by E. W. April, 2002

Background Music: "Come All ye Fair and Tender Ladies" Courtesy of Barry Taylor