8. Martin Van Buren
Born December 5, 1782, in Kinderhook, New York, a year after America had established its de facto independence in battle, Van Buren became the first president who had never been a British subject. Located in the upper Hudson River Valley, Kinderhook was a Dutch community whose inhabitants still spoke Dutch and attended the Dutch Reformed Church. The Van Burens operated a family farm and supplemented their income by running a tavern from their Dutch Colonial clapboard farmhouse. The home was the busy center of Van Buren’s life and served as a gathering spot for the community, a political nexus for the area, and a popular stopping point for travelers. The structure, unfortunately, burnt down years ago, and the site is now designated by a marker.
-Andrew B. Leiter
The Van Buren site has been completely eclipsed by a suburban neighborhood. This was the first site that was actually now in someone's front yard. With nothing original at the site - not even an unkempt spot between the manicured lawns - it was difficult to find pictures. With these kinds of sites, I try to focus on images that reveal the passage of time, hence the cracked pavement, fallen leaves, and flowers. Late afternoon light, as well, speaks to the fleeting nature of time.
-Matthew Albritton