Farmhands and Fishing

Over the years, Martin Van Buren enlarged his farm from 137 acres to 221 acres through three transactions. Throughout his ownership he relied on employees to perform the labor necessary to make Lindenwald’s acreage productive. In September of 1843 he purchased a 12.5 acre parcel, known as the south meadow, for $1225.50. The meadow and the area surrounding it are depicted in this detail of a rendering of Lindenwald as it looked about 1850. An ardent fisherman, Van Buren had two ponds constructed on this parcel and later stocked them with trout, pickerel and perch.