The Greater Ridgewood Historical Society has set two hands-on November programs at the Vander Ende-Onderdonk House, 1820 Flushing Avenue: a candle making workshop on Sunday, Nov. 8, and a guided walking tour of Stockholm Street on Saturday, Nov. 14. Both start at the house's Onderdonk Avenue gate, and tickets are sold through the Society's website.

Hand-Dipped Candles on Nov. 8

The candle making workshop runs from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8. Participants make their own hand-dipped taper candles the old-fashioned way, and the session pairs the craft with a look at the history of lighting. Participants also explore the grounds of the house.

Admission is $20 per participant, and the Society says the fee covers all supplies. The workshop is recommended for ages 8 and up. It takes place outdoors and goes ahead rain or shine, so the Society asks people to dress for the weather.

Stockholm Street Walking Tour on Nov. 14

On Saturday, Nov. 14, the Society leads a walking tour of Stockholm Street from 1:30 to 3 p.m. The tour covers local history and the street's architecture. The Society describes Stockholm Street as the smallest historic district in New York City.

The group meets at the Onderdonk Avenue gate of the house at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person. The tour runs rain or shine, though the Society says it will cancel in extreme weather such as heavy rain, snow or high winds. In that case, ticket holders receive an email and a refund.

Why Everything Is Outdoors This Season

The museum inside the house is under construction, and the Society has paused its regular weekend house tours while that work continues. Public programs are still running, and they have moved to the back lawn and a tent on the property. For 2026, the Society says all events take place in the Onderdonk backyard, with entry through the Onderdonk Avenue gate rather than the front of the house.

The fall lineup has already included the Society's Harvest Festival on Oct. 11, with pumpkin picking, cider, crafts and a market, and International Archaeology Day on Oct. 17, when visitors could dig for artifacts. The November workshop and tour continue that calendar.

Looking Ahead to December

Two more programs are on the Society's schedule for December. St. Nicholas Day and a holiday market are set for Sunday, Dec. 6, from noon to 4 p.m. The day includes visits with St. Nicholas, a free goody bag, singing, a tree lighting, and mulled cider and holiday treats for sale, along with the story of the legend that Clement Moore made famous. General admission is $5, and children and Society members get in free. Guests are invited to bring an unwrapped gift to be given to local families.

On Sunday, Dec. 20, the Society hosts a free Winter Solstice gathering at 5 p.m. Visitors bring a lantern, a flashlight or a phone light for a parade around the grounds that ends with hot chocolate. The event is free for all ages, but the Society asks people to reserve a ticket so it can plan supplies. Both December events are outdoors.

About the House and the Society

According to the Society, the Vander Ende-Onderdonk House is the oldest Dutch Colonial stone house in New York City. Paulus Vander Ende of Flatbush bought the farm in 1709 and began building the current stone house, and the land had been occupied since at least 1660. The building served as a marker in the 1769 settlement of the boundary between Bushwick in Kings County and Newtown in Queens County. Arbitration Rock, the historic boundary marker between Brooklyn and Queens, still sits on the roughly 2 acre grounds. In the 1820s, Adrian Onderdonk added a small frame wing to the stone house.

Its features are typical of Dutch buildings of the period: a gambrel roof, Dutch doors, a central hallway and shuttered double hung windows.

The Greater Ridgewood Historical Society was formed by local residents in 1975 to save the house, raised money to rebuild it, and opened it to the public in 1982. The Society runs the museum, keeps a history and genealogy research library, and holds craft classes, lectures, tours and Dutch seasonal celebrations through the year. Members receive free entry to most public events.

How to Get There

The house is at the corner of Flushing and Onderdonk avenues in Ridgewood, on the border with Brooklyn. By subway, take the L train to Jefferson Street and walk about five blocks north along Flushing Avenue. By bus, the Q54 stops at Flushing and Metropolitan avenues, and the B57 stops at Flushing and Onderdonk avenues. The Society suggests checking for L train service changes before heading out. Food, alcohol and pets (other than service animals) are not allowed, and children must be with an adult.

Plan Your Visit

Candle making: Sunday, Nov. 8, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., $20, ages 8 and up. Stockholm Street walking tour: Saturday, Nov. 14, 1:30 to 3 p.m., $15. Both meet at the Onderdonk Avenue gate, 1820 Flushing Avenue, Ridgewood. Tickets are on the Society's events page at onderdonkhouse.org/events, and questions can go to the Society at (718) 456-1776.

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