The Printzhof | |
 View of the site | |
   | |
| Location | Taylor Ave. and 2nd St.,Essington,Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 39°51′39.8″N75°18′11.35″W / 39.861056°N 75.3031528°W /39.861056; -75.3031528 |
| Built | 1643 |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000661 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966[1] |
| Designated NHL | November 5, 1961[2] |
| Designated PHMC | Monday, June 28, 1948 |
The Printzhof, located inGovernor Printz Park inEssington, Pennsylvania, was the home ofJohan Björnsson Printz, governor ofNew Sweden.
In 1643, Johan Printz moved his capital fromFort Christina (located in what is nowWilmington, Delaware) toTinicum Island. At that time Fort Gothenburg was established in addition to Printz's dwelling and headquarters. Two years later a fire swept over the newly established settlement. The Printzhof was reconstructed more solidly and lavishly. The two-story log structure contained lumber sent from Sweden, glass windows and lavish draperies.[3]
Johan Björnsson Printz, his wife and younger children returned to Sweden during 1653. TheDutch West India Company subsequently captured the Swedish colony in 1655.Armegott Printz, the eldest daughter of Governor Printz, had married his successor, Lt.Johan Papegoja. She remained at The Printzhof even after the Dutch conquest. During 1662, she sold the estate for a partial down payment with the remainder due when she reachedThe Netherlands. When payment was refused, she returned to reclaim possession of her property. Ten years later in 1672, the Governor and Council ruled Armegott Printz should be in possession of the property. She subsequently sold the estate a second time and returned to Sweden where she died on November 25, 1695, atLäckö Castle.[4]
Today, the Printzhof's stone foundations are the only remains of the settlement. The Printzhof site is located near the intersection of Taylor Avenue and Second Street in Essington, Pennsylvania. The site was declared aNational Historic Landmark in 1961.[2][5]
The farmstead from the formerNew Sweden Farmstead Museum inBridgeton,New Jersey, was moved to the site of The Printzhof in Governor Printz Park and reconstructed from 2019 to 2020, and officially dedicated on June 12, 2022.[6][7]
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