Van Loon was the earliest Europeansettler to the area, purchasing the land in 1685.[2] In 1688 he then gave the settlement its first name, Loonenburg. Only one wall of the original 1706 structure remains unchanged in the house.[2][5]
Jan's grandchild, John M. Van Loon, sold the family lands on 30 April 1800 to Isaac Northrup, who then developed them into a more complete village.[2]
^Cutter, William Richard; Reynolds, Cuyler (1913). "14"(PDF). Genealogical and Family History of Southern New York and the Hudson River Valley: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Building of a Nation . Vol. 3. Lewis Historical Publishing Company. p. 1112. ISBN9780806346755. OCLC423822035. Retrieved 8 March 2018. Jan built house in the lower part of what is now village of Athens a short distance north Black Rock on ground later occupied as shipyard by Matthias Van Loon A from the original house bearing the 1706 JVL gives the name of builder and the date of erection.
^ abcdPowers, Robert M.; Gobrecht, Larry E. (July 1979). "Village of Athens Multiple Resource Area"(PDF). National Register of Historical Places. United States Department of the Interior Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
^Darling, Herbert F.; Buhler, Kathryn C. (1964). New York State Silversmiths (First ed.). Eggertsville, New York: The Darling Foundation of New York State. p. 182. OCLC1008217497. VAN LOON, Jan Albany, N.Y. w.c. [worked circa] 1680
^"Historical Markers before 2000"(PDF). Association of Public Historians of NYS. Groton, NY. September 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2018. GREENE ATHENS, TOWN OF JAN VAN LOON HOUSE BUILT 1706 BY JAN VAN LOON CHIEF HOLDER LOONEBURGH PAT. 1688. ATHENS VILLAGE FIRST CALLED LOONEBURGH 1700-1749 ON NYS 385 AT ATHENS