The developers of the The Spinney at Van Dyke have graciously agreed to host an archology open house at the Bradt-Oliver House this Friday. Stop by between 10 and 4 and chat with the archaeologists from Hartigan Archeological Associates about their data recovery project.
I posted here about the house back in 2017 - pop over for a quick read and some great old pictures from the Leonard family.
https://bethlehemnyhistory.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-bradt-oliver-house.html
I'll be at the open house too and will try to answer your local history questions. I'll have copies of the old maps that show the farm. That would be the 1767 map where it is listed as Adrian Bratt. The 1854 indicates J. Oliver and the 1866 says P.H. Bradt.
The three families associated with the property, Bratt (or Bradt), Oliver and Leonard, all have deep roots in Bethlehem history.
While Ralph and Lillian Leonard moved there in the early 1920s with their two sons Irvin and Harold, it looks like they are directly connected to the Olivers through Ralph's aunt Susan who married John H. Oliver. Who just might, might, be the John Oliver on the 1854 map, altho he would have only been 14 so a tenuous connection at best. I haven't yet been able to determine John Oliver's parents, but I am wondering if his mother was a Bradt - more research per usual!
Anyway, the farm remained in the Leoard family until the Spinney acquired it in the 2000s.
Hope to see you on Friday!
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