Barnardus Van Leer House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barnardus Van Leer House |
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Dr. Van Leer's historical house
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| General information | |
| Location | Marple Township |
| Coordinates | 39°57′51″N 75°21′41″W / 39.96423°N 75.36131°W |
| Estimated completion | 1742 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Van Leer Family |
The Barnardus Van Leer House is a very old and important home. It was built in the colonial style, which was popular when America was first being settled. This house was made for Dr. Bernardhus Van Leer. It is one of the last remaining historic houses in Marple Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
History of the Van Leer House
This special house has a long history. The land it sits on was once part of a large estate. This estate belonged to the Van Leer family. They came to America from Germany in 1698.
Building the House
The Van Leer family received the land around 1720 or 1721. Dr. Bernardhus Van Leer then built the house. He finished it around 1742. Dr. Van Leer got help from his father-in-law, William Branson. William Branson was an "ironmaster," meaning he was skilled in working with iron.
Other Names and Nearby Buildings
Local historian Lucy Simler said the house was sometimes called the Black Mansion. It was also known as the Van Leer mansion. She also mentioned that some people thought it might have been built on the site of an even older building. Or, perhaps, it used materials from an earlier structure.
The Van Leer family also owned a nearby log cabin. This cabin is now located near Conestoga High School.
