New Article about the Hadley House

[ndembowski]

I created a new “articles” section of the website for longer pieces of writing.  My first one up there is about my attempt to solve the mystery of the just what is the oldest house in The Bronx.  Local historians have always thought that it could be a house in North Riverdale–the Hadley House.  The article is quite long so don’t dive in unless you are sitting somewhere comfortable!  I couldn’t resist writing about the fascinating history of the place that I learned along the way–which includes a skirmish between French and German soldiers.

Feel free to comment here if you’d like.

[Dorothy Dewitz]

Very interesting; thanks for all the research.  I will go walk past the house soon.

Dott Dewitz

[ndembowski]

I am not sure how many history geeks took the time to read my deep dive into the history of the Hadley House at 5122 Post Road but I just came across this clipping with some interesting information.  It was written at the time that the house was being remodelled by Dwight Baum, the Fieldson architect.  The Hadley House is another local building that I am thinking about.  While there are cars in the parking lot, there does not appear to be anyone living there.  The roof has holes and the paint is falling off.  It is landmarked but my understanding is that a building can lose its landmark status if not kept up.  Anyway, the article claims that the house is older than the Van Cortlandt House, which would make it the oldest in the county:

[Thomas Casey]

It is always interesting to read various articles about the Hadley House at different time periods.  I also love looking at the changing views over the years.  Sadly, some images come to us without a date and we have to guess.   For all those novices out there,  try looking at google street views and then selecting a street view from 2007 or 2013 or 2020 .  Even during a short time period, many changes occur.

[Thomas Casey]

[Thomas Casey]

[Thomas Casey]

[Thomas Casey]

BOLTON – INDIAN PATHS THE ALBANY POST – ROAD , ONCE THE HUDSON … Photograph by E. F. Coffin 1922.  Note: The view is actually Southbound.

[Thomas Casey]

Maybe Coffin had it right, but the publisher reversed the image

[ndembowski]

I am reviving this old thread because the Hadley House is for sale!  $2.25 million will get you a city landmark that is older than the United States (although the exact date of its construction is a real mystery).  Here is the deep dive I wrote about the house: https://kingsbridgehistoricalsociety.org/the-hadley-house-at-5122-post-road/

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