Bill Ketzer, Town of Bethlehem Historian

07/20/2026

I was thrilled to see the turnout for yesterday’s public reading of the Declaration of Independence, marking the 250th Anniversary of our nation’s birth. We chose that day because on July 19, 1776 our founding document was read publicly to local leaders, militiamen and area residents for the very first time.

Continental soldiers and those from the local regiments of the Albany County Militia were directed to attend, because General Washington knew it gave finality to the Revolution. It required every American to take a stand, to acknowledge themselves as either a Patriot or Loyalist the British Crown. As a result, many of the 40-plus soldiers residing in what would soon become the Town of Bethlehem were almost certainly in attendance.

The importance of this single-page, 1,300-word script cannot be understated. It contains all the arguments that inspired our Founding Fathers, making the case for self-government, warning against unchecked power, and clearly asserting that our rights do not come from government, but from our Creator.

As we listened to our readers yesterday, I was reminded of the excitement, fear and uncertainty our representatives, soldiers and families must have felt, understanding that by declaring independence, the road to freedom – viewed by Britain as an act of treason – would be long and difficult, and for many, permanently life altering.

I’m so grateful to all who spoke, attended and helped make it special. Because the promise of America is still special to me, upholding our foundational American ideals. It functions as a moral compass and standard of accountability, inspiring civil rights and upholding our democratic principles nationwide.

David VanLuven
David R DeCancio
Tom Schnurr
U.S. Representative Paul Tonko
Vicky Plotsky
Scott Bendett
Bethlehem Police Department
Slingerlands Fire

07/04/2026

Please join us on Sunday, July 19 at Bethlehem Town Hall for a reading of the Declaration of Independence!

Why July 19? Well, let’s just say things moved a lot slower in the 1700s. When Henry Knox drove 60 tons of artillery, in the middle of winter, from Fort Ticonderoga to General Washington in Boston following the battles at Lexington and Concord, it took almost two months. Of course, this route spanned 300 miles, including the entire length of Lake George and a nasty, 70-80 mile haul through the Berkshires, with all that gear on sleds pulled by horses and oxen (not too shabby, considering).

Likewise, the Declaration of Independence wasn’t signed by all 56 colonial delegates to the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. Two days prior, New York’s delegates abstained from the actual vote, since New York’s Third Provincial Congress had not formally authorized them to do so. They were simply unaware the Continental Congress voted for independence until July 9. Once word was received, ratification came the very next day (and our delegates signed the original document later that summer, when Congress reconvened).

On July 14, our Albany County delegates to the Third Provincial wrote to Albany’s Committee of Correspondence, describing the proceedings and enclosing a copy of the Declaration. It arrived on July 17, and arrangements were made to read it publicly to the residents of Albany and its surrounding areas at eleven o’clock in the morning on July 19. John Barclay, chair of the Albany Committee, stood on the steps of the old Stadt Huys (near today’s SUNY Administrative Building on Broadway) and read it aloud to all in attendance. When finished, the crowd roared, fired their muskets skyward and church bells rang in celebration, despite the massive uncertainty every one of them faced.

So… that’s why! Please join us Sunday, July 19 to hear our Declaration read aloud, just as it was 250 years ago to the day (and almost to the hour), for the public, and for the Republic. Plus, there will be hot dogs. 😀 Hope to see you there!

06/29/2026

The Bethlehem Oral History Project is excited to bring you the next installment of our narrator series, featuring Mr. John LaForte!

John has lived in Delmar for more than 60 of his 98 years, almost all of it in the 1966 ranch he bought brand new at Kenholm Gardens, with his wife Gloria. He is the first World War 2 veteran BOHP has interviewed since our inception in 2023.

Both sides of his family hail from San Giuseppe Jato, a mountainside village in Palermo, Sicily. In our interview, John recalls his early years in Frankfort and Albany, family, school and his enlistment in the U.S. Navy during World War II, which set him on a lifelong career in electrical engineering, from the US Navy Research Laboratory in Washington, DC, to Eastman Kodak in Rochester, and eventually a 30-year run at Schenectady’s world-famous General Electric campus.

We also learned about the chance meeting that resulted in John’s 66-year marriage to Gloria Mosher (1930-2019). The Mosher family has deep roots in our town – Gloria descended from Cornelius Mosher, a Dutchess County soldier of the Revolutionary War (Col. Frederick Weissenfels’ New York Levies) whose son Hugh moved to Bethlehem around 1805.

John later became involved in town government, helping to oversee neighborhood expansion into the town’s more rural hamlets as a member of the Bethlehem Planning Board.

Please enjoy his interview as much as we did… link in the comments!

06/23/2026

What a treat to join fellow BHA members and caretakers of the Oliver Burying Ground on Meads Lane to pay respects to Revolutionary War soldier Aaron Oliver and his extended family. Other long-time Bethlehem family names (Long, Leonard, Hotaling, Slingerland, Vanderheyden, Mead) are represented here, very close to where Bethlehem shares a border with New Scotland. History lovers from both towns recognize the significance of this farmland near the Vlomans Kill, especially with our nation’s 250th anniversary upon us.

This small plot – once surrounded by ornate, hand-wrought iron fencing and cornered by massive 18th century trees – is on private property maintained by Unionville Dutch Reformed Church in coordination with current landowners, and is not publicly accessible (please, no trespassing). Unionville members Paul Watson, Jr. and Jeff Mudge oversee the site’s routine care and are weighing options for raising and repairing stone markers broken from their bases. Both know quite a bit about local history as well!

Like many of Bethlehem’s soldiers of the American Revolution, Aaron served in the Albany County Militia, 3rd Regiment, under Captain John Vanderheyden. He directly descends from Colonel Philip Pieterse Schuyler (1628 –1683), the Dutch-born progenitor of the Schuyler family in America, on his mother’s side. The colonel’s son Pieter was the first mayor of Albany when the city was chartered in 1686. Pieter’s brother, Arent, was Aaron’s 2nd great grandfather and possibly his namesake.

According to Jeff, descendants referred to Aaron as “The Old Man,” even though he died at 36. His wife, Christiana Bradt, outlived him by more than 50 years and descends from Albert Andriessen Bradt, who arrived here in 1637 as one of Bethlehem’s earliest settlers. The oldest portion of the 18th century Oliver farmhouse, occupied by heirs throughout the 19th century, still stands in ruin nearby. Called the “Annie Mary House” by area residents, this may refer to Annie Mary Tewksberry, 2nd great-granddaughter of our patriot.

Interestingly, all the graves on this site face west, which contradicts traditional Christian burial practice that all should face east, so the deceased can face the rising sun on Judgement Day to meet their savior. We can only speculate as to why, but perhaps it is to allow the departed a view of the old homestead.

Thank you to the Unionville congregation and the current landowners for allowing us this great privilege!

06/21/2026

Really grateful to celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary with a “two-fer” at First Reformed Church of Bethlehem, with the extended family of Sgt. James Selkirk!

The progenitor of the Selkirk family in America, the young Scottish immigrant served as an officer in three different corps during the American Revolution. His service in the 2nd New York Regiment places him among the few within our borders who fought in General Washington’s Continental Army, since most enlisted in local regiments of the Albany County Militia. He witnessed history at the Battle of Saratoga (Bemis Heights), endured the hardships of winter quarters at Morristown, and was at Yorktown for the surrender of General Cornwallis. His discharge papers are personally signed by George Washington.

Soon after the war, he married Elizabeth Henry and settled in what soon became the Town of Bethlehem. Together they had ten children, and what a treat it was to meet so many direct descendants of those Selkirk family lines at their reunion this weekend, thanks to the hard work of Susan Leath. Susan currently serves as treasurer of Bethlehem Historical Association, but during her 15 years as town historian she cultivated lasting relationships with Selkirk family members, many of which contributed to the archival material on display for this wonderful event.

Shortly before his death in 1820, James Selkirk wrote a memoir detailing his life as a Continental soldier, and the original manuscript – still in family hands – was also on display for public viewing. This exceedingly rare account of a non-commissioned officer and soldier (less than 40 exist) was meticulously transcribed over the past several years by Robb Haberman, professor and historian of early America at Fordham University. After much anticipation, the work – James Selkirk’s Revolutionary War: The Memoir of a Continental Sargeant – was published in May. Robb graciously made the trip from NYC to greet Selkirk descendants, sign hard-copy first editions of this incredible work and engage in a public Q & A of our patriot and the historical significance of his lasting contribution to the birth of our republic.

06/17/2026

Please take an hour of your time this weekend and meet me at this decades-in-the-making event! Well worth the wait!

Mark your calendars for June 20!
Pre-ordering your copy of the book is a big boost to the author. Pop over here to do so.
https://www.westholmepublishing.com/book/james-selkirk-haberman/

03/30/2026

Huge congratulations to Gabby Sant’Angelo and all at Slingerlands’ Pine Hollow Arboretum on their March 12 nomination by the NYS Board for Historic Preservation to be designated as a National Historic District! This proposed district highlights the unique Mid-Century homes in the original residential enclave, each designed by noted Modernist architect Henry Blatner (he also lived there).

Blatner designed the award-winning Clarksville Elementary School, which was highlighted in trade publications nationwide for its innovative application of bilateral lighting, which ultimately drove changes in how schools were constructed. His work also includes the Albany Academy for Girls (1958) and many portions of AMC’s Medical College (1971).

Jewish families were only starting to explore suburban living in the 1940s-50s, so not many made Bethlehem home during that era. Albany liquor retailer Mortimer Schwartz served as an early forerunner, purchasing the Pine Hollow acreage from Abram and Louise LeGallez (their son Clayton founded LeGallez Electric, which is still in business today). Soon, the Stein, Blatner and Mendleson families followed, creating what was ostensibly the first Jewish neighborhood in Bethlehem.

We’ll let Pine Hollow tell the rest of the story, so for now enjoy this vintage shot of Sam and Lucille Stein’s home on the site (still in the family) and a few photos from a brisk AM sojourn to the arboreum this past week. If you’re a nature lover and haven’t experienced the beauty of this “hidden-in-plain-sight” gem, do yourself a favor and pay a visit!

03/29/2026

This old fire alarm box post from 1938 stood on the corner of Kenwood and Oakwood, across from BCMS when it was the high school. It withstood 80 winters before it was finally sawed out when the sidewalks were replaced. I may or may not have convinced the highway superintendent at the time to let me have the 100-pound obelisk of concrete and rebar for lawn art. This was long before my time as your historian. If. In. Fact. I. Did. That.

There were many of these in the Tri-Village area when the world was on the cusp of another brutal world war. When activated, the fire station received a signal by telegraph and you waited until the fire truck arrived to direct the team to the fire. According to the 1938 Tri-Village directory, this was Box 125.

While this one no longer stands, there is one last post remaining in town, tucked away near one of Delmar’s most popular gathering places. Do you know where it is?