The Lee MacLellan Family Story
Living in Bethlehem PA at "Brae Springs"
Like many returning veterans from WW II, Lee settled into a life of prosperity and peace that would last the rest of his life.
In 1948 Lee and Irma acquired a 250 year old Pennsylvania farm house they called "Brae Springs" for the Scottish word brae, meaning hillside. It was located "in the country" on the southern side of South Mountain in Bethlehem. (Lehigh University was on the north side). The house was three stories high and had 18 inch stucco walls. The driveway went right by the main entrance on the second floor. On the third floor were the guest bedrooms where their three daughters and their families stayed when they visited.
Nest to the house was a huge two level red barn.The main level was where the farm machinery was stored, and horses were housed in the stables below that. I remember peering into the barn thinking it was a dark and mysterious place.
My immediate family visiting Brae Springs in the spring. From left to right: Cathy Clark, Andrew Clark, Irma MacLellan, David Clark, and Lee Maclellen. In the front is Scott Clark.
The "Brae Springs property had a 3 story stucco house (center), and an old red barn (on the right). Also included was a gardener's cottage and workshop, apple orchards on the far left, and a white fenced bed for vegetables. There was also a creek at the base of the property. Lee and Irma purchased the 11 acres of land, including the house, in 1948 for $17,500. The house and barn were of original Dutch design and construction.
A lithograph of the Brae Springs House. This shows the back side, which faced south, down the hill. The driveway snaked from the front side, splitting to go left around the barn, and right to the back of the house.
A highlight of going to Brae Springs when it was cold was our dads taking us for a campout with hot dogs and cokes. It wasn't much of a hike; we just crossed the street and went a few yards up the mountain.