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Show Historic Houses of Revolutionary Heroes Landmarks in the East Are Rapidly Disappearing Befote the March ol Progress Three Residences That Belonged to Patriotic Citizens of New York. In theso' times when various patriotic patri-otic Boalctles aro having their hands full ln keeping ancient landmarks from tho kindling wood dealer, the historical old homesteads in and about Now York city hnvo on added Interest. Inter-est. One of tho most notable of theso Is tho old Stevens homestead, which overlooks tho Hast River at Astoria, It was whon frequented by peoplo ol wcnlth and fashion a century ngo. Within Bight of tho Stevens house, at tho intersection of Main street and Fulton avenue, Astoria, stands a long, low building, supposed to havo been built by William Kapelyea many years beforo tho Revolution. It Is to-day owned by his descendants. In anto-Hcvolutlon times thero was Rapelyea Homestead. L. I. It was built by Oon. Ebenezor Stevens In 1797. Qcn. Stovcns was born at Salem, Mass. When Indignation against England Eng-land stirred old Boston town to Its famous Tea Party, ho was ono of tho patriotic "Indians" who "poured tea." Whon war broko out ho was ono of tho first to Join tho Revolutionary couso and rose rapidly ln rank until at tho battlo of Saratoga ho was second In commnnd. At tho close of tho Rovo-i Rovo-i lutlon, whllo looking around for a I favorablo slto near Now York for a homo, he was struck with the beauty a ferry across tho East River at that point and tho house was used as a hostelry. Tho taproom, with all Us quaint fixtures, ls preserved ln Its original form by tho present owners, as well as one of tho rooms which was kept for peddlers and tho poorer guests. Instead of beds this room is arranged with bunks something after the manner of tho forecastle of a ship. Tho Rapelyea house stands in tho way of contemplated street Improvements Improve-ments nnd It ls probablo that It will soon be moved. The Mooro homestead on tho old Built by the Moores. or a green tcrraco that aroso from tho eastern banks of tho East River. Across tho river, over Hell Gate nnd verdant Blackwell's Island, stretched that then beautiful part of Manhattan Island now embraced within tho limits of Harlem. Thero Gen. Stevens built his homestead. In tho war of 1812 ho was placed ln command of I1 art Stevens at Hell Gate, nnd he served until tho closo of hostilities. Ono of Gen. Stevens' daughters became be-came Mrs. Schcrmcrhorn; anothor, Mrs. Rhlnelander. Of tho sons bremsht up ln tho old homestead, Dr. Aloxandor H. Stovcns, was tho first i Bowery road ln tho samo neighborhood neighbor-hood was built ln about 1700 by a a grandson of tho Rev. John Moore, an Episcopal clergyman who died In Nowtown in 1C57. This house often changed hands during tho Revolution, somotlmes being in possession of ono sldo, sometimes some-times tho other. After tho closo of tho war a British officer In a lottor to a friend, telling of the merry winter evening's spent In Newtown makes particular mention men-tion of tho good cheer provided at tho Mooro houso. Tho Mooro houso ls ln a good state of preservation, and tho gnarled old ! i' - i ' t ' i hi Gen. Stevens' House. prosldent of tho Collego of Physicians nnd Surgeons In Mnnhattan; Samuol Stevens becamo an .alderman; Austin Stovcns wns president of tho Chamber of Commerce and of tho Bank of Com-merco, Com-merco, whllo Byara Kerboy Stovcns continued his rcsldcnco In tho old famous mansion nnd followed up tho business of Importer of forolgn wines established by his father. Ho married Miss Gallatin, dnughtor of Albert Gallatin, Gal-latin, at difforent times Minister to England and Franco, secretary of tho treasury and secretary of state. Tho houso has undorgone fow changes since It was built, and to-day, though weather-scurrcd and strangely out of placn among tho surrounding factories. It ! very much tho samu as """"""l --ill' III! , , applo trees In Its orchard still hear fruit |