| OCR Text |
Show Relic of '76 Must Go have been incorporated Into the present pres-ent building, has been celebrated In many legendary stories of Stnten Island hfstory. So legendary are some of these stories that It has been Impossible to verify them. It was In the latter part of the Revolution that Gen. Willium Howe, commander of the British forces In the New Tork area, quartered some of his si a IT officers in the Rlnck Horse. General Howe himself occupied occu-pied a house across the road, known as the Rose and Crown, and It was here thnt on July 4. 177(3, he read the Declaration ot Independence. At thnt time, history tells us, he remarked: "That document has been signed by very determined men." The I!nse and Crown long ago suffered suf-fered the fate now destined for the lilnrk Horse. The appearance of the place hns changed considerably since the days of 7(1. Still standing are three of the old rooms the old tavern was a very small plate which now are utilized as living room, parlor and din: lug room. Additions have been built from time to time, among them h comparatively modern dance hall. The original wooden sign, which bore the figure of a black horse nnd which Is now so wentherbenten that only the faintest of markings can he discerned. Is In the possession of Mrs. Curry, who has refused to part with It despite de-spite the pleas of a number of his torlcnl societies. Il Is related that on the occasion of a review of troops by Lord Richard Howe, brother of General Howe, n New tork. The relentless march of progress, ontll recently sparing of the older landmarks, which seemed secure se-cure In the remoter regions of Stnten Hand, shortly will wipe out one of the Inst remaining relics of Revolutionary Revolu-tionary days still standing within the limits of the city of New Tork. The I5lack Horse tavern, at the Intersection In-tersection of Amhoy and Richmond roads. New Dorp, Statcn Island, shortly short-ly will be razed to make way for the widening of Richmond road. Condemnation Con-demnation proceedings will be started "on nd (he building will be razed when the maps are finished and the contracts awarded by the borough of Richmond. The present owner of the faded nnd rambling frame structure which housed rirlllsh officers during the Revolution Is Mrs. Catherine C. Curry It became her property after the death of her husband. Patrick Curry, who went to Slnten Island more than f':rly years ago and opened a public house where more than one not too elderly resident can recall having stnpped o partake of the cup that cheers. Since Volstead dnys the house his been maintained as a private dwelling. Iteciiuse the Intersection at which the hoiiKo stands has long been a blind coiner and a peril to motorists the Improvement contemplated by the city became Imperative. A triangular slice of hind, it will be cut Into two .i leies. one part bebig n-''1 widen VlVliinond road and the other to form '"small plaza. The old tavern, portions of which v staff officer mounted his handsome horse to escort his superior nnd that the horse took fright, dashing itself and its rider against a high rock and killlns both At that moment the house. Iiiiherto unnamed, was christened the Black Horse by fellow officers who witnessed the tragedy. William T Davis, Stuten Island tils torlnn, recalled that for a short period of years prior to the put-chase of the building by 1'iitiidi Curry It was used as a post office, and residents of the rni'fll district enrnp from nmir unfl rur to receive their mall. . It Is told, without verification, that MaJ. John Andre, the officer delegated to assist In the treachery of Benedict Arnold, stopps-d at the Black Horse and executed his will there before starting out on his mission. |
