Bellmore Resident Attempts to Landmark Historical Home

There is a good amount of Bellmore history residing in the walls of 2396 Bellmore Ave., better known as the Stevens Home.

Resident Christine Keller presented her case to the Hempstead Town Landmarks Commission on why the Stevens House should be recognized as a landmark on Feb. 15.

"Their response was very positive," said Keller of the Landmarks Commission. "But, they needed to notify the current owners and beneficiaries of the Stevens Home and homes immediately surrounding it to determine if there is any opposition to landmarking before making a decision."

According to Keller, there was a follow-up meeting on March 22, however, one commission member was not in attendance, so a decision could not be made.

"The attorney for the beneficiaries was there and indicated that they had concerns reselling the property if landmarked. Yet, he, himself, said it could go either way," Keller said." So, the next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 12, 4:30 p.m. The commission is expected to make a recommendation that will then go to the town board for approval."

Keller has lived in Bellmore for 23 years and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores, and is also a lifetime member of the Historical Society of the Bellmores. She, along with friend Theresa Greene, had purchased a number of items from the Stevens Home in order to preserve some of the history.

"When attending the estate sale, Theresa purchased the family photo albums and father, Stan Stevens, work diaries," Keller said. "We both attended the second estate sale and purchased other items since there are no immediate family members and the home was left to friends, who did not take interest in keeping these personal items."

After researching and investigating the history of the home, Keller and Greene decided to apply for landmark designation. They connected with an organization called Long Island Traditions.

"They validated our findings – even had a taped interview with Stan Stevens," Keller said. "Long Island Traditions has attended the last two Landmark Commission meetings and is continuing to support our application."

The Bellmore Preservation Group is another group that has supported Keller's efforts to get the Stevens Home properly landmarked. The perservation group recently released the following statement:

"The Bellmore Preservation Group is endorsing and standing with this proposal. We feel the landmarking of The Stevens Home (2396 Bellmore Avenue) will continue the legacy of Bellmore Village [as] 'A Walk Down Memory Lane.'"

"The preservation group's views are clear to maintain the nature and cariture of the Bellmores. Our thoughts are if this home were not recognized as a landmark, it to as so many before, would fall prey to the wrecking ball. To become what, another vacant strip mall or two McMansions crammed on to a sub-divided lot?"

"The Bellmore Preservation Group is firm in promoting smart growth that enhances our community. Do we have a community center, a learning center, a true historical center? No, we do not -- this could be the future of the Steven's Home. So many came before us to create the Bellmore we love. It is time to pay true respect to their legacy, while enhancing and injecting new life into our community."

The following is Keller's submission to the town's Landmarks Commission. It gives a full description and history of the Stevens Home:

"The Stevens Home was built in 1923 – although foundation construction began as early as 1917 – by Charles Stevens, a man of German heritage (Sprague family).

"Stevens, a machinist by trade, ran the Bellmore Ferry Service to High Hill Beach  and owned three ferry boats. His wife, Pauline Annie managed The Breakers Hotel on High Hill Beach.

"The home was built with and for their son Stan (1896-1972) and his wife Lucy (1898-1974) who had a daughter, Joan (1933-2010). Stan, Lucy and their daughter Joan were Quakers and congregated at the Quaker Meeting House in Wantagh.

"Lucy Stevens was a Swiss immigrant who worked as a nanny on High Hill Beach. It was on High Hill Beach that she met Stan Stevens. Lucy’s ideas for the design of the Stevens Home came from the memories of her homeland and the Swiss Cottage Style architecture with unique characteristics. The home’s almost century-old picket fence, brick walkway, garage, fireplace, build-in furniture that includes daybed, window seat and caddy-corner cabinets still remain.

"The Stevens Home has a large parcel of land that included beautiful gardens with flowers, bushes and trees of the time period. It was planned, planted and maintained for decades with great care by Lucy and Joan Stevens. It represents a sampling of native Long Island flora and fauna along the original Bellmore shoreline.

"'Captain' Stan Stevens owned a tugboat business that had been involved in many historic building projects within the Bellmore community and on the South Shore of Long Island. His two tugboats were 'The Husky' and 'The Wrestler' (referred to as a bridge builder). Stan Stevens' tug boat business was involved in the building of the Wantagh Parkway to Jones Beach, moving brick and cement to build the Jones Beach Water Tower, dredging the land for the building of 'South' Bellmore, and the towing of steel and other work in the building of the Fire Island Causeway.

"Stan worked directly with Carl Koch and is given credit for his labors in the book Men of Steel – The Story of the Family That Built the World Trade Center (also documented in his work diaries).

"Stan was an active bayman and boat builder who was very involved in the local boating community. He owned a boat house on Barbara Road and a boat yard bordering Carlson’s on Public Highway in Bellmore (going south on Bellmore Avenue, first block on the left after 'Captains Inn').

"Stan also owned a classic sail boat named 'The Kid' that is now on display at the Sayville Maritime Museum. Its skiff, named after his daughter, was the 'Joanie.' He is well-known for his building of the community (literally and figuratively) and for the annual Stevens Clam Party at the Boat House.

"A recorded interview with Stan Stevens towards the end of his life is part of the Long Island Traditions, South Shore Estuary archives. In this interview, Stan offers a glimpse into his life and work. A notable statement made was: 'He had a tugboat like a cowboy has a horse.'

"Joan Stevens, daughter of Stan and Lucy, was raised in the Stevens home and lived there until she died in 2010. Her life as a member of the Bellmore community is well-documented in photo albums. Her home was left as a 'time capsule' providing us with a momentary look into Bellmore past (1930’s-1970’s) to the benefit of all those interested in the history and camaraderie representative in life along the original Bellmore shoreline.

"It is our goal that this family’s contributions to the vitality of the Bellmore community will not go unrecognized. Their home is an amazing representation of Bellmore’s past and represents the best in what Bellmore wants to preserve for its future. Their home is unique in its character, design and aesthetic beauty (home and property) and exemplifies how family life existed along the original Bellmore shoreline during the early part of this century.

"It is a gift that we would like to share with the Town of Hempstead in our mutual desire towards maintaining important landmarks such as the Stevens Home."