John Stevens House

John Stevens House

On July 2, 1851, Mount Vernon’s founder John Stevens, moved his family into the photographed house built by Sylvanus Purdy in 1849. He purchased it at the time his Association took possession of the five Eastchester farms. It became known as the “Stevens House.”  It was originally built as a farmhouse along the old Mile Square Road from St. Paul’s Church to Yonkers. Located at 29 West Fourth Street, the property, bordered on the west by Sixth Avenue was in the center of a charming rural setting nearly overshadowed by a magnificent ancient elm tree, an attraction in its own right. Some called it the “(City) Charter Elm”.  For years, school children called it “George Washington’s house.” Due to disease, it was cut down in 1953. It is across the street from the Shelton Doles Center.