This residence was built around 1888 by Roslyn carpenter Stephen Speedling who had a store on Mill Dam (still standing at 1374 Old Northern Boulevard.) Speedling later worked on restoring the Roslyn Grist Mill from 1916 to 1917. The Speedling family traces its roots back to a Hessian soldier named Francis Speedling who settled in Roslyn after the American Revolution.

The property was part of a land division being developed by Henry Western Eastman and his nephew Frederick C. Hicks. The house is an excellent example of Cottage Picturesque in the 1880s.

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Adapted from the 1998 House Tour Guide

That part of Roslyn Village bounded by West Shore Road, Old Northern Boulevard, Mott Avenue and the Flower Hill Village line, started to develop as an artisan's residential district during the late 19th century. This area has survived as Roslyn Village's "Residence C" Zoning District. Several mid-19th century houses survive, some of significant architectural merit. One, the Henry Western Eastman Cottage, at the east end of Mott Avenue, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. A few earlier houses, as #1100 Old Northern Boulevard, originally were farm houses on the south side of Old Northern Boulevard which were moved across the road in 1910 when it was widened to accommodate the tracks of the New York and North Shore Traction Company.

Much of the area was owned during the mid-19th century by Silas Mott who sold substantial parts of his holding to Henry W. Eastman and Benjamin D. Hicks in 1874 (Liber 440, page 89). Frederick M. Eastman, who inherited from his father, and Benjamin D. Hicks divided much of their holding into small lots which they sold for the construction of houses. In the absence of legal zoning they sometimes covenanted building and use requirements into the deeds.

On 6/1/1888 they sold a 50 by 100 feet lot to Estella M. Seaman, wife of Phineas Seaman of Roslyn (Liber 738, page 26), and specified that a house be built upon the land which would cost at least $500.00 and would be set back at least 30 feet from the highway. It is assumed that the Estella M. Seaman House #1 was built in the same year. A few days later, 6/21/1888, Mrs. Seaman bought a 50 feet square lot, immediately to the north upon which she built another house (TG 1989-1990) apparently for rental. We have designated the house currently under discussion as Estella M. Seaman House #1, simply because she bought it first. There may be additional houses owned by Estella Seaman in this district. These may be identified by future title searches.

Estella Seaman sold the house at 1155 Old Northern Boulevard to Humbert DeLape in 1922 (Liber 738, page 213). After this date, the property exchanged hands on a regular basis: DeLape sold to Joseph Marino in 1927 (Liber 1228, page 468); Marino to Jennie Antonelli et al in 1954 (Liber 5662, page 17); Antonelli et al to Richard G. Trabulsi in 1956 (Liber 6018, page 9): Trabulsi to Ronald Montheard in 1986 (Liber 9799, page 840); Montheard to Dr. Roger Gerry and Floyd Lyon in 1991. The property was conveyed to Ms. Paula Aridas in 1992 upon completion of renovations.