Owner of Hickory Lane Cottage Destroyed by Fire Will Rebuild

Last Friday night, Angelo Mazzella locked up his cottage at 91 Hickory Lane at 8:30 p.m. and returned to his home in New Rochelle. He went to bed.

By 11 p.m. the cottage had completely burned to the ground.

"It was just shocking to hear that, after my husband had just left a few hours ago, it was gone," Yvonne Mazzella told Patch today.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated by the Westchester County Cause and Origin Team.

The house had no furniture in it, which may have led to its quick collapse, said Bedford Fire Chief Joanne Aquilino.

According to Mazzella, the cottage had just been vacated by a tenant of 16 years, who relocated to Greenwich two months ago. The Mazellas inherited the tenant, plus the cottage, when they bought the 20-acre property 16 years ago. They planned to build a house there but scrapped the plan after making presentations to Bedford's planning board years ago and finding the tax burden too high.

The property boasts trees and flowers not indigenous to Bedford, including more than 40 kinds of dogwoods, according to Mazzella. They were just beginning to enjoy the land this summer, she said.

"My husband bowhunts on the property, my grandkids play on the swing. I'm into landscaping, and I love the lilacs, cypress pines, ferns, and copper beech trees on the property," she said.

The estate was formerly owned by the Miche family of New York City, who bought the property in the 1930s. The Mazzellas plan to rebuild a cottage and eventually sell the parcel.

"I think we'll put a sprinkler system in the house," said Mazella.

In the meantime, Aquilino recommends that curious residents stay away from the site, which has attracted many spectators since last weekend. Structural damage has made it an unsafe place to be, she said.

Mazella was surprised at how much attention Bedford residents paid to the fire. She said she had to put up yellow police tape, but still, people just kept on coming.

"One woman came in white sneakers carrying a white bag, and I'm guessing she was in her 70s. I told her it was unsafe and she just said 'I know, but I'm just nosy, honey.'"