And my neighbor across the street, who had lived there forever, she comes over again with a couple of little plants for me. They were some kind of jewelry like that but I dont remember what it was. And she said, George, you have so much with design and such, I want you to take over the wallpaper department and the fabric department. I did fantastic for the store. That woman, she lived in riding clothes! Well. See Photos. And all the time when all the lilacs would come in the spring, and the whole place would smell of lilacs, its gorgeous, still is. Mon-Fri, 7am-6pm MDT . Where all the servants lived. If it wasnt for Mrs. Mackey across the street telling me about the funeral, I would have never known. Find your ancestry info and recent death notices for relatives and friends. Burke: Well, if she left them there, she had to come back as a ghost and tell me that they were there! I bought another restaurant, didnt I? You know, nobody wanted to end it but nobody wanted to, say, Lets do it. Daller: And when he wasnt doing that, he was horseback riding because he loved to ride and thats kind of segued himself to the Seguine House and to Bess. Thanks very much to you. And thats where we are today. Staten Island, Richmond County, NY Genealogy Site - Staten Island Recent Obituaries Daller: And he formed the board in order to support the house. And I took the money. And that was only one of them. And finally their husbands were getting pissed at them, because they were never home, they were always here. Im getting rid of everything. He said, I have three of the most beautiful Persian carpets from Persia, said, You cant get them anymore. He said, Theyre antiques but they are brand new, never used. He said, Im giving them to you. And this is them. But the problem is, its so limited on Staten Island. Just landmarked. But anyway, I had come back to America. The Greek Revival house is one of the few surviving examples of 19th Century life on Staten Island. I dont know what the hell Ill do if you do that. He upholstered that chair with the things in the back. Well, he lived on Staten Island. Lets stay friends. I saved it years and years ago. She said, Now you can save it., And I said, Well, I can save it. And I looked in the thing, I said, Holy shit. And he and his wife, Adriana, they retired and moved to Florida. Burke: So I dont know if that was a ghost. I remember you always loved it and liked it. But things that, well, were thatyou needed carpenters that knew, that were good carpenters. Like this chair that youre sitting in, these are Chippendale chairs in the Chinese style. It makes sense because she was an old lady. He was predeceased by his mother Lena Russo-Tredici. The son and his wife took over Scalamandr. They were all six floor walkups and, thats where you lived! Its down in Tottenville, beautifully done. And Ill see to it that, financially, things work out for the two of us. I loved Alaska. And he did the big sofa in there, didnt he? And I went from room to room and it took me a couple of years, didnt it? With that old fabric, theres enough to make drapes for one window. So they. Frank was born in Brooklyn, NY June 26, 1943. He said he believes that whoever was in that other house, really didnt want people there. And we cant come over here because both of them lived way out in New Jersey, and theyd come every day. So whenever the big surgeons traveled, I always traveled with themtraveled all over Europe. Q: And so all these items went upwalked up the stairs and were, carried back down the stairs. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a member of the Historic House Trust. And, she said, If so, we will give you gifts. And then that was the end. And I didnt realize it because I was always working. Of course, when I bought the house, that was all weeds growing up among the bricks. I dont know what it is. He brought a crowd with him and it was just to tell him thank you for everything that hes done. And he said, George, Im selling my business. He got involved with riding there and was constantly riding. And no ones going to be able to talk about it, and point things out, and say where it came from, or whats the history behind it. And that was the end of that. And I had a beautiful restaurant and a bar connected to it. So we lived there, and it was a big courtyard and there were four buildings and the center courtyard was all grass. Half the railings were gone off the porch, and the column was falling over, and, oh, Jesus. Wow, what a great place. I said, now here you are, the woman we always wondered about, asking me if Im interested in saving that house? And he did these two chairs. And I kept life rights for it. But how many people really have a sense of history anymore? And one day, I was sitting in the dining room. Oh, thats right. So I said, Well, Bess, if youre interested in doing it, Im interested in doing it.. In Europe, he felt like he had been. Q: And will the board continue and play a role in in that? And in the summer, he sits outside, enjoys the outdoors, enjoys the lawn, the grounds. Daller: Thats a story you should share, about the lilacs and the lady. Q: Okay. I think there were hundreds of people that worked there. I was seventeen years with the Air Force. Burke: You want it from the first day I was born in the hospital across the street? Of course, over therewhen I was over thereEngland was just getting out of the bad part of the War [World War II], and they had nothing over there. I knew what she looked like, I knew where it was. It was similar, only bigger and more ornate. He moved into the house shortly after the sale, and worked from the basement to the roof, and outwards throughout the grounds and stables, to complete the restoration. My big old Victorian house is saved, and thats still there. And he kept up with him, up until the time Mario passed away. And then upstairs was like a big balcony above that porch. Got a good price for a couple of other real estate pieces that I bought and fixed up and sold. I mean, this was just a farmhouse. The following is a roundup of obituaries published on SILive.com. And they were big floors. Theres a ghost in there. And I said, Well, I dont believe in ghosts. But they donated it to the Sisters of Charity, figuring that the nuns could live in that gorgeous mansion. Still kept it. So I had all my goodies packed in a box, getting ready to go. And they said, Oh my god, George, what are you Oh, and who else was that? Daller: Yes, definitely. You made enough money. 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But the upper story of the house was two more floors. Daller: You know, people dont understand them. The kitchen was never in the basement. He was an antiquehe had a big rug business in. So they built it like an attic and it was called an attic but it was a whole complete story. And then, on the third floor, which was in the mansard roof, that was all the servants quarters. Burke: Yes, Mario come out all the time. They cant do anything. And were doing this interview in Burkes home, in the Seguine Mansion on the South Shore of Staten Island. All that gorgeous porcelain, like the Flower Sellers Childrenits a big piece like that. And, minute he bought the house, did a little work in it, put it right up for sale. And my sister, Bess, she was married to Walter, her husband, who was in the Navy. Would you just sell me two acres there? Because my house was right across the street from it. Because he paid for the entire outside himself. Q: And so when you were deciding what to collect, were you thinking about. Q: I wanted to ask, also, theres a painting of you in the house, right? Theyd come out and Id say, Look, I can get you this. But anyway, she said, Im not going in the house. I could. Well work it out, one way or another. And so the two of us started and we madecalled it the Old Bermuda Inn because John loved Bermuda and he was putting a lot of money in it. Remember him? And then I what else? And he wanted to retire and he gave his son the business. Burke: And Im leaving everything thats in the houseits staying. So I said, The hell with this. By Carol Ann Benanti | benanti@siadvance.com STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- It's designated one of Staten Island's signature society events of the year, a. I restored all those buildings down in Tottenville, all those great old buildings. I mean, how did you decide what to purchase, what to collect? Burke: It was. Burke: Yes, there was a little man in New Jersey. Q: and Linda Daller for the New York Preservation Archive Project. When I was over there looking at their house. I dont think anythings missing? And, then I gotwhod I get from the city? Thats whats in this whole house, all the things you see. I want to go back and ask for some more details about your childhood. Right? Its a real pretty smell. She said, Yes, its lilacs. She said Mrs. Whatever-her-name-was always had to have lilacs. A couple of years ago, I painted them this color, didnt I? So, Id do that. But the only thing was it was too small. And she kept, George, please, go save my house. Stony Brook. I had no idea that that was it, when I bought the house or anything. So we talked to our brother Bill and he had come up with the money, bought the house. We were only allowed so much. You want to take down every statue thats been there for a thousand years because, No, that statue shouldnt be there. And he saw the way to help out, and I said, well form a board and what well do is well continue to have fundraisers in order to support the house, but we need additional help and support as well. And I never had timesometimes Id be sleeping on the pool table there because I just couldnt leave! So I rented the apartment next door, and I broke a hole in the wall. The roof was shot because the old guy that was caretaker here, he used to walk around on the roof and watch all the boats in the harbor. And it did all the dental workany kind of dental work and everything was manufactured there. Daller: We really cant give you any details on that. The mayor and everybody else in the cityyou cant ride on the beach. And I know everythingId love to go out to Staten Island. So he said, Good. Burke: Hawaii. Or did you have to just guess and make decisions? Im gonna save it, its a gorgeous house!. Q: Was it a similar style? Lots of photos, costs, everything. And she said, George, do you know who this is? and with her big Southern accent. Burke: Its right on the Boulevard and it goes down to the beach. But what was really, really bad was people, if they were going to build a garage, or they were going to build something, theyd go to that big, beautiful mansion and rip the siding off of it and take it back to build what they want to build. We are a big family. Would you like to elaborate on that? Victor. Viewing times and guestbooks can be found here . Off of Hylan Boulevard? And the backyard is beautiful. And I often wondered what happened to that brooch because I gave it to Bess. I mean, this whole ceiling was shot. George Burke. Valley Stream. Oh god, that was a gorgeous mansion. But you used tell me. See Photos. Probably. Burke: years ago, because I couldnt afford to keep it. Yes, that was all Scalamandr. And if they were there and I could see them, and I could ship them free because the government had to ship it for me, and I had my sisters, who would store them for meI had had a great opportunity to pick up all this stuff that was beautiful, get it for nothing, and the government ship it back for me, and my sisters would keep it until I got a place to put it. So she said, Bess said, Were going to have to quit, George. I said Oh, shit. Get service details, leave condolence messages or send flowers in memory of a loved one in New York. Burke: Well, I knew how to do it. I put the post on it up under the floor where the newer posts in the staircase was upstairs, and then, when I took the jack away, it sat on the post. And if you can capture and keep something that looks like this, then this is a big plus for the area. The ceilings had fallen down because a lot of the drain pipes had leaked. Phone: (718) 966 . I know all the grounds that were around it were beautiful gardens. But when they were building houses, if you had a third story, your taxes went out of sight! The stables, everything has to remain the same. I bought the house and Bess and Marge came over. Burke: Theyll come in, but youll have to have somebody as a guide. Its still there, the framework of it, with the brick. Daller: It just went right out of my head! And Luis was really, really a great guy. And I only have so much money being what I am. So he said, Dont worry about it. And have something on a loop in here, which weve been trying to do, where itll be an audio and a video of him discussing the house, because nobody knows it any better than he does. But thats part of whats been going on down here. I dont want you in this house. So I went around to all the nursesof course, I was in the medical departmentand I asked all the nurses, What are you doing with your stamps? Its some very wealthy unknown-known person who was there. STATEN ISLAND, NY 10309. Daller: Yes. Q: Can you tell me about moving the collections here, out of storage and out of your sisters houses into this house? Burke: I think, what was left of it, the sons moved to California and they opened up a Scalamandr in California. I was Burke: Im glad I did. Im going to retire, Im going to go down to that big old house, restore it, fix it all up, move in it, and enjoy it. If you give me a big helping hand here. I said, You know, I dont make that much money. That whole salon set there was a Victorian salon setand the couch is a camelback. Staten Island, New York. Burke: Yes, and I had a beautiful apartment for years in St. George. If you stood outside and looked at it, the staircase went that way. So my mother decided she would make it into a two-family, and rent out one part of it. Q: Can you give me an example of one of the things that you worked on together in the house? Unfortunately, all the grounds areI dont even know if the house is there anymore! Or is there a way for things to be changed? Isnt that a huge house theyre building, you told me? Now what are you going to do with this? So it was fascinating. Is that what you want? Q: And, do you keep records on, on those kinds of things? Then I went looking for the big pieces. But I mean, that wasthe holes, the plaster gone. And people were selling anything out of their house to support themselves and live. But I dreamt it and I knew every single thing about it. And we were great gardeners and she had always come over in the spring, and she gave me little cuttings of all the flowers, and the different things. Burke: I was thinking about getting a big home, having a home, and what I would want in itthe paintings, what kind of furniture, carpets, everything. So they went into repairing things. And the fact that somebody could save a house like this, and want to show it to people, and let people hear about the history behind it? All the grounds, the stables, everythingthey cant change a thing. That works! Thankfully, no ones come here and said, Oh, you might have had slaves. I mean, Im sure if somebody came and decided to look back, theyd say, Oh, no, theres a reason for a house like that. People have ideals that are very strange. They talk about Tottenville, its all McMansions. Everything has changed, all the old houses are torn down. Bar and restaurant adds family and flavor to Weymouth Landing scene, Why New England Wildlife Center is treating a bald eagle for poisoning, Healey's proposed tax aid plan benefits families, seniors, homeowners, Mass. I had a bulldozer two weeks, riding back-and-forth, and back-and-forth, and back-and-forth across the front of the house because you couldnt see the house from the water. And when I seen it all over there, and when I seen the British people were poor as church mice, they were selling everything. So I bought it. Burke: Oh, when I bought the house, everybody told me, Oh, what are you buying that old crap for? Well, I didnt say I bought it because I got it practically for nothing because they couldnt get rid of it. The front porch was up high. And they were the big windows that lookedand that was a whole, bigjust like here, it was another story. But the story that was cuteremember the lady in England, the antique dealer, that used to bring her bottles all the time? I think so. Burke: Yes. And he died young. And I walked into there and I walked up, and the lid was closed on the coffin. And I dont like this. And shed go to her father and her father and say, You know, George, shes my daughter, and this and thatand I said, Yes, well, John, let me tell you something. Burke: Yes. And I was a medic. The house is haunted, she said, if youre interested in it, George, heres the key to the front door, you go. And as I said, there was a big flight of stairs that went up and a big porch across the whole front of the house. And then Id been in Europe all that time. But under that porch was the basement. And she was laid in a dress with a big lace collar. And I never got along with her that much because everything I wanted to do, she said, No, no, no, I dont like that. I went around and I got it and shipped it all back home. All rights reserved. Burke: So, in other words, fifty years from now, if someone wants to learn about the house, they can find out. Yes. When they shipped me back from where I was, where the Eskimos were, they sent me back to the base, because they were shipping everybody now, backafter your time was up, you had to go back because you couldnt stay any longer than two years, and after two years, you had to come back to the States. Q: Was it Mario that suggested the life tenancy agreement? In fact, my mother worked there. Thats what it is. Q: So about this house, I wanted to ask about the Friends of the Seguine Mansion. Theres one here, theres one there, and theres one in the other room. Burke - 1 - 2 and grew up 90% of my time on Staten Island until I became old enough and I joined the military. Where were you stationed and what was it like? Because there was a big double parlor like this on one side of it. I come down the stairs and I opened the door. So I picked up this one building that had a little old bar next to it. Q: So he knew how much work it would take over the years and what a relationship would be like to. And I had this goddamn old sergeant who was going back also, but he was getting out of the service, and he was being discharged. If you dont want to come dont show up. And he said since hes been here, he has nobody here. Q: Yes. Q: So what was it like when you had the house finished and furnished? And over the years, it became just prohibitive to try and do. You know, everybody knew him, and everybody, wow. And then when I went looking for myhis name was Joinerand everybody was saying, Well, Sergeant Joiner is leaving, Sergeant Joiner is leaving. And I never thought much of it. But, thats what I did. Theres a bunch of little houses now built all along through their gardens. John T Burke passed away on April 22, 2015 in Whiting, NJ and is under the care of. So I went around and looked and looked and I said, You know, I could open a restaurant. And I walked around and I found a couple of nice places. What were the things that you did when you were young? Burke: So that should pretty well cover it, I think. In a box, getting ready to go out to Staten Island pretty Well cover,! Were always here the years, didnt he when you were deciding what to purchase, are... It makes sense because she was an old lady of nice Places also, a! Go back and ask for some more details about your childhood capture and keep something that looks like on. 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