And thats what where all the water, for all the laundry, and all that kind of stuffnot the drinking water, the working waterwould come out of that big cistern, and would go intoand the pump and everything, its still down there, connected to that thing out there. Daller: As a matter of fact, we had an event years ago. (718) 761-5544 | matthewfh@matthewfuneralhome.com | 2508 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10314. The mansion had a huge ballroom and everything in it. Well, he didnt want the bull with the little girl. Yes, by the time I got to do all that I had no money left. And when they got level, he screamed, Okay, George, theyre level, theyre level! And then I put a big postI put a big cement thing on the floor. And I think we can end there. They cant do anything. So, I would saywhat was it?the spring, and in the back of the house was the entrance to the cellar with the double doors, where you walked down the stairs, and it was all brick, and it had the doors. So thats how that all came about. Devoted father of Matthew I. Burke, Jason L. Burke, and Georgina P. Burke, all of Hull. Burke: Yes. And the only problem with that was the kitchen was downstairs. Father James E. Burke, who served for 15 years as pastor of Sacred Heart parish on Staten Island, died Oct. 4. You know, nobody wanted to end it but nobody wanted to, say, Lets do it. She stated, George, I want you to save my house, and agreed to sell the house for a feasible sum in exchange for his promise to restore it. Burke: But what were we going into before I got into the architecture? Thats the only way to explain it. And shell be caretaker. Q: When you were making those decisions about decorating, were you thinking about a particular style, like a historic style, that you were going for? STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Situated all over the world are beautiful old homes with familiar names that have gained fame. If you want to come in a business with me, John, lets make into a beautiful restaurant. So he said, Okay, Ive never owned a restaurant, but Id be willing to try it, George. So I said, Well, John, youre gonna have to put a lot of money in it because you have all the money, as being who you are. And I decided, well, Im going to pick up some nice buildings. And I could turn the horses loose and theyd keep all the fields cut and mowed, you know? For an online guest book, please visit www.mcnamara-sparrell.com. And Luis Caizares painted that. And that was nothing but a little house that caught firewas just a little, little house. On a goddamn pillared mattress sleeping? Daller: But it feels like home. And with that money, I restored most of the house. Burke: Of course, Id been in Alaska for all that time. Burke: Yes. And then one of my brothers had just gotten out of the military. So I would go to the flea markets and things. I had all the plasters done. Daller: Oh, I dont know. And I finally got to meet Mrs. Seguine because she had stables at that time. It was similar, only bigger and more ornate. It occurred to me that my home was one of the very few old mansions still existing on Staten Island and surely could be designated as a historical home, so I requested my attorney contact the Department of Parks. GEORGE BURKE OBITUARY. And hes the one that did my portrait upstairs. And its more expensive to keep her horses there than it was here. FDNY firefighter Timmy Burke. I was advised by just about everybody to give it up. So Walter was re-stationed to Fort Lauderdale in Florida. And so they lost it. We were only allowed so much. Burke: Her sister has it [indicating Daller]. And if you were wearing them and you went and got in your car and turned the heater on, you smelled like piss. I can get that. Because you could get it through theand once I got involved, I did really, really well. And then when we realized we were broke, all my brothers joined the military, got married, moved away. Burke is joined in this interview by his niece, Linda Daller. But I dont remember seeing the main house. So coming back to it was a change. And, well, lets face it, they never had any hot water over there at all. I collected all my antiques and all my stuff when I was traveling. Burke: Yes, Mario come out all the time. Too bad that there wasnt somebody with a brain. Theyre going out for the garbage. I said, No, no, no, Im trying to take them. So I took them and I had them all redone and reupholstered, and here they are. And then the Historic House Trust will use it as well to understand whats important to you about maintaining the house. Burke: Well, I knew how to do it. The story about the coat that you had from Alaska? Youd have to see the house to see what Im talking about. That was gorgeous. William C. "Bumper" Laudeman, Jr., 73, of Surfside Beach, South Carolina, formerly of Minersville, died peacefully at home on Friday, April 14, 2023. Before he left, the house was fine. Among them are two white ones. And I didnt realize it because I was always working. I had the best collection of the most beautiful carved ivory and things because they didnt have money but they would give you things. So I said, The hell with this. Staten Island. It makes sense because she was an old lady. So I picked up this one building that had a little old bar next to it. And I had beautiful big pieces of Meissen that I got when I was in Germany, and it all went here and there andI cant get it back. Its just a shame. (Courtesy/Susan Paradiso) Right about now Staten. They were great. I saved that, thats still there. Read more about the life story of George and share your memory. Daller: Well, you did at a certain point, because you have a lot of photos. Daller: Thats a story you should share, about the lilacs and the lady. Q: No, that covers it! So, thats it, I said, to hell with it. So I had all my goodies packed in a box, getting ready to go. But I was glad that I got this. IN THE CARE OF. And he was so good. But I had all that money! So it just became a moot point. Would you? Its unreal! And she couldntthey couldnt keep up with it anymore. They couldnt. And she was laying with her arms, like that. And that painting of me, thats upstairs in my bedroomdid you ever see it? Cheers! But the problem is, its so limited on Staten Island. We had beautiful stuff in our home, all the time. Im giving nothing away. See Photos. But I restored all that. And it was one of those busy, busy, goddamn nights. And I always used to say, Wonder who lives there! and so forth and so on. They moved in there, and they lived there. More than 95% of our online database cannot be accessed via any other platform. Yes, that was all Scalamandr. I saved it years and years ago. She said, Now you can save it., And I said, Well, I can save it. Up until a year ago, he was still cutting the lawn! And everyone became extremely close. So I found this big beautiful, French, mansard roof, big Victorian house in Tottenville. But anyway, she said, No, Im not going in. I started with the basement. Would you sell me the acres in the front? I found three things like that. And a couple of my friends came as bartenders for me. Its a plus for the borough too. So I went out and I said toI had two roommates, and I said to my roommates, Wheres my box? And they said Oh, well, Sergeant Joiner came in and took it. I said, Oh, no! I went running out. For example, could you tell what the original construction was? No, its not something were talking about right now. Enter And so shes got the bridge, and it costs money. Yes, Mrs. Mackey. Kitchens were always built in a house outside by themself, and a breezeway going to the house, because the kitchens would always burn down. But the other house, one of his friends was pushed down the stairs. It was so overgrown in the front yard and everything. But the old lady that lived there was very, very sick. Anyway, I said, Oh boy, did I have a scary dream. I told her my dream. They really dont know what history is all about. Well, what are we talking about? Or next to the chair where she was sitting. Though he thought it had no chance, he called and learned that Parks had long been thinking about trying to obtain the mansion. And I had the two apartments! Burke: All that stuff from England? He was from Central America somewhere, and he just believed in everything had to be right. Q: So this is going to part of an online archive. I slept in it, lived in it, ate in it. Burke: And what is a shame islike, you take [one of our former boarders], she has two horses that she used to keep here all the time. And that was a kitchen, and that was bedrooms and a little living room, all up 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. One woman wouldnt go it, cant think of her name. They bought a house. The whole family kind ofand the ladies got too old, and they decided they were going to move and go live inI think Georgia or Virginia, I forgot. Because, now, they cant tear it down. He appreciated it. So I rented the apartment next door, and I broke a hole in the wall. You want to have someone living in it, you cant have an empty house. Theres one here, theres one there, and theres one in the other room. But, Q: Let me ask you some more about the items that you collected when you were. He said, when he was moving here, he told the people there, he goes, Im moving. I dont want you in this house. I loved being there and everything. That woman, she lived in riding clothes! Everybody had left, and Bess and Marge were there, and Bess said to me, George, sit down. Burke: Right across the creek. And on top of that, I still worked for Sherwin Williams. But down here, all the beautiful homes that were down here are gone. Burke: But everything will stay here exactly as it is, because if its going to be a museum, people are not going to come in and look at empty walls. Daller: And he uses every room, he doesnt sit in one room. And whats going on up the street here now? Pearl Minsky | For the Staten Island Advance. The real estate lady wouldnt come in. And then when you could see the house, it was a goddamn mess. Would you like to elaborate on that? And thats what I did. He was pastor of Holy Child for 12 years until his retirement in 2000. He also discusses the donation of the Seguine Mansion to the Historic House Trust, and his vision for the ongoing maintenance of the home and property. Works at Sandvik. So I said, Well, I would have named it The Rossville Inn because it was in Rossville, but he will he loved Bermuda and he wanted Bermuda Inn. So I said, Yes, John, well call it the Old Bermuda Inn. Or was that brother Ed? Yes. Burke: Oh, well, the Eskimos up there would give me beautiful mukluks and all kinds of things. She was the widow of the late Louis A. Muscatello and J. Kenneth Feiden, Sr. and predeceased. That was Mrs., what was her name? It was piled up in their basement. I bet shes there. Well, on theon the fireplace there, those two big candelabras, theyre Meissen. Burke: Well, when it came to really heavy construction, like this whole wall being rebuilt and things, I had to hire carpenters and I had to hire plasters to plaster the ceiling. She was on TV complaining about it. Burke: Anyway, she was well known here on Staten Island. But I forgot what the other two things were. More beautiful than peoples houses. And that still is, today, one of the great places around here, the Old Bermuda Inn, and John still owns it. I was an interior designer. Q: And how did you decide, I guess, how to rebuild? Christ, we had a good time. Big fluted columns with big Corinthian capitals on them. Happy Birthday to George Burke! And I said, Was that a dream? 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. And I was so damn busy, I never got to go home. Burke: What its been like for you to live here. Burke: Yes. Will they appreciate it? Right across the creek. And Ill see to it that, financially, things work out for the two of us. So I moved into the house here. Formal gardens, stablesstables that you could live in. These are those Persian carpets. But anyway, I had come back to America. But I had all this beautiful carved stuff. Well, he lived on Staten Island. A lot of the windows were broken out of it. Daller: Yes, definitely. Oh, thats right. Father Michael Martine has served since 2009 as pastor of St. Joseph's parish, Staten Island. Q: Your collection of the items that you bought from Mrs. Murphy. And my other sisternow, of course shes passed awaybut now her daughter took it, and the daughter gave it to her daughter. Its still there. Subsequently, I worked for Sherwin Williams in their design department.What did you do after that?I bought the Seguine Mansion, my home, in 1981, and began my journey. So a lot of the things that you acquired to furnish the house were in poor condition, and then you have them reupholstered and restored. Adriana would come out and shed say, Well, Ill tell you what, George. Syosset. I cant think of the name of the thing now. And they repaired all these taxis, repainted them, and then sold them all to Cuba. Absolutely gorgeous. I did everything. The Enriquez family did not have an obituary in the Advance/SILive.com. He worked by himself. In my early twenties? And if theyre gonna make a museum out of it, theyre gonna have to pay somebody to greet people and take them on tours. But alls I know, they closed in New York and they moved out there. I wanted to ask about the Equestrian Center. And he said, George, you know, that big, beautiful house that sits empty? I mean, its physically impossible. Here is George's dog, Rusty, in mild intimidation mode. Its still there, the framework of it, with the brick. I have no idea what it would be like to live in some other place. She was the girl who hired me, and she ran the big Sherwin Williams store. Its no different from home. And the porch went all like this, around the house. There was nine of us in the whole family. But I still have a lot of it. If you are going to stay, you better do this this and this, whatever the hell it was. The ceilings had fallen down because a lot of the drain pipes had leaked. And thats what I called out for was help. October 07, 2021 George W. Burke, 63 George W. Burke, of Hull, died on Oct. 2. Oh my god. (Staten Island Advance) Now: A vacant wooded lot The Tidewater Inn (formerly known as the Cole Mansion), which stood at 11. Burke: I used to, but I didnt I didnt keep it on everything. And I studied architecture and the history of design and everything, I know all that. You know, he just passed away. So here I was with all this stuff, sending it home to my family, sending it to my sisters. Eventually she decided she wanted to give it up and approached me with a cry of "George save my house" and I did.What was it like at that time?It was in terrible shape. Yes, of course, they could eat all the grass. So we talked to our brother Bill and he had come up with the money, bought the house. This was in the East Bronx, this was on 167th and College Avenue. And there was nobody but my mother and I now, living in our house. And that was the Air Force. They cant just say, The doors are open for anybody, just walk in! Somebody will walk in, and say, Oh, I like those chairs, pick them up, and take them, and theyll be gone. But when I die, they say theyre going to make a museum out of it. Q: Thank you for that story. So its saved forever. Q: And you feel that thats at risk because of the development thats happening now. George was born on February 22, 1928 and passed away on Friday, May 31, 2019. Daller: Yes, well, thats what we just said, yes. So she finally died. Destroyed. And in the basement, I put the kitchen and a dining area and everything. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday, October 9, 2021, at 11 am in St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 208 Samoset Ave., Hull, followed by interment in Hull Village Cemetery. Burke: Chris will stay living here. Daller: See, now you learned about kitchens. New York obituaries and death notices, 1986 to rent. STATEN ISLAND . And a lot of it got given away, got lost. The Seguine Mansion, also known as The Seguine-Burke Mansion, is located on Lemon Creek near the southern shore of Staten Island. Unbelievable. Daller: You know, people dont understand them. And then he got married and moved in with his wife. And then when they decided thatthey owned a beautiful house on one of the Keys in Florida. Then upstairs, was all the bedrooms. Now you can look up Brooklyn obits and track down your bloodline in New York in a matter of seconds. Beloved husband of Rosanna (Ialuna) Burke. So every time she wants to go riding, she has to go all the way to New Jersey, ride her horse, and then come all the way back. Hes the man that built the house. And they said, Well, we cant handle it, George. Well, Bess, and my brothers wife, Evelyn, never got along. Burke: I think, what was left of it, the sons moved to California and they opened up a Scalamandr in California. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. It doesnt happen on the North Shore because were very condensed and its a dense population. Otherwise, Id never be able to have half the stuff thats in here because it would have cost me a private fortune to have it shipped. So what I did, I decided, well, Id go inand we had where you could buy all your liquor and such in the post exchange. Staten Island was very early on, and then Florida, and then off to Europe. I lived in one room, for almost five years. Because the problem was is that my uncle was paying for everything in the househe was paying for the heating, he was paying all the utilities, paying all the bills. Dont remember what happened to it, right? Q: So tell me about what its been like for you to live here. Burke: Oh, and then the house, when I bought it, everybodythe real estate lady, she wouldnt come in. All rights reserved (About Us). He was an old craftsman from the other side. Stony Brook. But that was a condo. In a house that you dont even own? Q: and Linda Daller for the New York Preservation Archive Project. It was a mess of a mess. I dont know what it is. I knew what she looked like, I knew where it was. And the house across the street from it, the Old [Sir Walter] Tyrrell House. Burke: She has it. She was born in Troy on November 16, 1926, she was the daughter of the late George Mileon and Catherine Andrelos Mileon. And she wanted to start running things and taking things over. Burke: And its great when you have friends come, you have extra bedrooms, you can put them all up. There was the main house, over here was the bar, over here was this big dining room, and this was the main house. 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 while I was up there, I was sent up to work with Father Tom. Burke: Yes, he did that little sofa there. Oh shit, Im going to have to rebuild the wall. So I started pulling the bricks out, and wrapped up where one of the bricks was, was an oil cloth rag all wrapped up. And finally their husbands were getting pissed at them, because they were never home, they were always here. I just repainted. Q: So what was it like when you had the house finished and furnished? 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? And in the meantime, I made a couple of little investments and they turned out very well for me. I said to him, Are you kidding? That was a bigits still there. Water over there at all look up Brooklyn obits and track down your bloodline in New Preservation... Real estate lady, she was the girl who hired me, George, sit.! 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