He did the White House and everything. Daller: What about the coat? And there was a whole other floor, another story, and its built with the French style, in the French mansard. I got one or two things out of it. These are those Persian carpets. And then I said, well, now Im going to buy a home. Oh, God, it was gorgeous. So they built it like an attic and it was called an attic but it was a whole complete story. Viewing times and guestbooks can be found here . They really dont know what history is all about. Q: Was that house that you restored in a similar condition as this house? I mean, this whole ceiling was shot. Donald was born August 16th, 1954, in Staten Island, New York, to Michael and Eleanor. Burke: Theyll come in, but youll have to have somebody as a guide. And that guy, look at the size of that house he just built. Because the other way, my uncle was digging into whatever a little bit of savings he had, in order to pay. Daller: So can you imagine a three room apartment filled to the brim with antiques? And she was laying with her arms, like that. But, Q: Let me ask you some more about the items that you collected when you were. I mean, after it was finished, who cared? What the hell is this? All of a sudden, she went, Youre in my house, and get out! Holy Christ. Thats the only way to explain it. And I had to laugh. Stole all that carved stuff, stole all that stuff, that whole box of stuff. Burke: One was a necklace with a heart on it. 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. They bought a house. Was very little time on here. I bought another restaurant, didnt I? Daller: Well, yes. Then I startedI said, You know, theres a lot of things on this end of the island nobody wants, its the forgotten-end of the island. So I would walk around, Id look and Id see some beautiful stuff for sale, for nothing. And we had our barracks, of course, and having your barracks, the only thing you had was a big trunk where you kept all your clothes in. And then of course, being in New York and being in the thing like that, I got to be very, very good friends, with Scalamandr. So we talked to our brother Bill and he had come up with the money, bought the house. And they added this big dining room to the other side of the house. So coming back to it was a change. Oh god, that was a gorgeous mansion. And so they lost it. And in the meantime, I made a couple of little investments and they turned out very well for me. And its more expensive to keep her horses there than it was here. And they were going to pay for everything if they owned it. I had just bought this house, and it needed a lot of work. Daller: Well, he said, he felt that house had spirits in it. Im no bulldozer!. And I only have so much money being what I am. So he said, Dont worry about it. And I often wondered what happened to that brooch because I gave it to Bess. Daller: Well, you did at a certain point, because you have a lot of photos. Its a beautiful house. So my sister Bess said, Well, come on, lets go to Florida. And he dealed in antique rugs, and regular rugs and everything. So I figured, oh, shit. So my mother decided she would make it into a two-family, and rent out one part of it. I didnt know they were lilacs, but I could smell something pretty. So there wasnt a lot of time spent here. So its a shame. If they brought flowers, it had to be lilacs. So I said, Oh. So that was thatI got that little story. 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. 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. Burke: I dont find any difference living here. All that gorgeous porcelain, like the Flower Sellers Childrenits a big piece like that. And then, it was declared unsafe, and they come in and knocked it down. It was gorgeous and very ornatewas very, very much like Greek Revival. You just named them. And it didnt take long to sell because it was a big piece of property, nice house. Yes. Q: So its budgets and the contractors, all that stuff. It wasnt fair to him to keep paying for it. In this interview, Burke talks about working with designer Mario Buatta, along with the House of Scalamadr, to select furniture and fabrics to decorate the home in the Victorian style. Q: Yes. They talk about Tottenville, its all McMansions. Everything has changed, all the old houses are torn down. Oh, God. GEORGE CROAKE OBITUARY. Q: And you said that you restored the garden there too? This whole corneryou could stand and see the street out there, so this whole corner was rebuilt. It was so overgrown. It was under your bunk. And whats going on up the street here now? You made enough money. Burke: What its been like for you to live here. And the house was like this, a big piece with two big wings. And even though the house belongs, in essence, to Historic House Trust, they werent reimbursing him for anything. Burke: Yes, there was a little man in New Jersey. And she was laying like this. [laughs] And I lived there for a long time. He says, Hes my good friend, and so on, We live on Staten Island. And I got to know a tremendous amount of people that way. Its still there, the framework of it, with the brick. I was maybe nineteen, twentysomething like that. I mean, its physically impossible. I lived in one room, for almost five years. Beloved husband of Rosanna (Ialuna) Burke. Put through the years, people recognized it and everything. They were great. It was so overgrown in the front yard and everything. I loved Alaska. That was Mrs., what was her name? And Id go in and Id buy all the liquor with those stamps. Get out. Remember him? Of course, when I bought the house, that was all weeds growing up among the bricks. People: Mario Buatta, Luis Caizares, Linda Daller, John Krawchuck, James and Kathleen Pistilli, Adriana Scalamandr, John Scalia, Elizabeth Bess Seguine Aug, Joseph Seguine, Organizations: Friends of the Seguine Mansion, Historic House Trust, House of Scalamandr, NYC Departments of Parks and Recreation, Sherwin-Williams, U.S. Air Force, Places: Annandale, Hammersmith College, Port Richmond, Old Bermuda Inn, Saks Fifth Avenue, Seguine Mansion, St. George, Staten Island, Tidewater Inn, Tottenville, The New York Preservation Archive Project. Did quite well. Burke: Well, look at the mansion! Take a walk. I said, No, no, Im gonna save this house. He said, Oh! So a couple of days later, I have a dream. Q: Yes, you can tell me about your early life and the memories you have of growing up here. When I bought the house, the real estate people, they wouldnt go in. The oldwhat the hell was itgrocery store. Q: Okay, all of that. Bulldozed that down. 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. We are a big family. And then I what else? 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. Theyre all gone. So all the big mansions were built with outside kitchens. And Bill moved in, and he stayed there for quite a while. But what she did is she sold off parcel after parcel in order for her to live here in the house because she had no income. She had to move them to New Jersey. George Burke was born on Staten Island and grew up in Annandale before moving to Florida with his family. Theyre deciding they want to build, so they tear down and build. And if you can capture and keep something that looks like this, then this is a big plus for the area. Daller: Its life estate that he has. Q: Thank you for that story. Q: Yes. 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. And that was only one of them. Q: So what was it like when you had the house finished and furnished? Devoted father of Matthew I. Burke, Jason L. Burke, and Georgina. And he said, Mom, Ill move in to the other part of the house. Dont forget I, for yearsin London, I went to university. So I went down and I just went around and everything I seenall the stuff you see hanging in this house, most of it come from me going around and wheeling and dealing in, you might as well say, the black market. Served in NYPD for 25 years, ran many mararthons George Arthur Croake, 78, of Manasquan, NJ (previously Flatbush, Brooklyn & New Dorp, Staten Island) passed away peacefully . Right across the creek. But that was a big improvement, putting in the kitchen, because there never was a kitchen in the houseand where the kitchen is now, that was the laundry room. If we can reach an agreement with Historic House Trust, by all means. Architectural style and interior style? That house, it was a big French mansard, big Victorian. George Burke. A lot of the windows were broken out of it. Daller: Oh, yes. Theyre all McMansions. You can go and look and read about anything about the South Shore of Staten Island. Burke: I never lived in a little small house, I have no idea. Oh, God, I worked so damn hard. And so I had all that stuff in my apartment. Most of them were like china and vases, such like that. Burke: Yes, he did that little sofa there. Q: And so when you were deciding what to collect, were you thinking about. You cant ride anywhere but in a circle arena. Beloved husband of Rosanna (Ialuna) Burke. Email or phone: Password: . Unfortunately. I found a beautiful place in Tottenville and I opened it and called it the Tidewater Inn. Thats when she said to me, George, go save my house. And I came down and looked at it. But again, I dont know that Staten Island appreciates anything, because we had a Borough President at one time that we asked him a question about something and his answer to my uncle was, Well, why would you want to put a new suit on an old man?. And I said, Well, the smell is still there. And I said to her, Whatever happened to the old girl? And she said, Well, years ago, when she died, she said, she was laid out in the front parlor in the coffin, and it was nothing but lilacs. Burke: Oh, I loved her. George Burke. Burke: Mario Buatta and a couple of people of his friends that were just as big. In fact, my mother worked there. Daller: Oh, theOh God now, whats it called? Linda? And I said, well, Im going to retire. And they said he had the box, and took it with them. Im giving nothing away. The columns werent square wooden ones, like these, they were beautiful fluted ones with all the Corinthian leaves on the tops of them and all that stuff. The income from the Seguine Equestrian Center, which stables some twenty horses a stone's throw from the mansion, helps. Where all the servants lived. Anyway, there was three things that I found by doing some worklike, giftsI forget what they were. 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. But the basement was the summer dining rooms and summer kitchen. Developers. And that way, it wouldnt burn the houses down. Q: And thats what allowed you to buy this house? The Seguine girls, as they were called,. A lot of these drapes, they did. 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. I think I got the two of them for five bucks or something like that. I mean, look, theyve been trying to get rid of the carriage horses in the city, for how long now? Because Evelyn didnt like the house, his wife. So thank you. Because I certainlyI never passed up a bargain. Well, do you know what your preferences are? And in the back of the house, its still there, is aChrist, it must be half the size of this roomis a huge, huge lilac bush. Q: Your collection of the items that you bought from Mrs. Murphy. Well, what are we talking about? They tore down those two nice little cottages that were there. It was like a mansion youve never seen. All the way to the Great Kills Harbor. So itll be part of Staten Island that people, maybe fifty years from now when theres not a spot left, theyll all come out and theyll look and say, Wow, this is what it used to be.. I started with the basement. Births: July 1847-48, July 1853-1909 Deaths: 1795, 1802-04, 1808, 1812-1948 Marriages: June 1847-48, July 1853-1949 *Includes records for western Bronx, 1874-97, and eastern Bronx, 1895-97. Did you know that from? Ill make you the drapes. The drapes are still up there. And the whole big building used to be a big private home, and then they had made it into a restaurant. I went over there, and it was standing up sleeping! What the hell do you think it was? He come over he looked at it. Right. Okay. Must have been twelve big columns, it was, oh! And she had this woman who was a caretaker. Burke: Sure. He said, What in the hell youre buying this old piece of shit for? He said, Is it insured? I said, Yes, I took big insurance on it. He said, Good. So everything just kept going off and someone would have all of this, someone would have all of that. You buy me out. And he bought me out. You are to get out. Its all stay in here. Because Mrs. Seguine was holding the. And one day. Burke: So I did that [sold the Tidewater Inn]. Then there was the main hall that went through, just like this: door, front door, back door. That was her name. Staten Island. Burke: Yes, and I had a beautiful apartment for years in St. George. Who Where Receive obituaries Yenula Hennaka February 24, 2023 The mansion was gorgeous! And Id go downtown and Id wheel and deal for a bottle of whiskey. Yes. Always, in that vase in the hall. George Burke. And I want somebody to take care of it. Thanks very much to you. Casey Funeral Home Kathleen Burke, age 78 passed away at Richmond University Medical Center after a brief illness on January 26, 2023. And as I said, for a thing of whiskey or a bottle of wine, theyd give you anything, because none of them have had it for years and years. Daller: So not that much time was spent on Staten Island. Burke: Oh, it was a relationship over whole period. Daller: No. Daller: As a matter of fact, we had an event years ago. So we need to get help. Would you just sell me two acres there? The mayor and everybody else in the cityyou cant ride on the beach. But it looked like an attic with the roof like that and everything. I was born on Oct. 11, 1930, one of nine siblings, to an. I should really do something to save it. And it just was luck that I had just sold a real estate deal and made a lot of money. Oh, thats right. So while I used to work then with them, and then I decided, this is not for me. Ill help renovate it, fix it up and such. And thats what we did. We all got coupons. Burke: Well, most of the stuff in the house, he worked with me. They were all six floor walkups and, thats where you lived! Staten Island, Richmond County, NY Genealogy Site - Staten Island Recent Obituaries And she wanted to start running things and taking things over. Staten Island, Brooklyn, New York, Kings, Long Island, and New Jersey (718) 966-7800 Good God! Valley Stream. A necklace with a gold heart that opened like a. Burke: Greek revival. Facebook gives people the power to. Burke: So then I gave it to the Historic House Trust of New York. You come out and take over the boys and mens department in the store. I said, Thats fine. 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. All went into the landfill. Thats the only thing in the house left from the Seguines. She had a caretaker or she had a woman that took care of her, or something. And he was the one that took me around and showed me where to get the good fabric. And then when you could see the house, it was a goddamn mess. I went around and I got it and shipped it all back home. 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. And my nephewwhat the hell was he? And the basement was beautiful, where you can walk out onto the porch and out into the garden. Daller: You werent here. As a young adult, he joined the U.S. Air Force and served in the medical department, spending time in locations across Europe and Alaska. And I got a good price for that. So as long as I own it, I own it, theyll pay for it. You couldnt even see it. Thats ittheres no more of them. So I went up with Father Tom and I had to take care of all those Eskimos, if any of them got sick or hurt this or that. Big fluted columns with big Corinthian capitals on them. I knew what she looked like, I knew where it was. Besides horses and Rusty, there are peacocks too. Burke: Oh, God, I stood on the edge here and I watched what was going on over there. So thats where I got most of the stuff thats here in the house today. So she finally died. Leave a sympathy message to the family in the guestbook on this memorial page of George Burke to show support. Its going to hell. According to the funeral home, the following services have. And thats where she was. She said, You saw her in your dream. I said, Holy shit, I said, you think that was her? She said, It could have been her. I said, Then she went like that and chased me out of her house. She said, That was her. Everybody came in to a coldwater flat in the Bronx and walked in amazed because theyve never seen anything like that. And it did all the dental workany kind of dental work and everything was manufactured there. But he did a lot of the work for you. And with the money that I made from there, I put it right back in the building. I cant go and say, You know, fifty years ago that was mine, and I never gave it to you. So I still had to get up every day and go to work. And that was it. But you do have Chris thats upstairs that lives in the servants quarters. Daller: Well, its just the fact that the South Shore has gotten very built-up. Or is that real? That was real. Burke: Yes. I was in the mansion when the sisters lived there. I said, Oh shit, look at this. And I pulled that out and unwrapped it, and what the hell was in it? But this is too much for you, George. But thats part of whats been going on down here. Search Staten Island obituaries and condolences, hosted by Echovita.com. I saved that, thats still there. The kitchen was never in the basement. It was a mess of a mess. So I had all my goodies packed in a box, getting ready to go. And I went around and we all hadyou were only allowed to buy two bottles of wine and a bottle of whiskey, or something. Dont look at me. And they said, Oh my god, George, what are you Oh, and who else was that? 06/26/1943 - 02/20/2023. In a house that you dont even own? Is there anything else that you would like to add about the house as it is now, the history, or the future of the house? Its down in Tottenville, beautifully done. And then Id been in Europe all that time. But the picture in the locket was all crumbled up. But down here, all the beautiful homes that were down here are gone. Burke: And all the others like it, well, I can remember, on the other side of the pond over there, going alongthe mansions that were over there. And then the Historic House Trust will use it as well to understand whats important to you about maintaining the house. We were doing other parties at the time, the only thing we still maintain is the White Party. Of course, she loved the smell of lilacs. Off of Hylan Boulevard? I mean, lets face it. Im going to get gifts now because Im staying in the house and Im going to fix it up.. So because it was done like the French did, I never had to pay tax, or only tax on a two-story house, instead of a three-story. Still kept it. And then the people that moved out left a bunch of old furniture, and these were the two that they left. Q: Is there somebody in particular that you work with for reupholstery or restorations? Burke: What were the things I did when what? And I was so damn busy, I never got to go home. Theyd go in and theyd take the windows out and theyd use the windows, and they destroyed it. If you want to come, behave yourselves. Burke kept records of the work, most of which he completed himself and financed the through the sale of his business, the Tidewater Inn. Now the little girl had to be moved to Wall Street. So thats how that all came about. Because people will come in, and therell be four or five people and somebody will walk by and just pick this up, and pick that up. He appreciated it. He was an antiquehe had a big rug business in. 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