You come out and take over the boys and mens department in the store. I said, Thats fine. And their mansion, the White people that owned SS White, the White family, owned right across the creek, there, where the Captains Quarters [private development] are. Im joining the Air Force. So I went out and I joined the United States Air Force of course. And we were sitting in the kitchen in the basement and he was going on the Ouija board and I said, What does it say, what does it say? And Eric is sitting there and hes talking, and hes sounding like a lady, and hes saying, Youre in my house, and I dont want you. . 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. So that was the reason we chose to do a White Party. So as long as you have people, youre going to have change, and people are going to say, That doesnt work! We just mentioned him. But unfortunately, all the stuff up there was cured by urine. Daller: No, that still has to be discussed. So there wasnt a lot of time spent here. 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. Burke: After I had the house, then I got the big pieces of furniture. 6389 Amboy Road. I grew up loving it and always having it, and my mother was great with it. 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. He was 63. Burke: Yes, Mario come out all the time. Burke: Let me think of how all that started. And Im looking at looking at it and I said, You know, thats the last house. Scarpaci Funeral Home of Staten Island LLC. She had a caretaker or she had a woman that took care of her, or something. So I moved into the front parlor room, there. Because my house was right across the street from it. And I went to Hammersmith College. And I went in and I noticed my big box was gone. You cant ride anywhere but in a circle arena. And where to get the good buys, and all that kind of thing. Q: Yes. So after a couple of years going back and forth, his daughter, she decided she wanted to get involved in it. They cant develop it. Burke: And its great when you have friends come, you have extra bedrooms, you can put them all up. And I decided, well, Im going to pick up some nice buildings. George Burke. Thats ittheres no more of them. Theres a ghost in there. And I said, Well, I dont believe in ghosts. Burke: Well, look at the mansion! Now theyre worth a couple hundred-dollars apiece. Theyre piled up. Id bring her bottles of whiskey and shed say, Listen, George, Im going to an estate for saleeverything in it is going! 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. And I wanted these little chairs tufted but he had passed away before he could get around to tuft. Daller: But it was the thing with the lilacs smell. So I picked up this one building that had a little old bar next to it. Q: And will the board continue and play a role in in that? I dreamed, I saw it. And they said, Well, we cant handle it, George. Burke: No, who gave me that? 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. And so I had all that stuff in my apartment. 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.. People, Oh, could you help me? And especially when I came to Staten Island and I was working for Sherwin Williams, andwhat the hell, Florence? But when he was in Europe, he rode. And he did these two chairs. And they said, Oh my god, George, what are you Oh, and who else was that? Daller: Stating that it is part of it part of Historic House. Its, all the numbers are accounted for. 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. People didnt want it because it had such a reputation as being haunted. Daller: Well, he hopes that Historic House Trust and the Parks Department work hand in hand and maintaining itthat theyll maintain it as a museum. But under that porch was the basement. Its Greek Revival. Linda? And a lot of people kept their horses in the stables. Yes. Well, it doesnt matter, her name. But those things, I couldnt. And I took the money. Unfortunately. And I want somebody to take care of it. Im no bulldozer!. And if you were wearing them and you went and got in your car and turned the heater on, you smelled like piss. I said, No, no, no. They were all six floor walkups and, thats where you lived! Family and friends must say goodbye to their beloved George Burke of Hull, Massachusetts, who passed away at the age of 63, on October 2, 2021. I restored the whole housewell, how long did I live there? Off of Hylan Boulevard? 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. This was all field, all the way up, and she used to turn the horses loose on all the fields out there. 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. And then upstairs was like a big balcony above that porch. This the expensive piece of property! They sold it to the developers. Well. Syosset. If it wasnt for Mrs. Mackey across the street telling me about the funeral, I would have never known. Wed go down through the junk yards and whatnot. I bought the house and Bess and Marge came over. So it was fascinating. I mean, these little gold chairs, are Victorianthats a Victorian chaireverything is really Victorian. She left things there. Burke: Well, I hope it gets maintained. Always, in that vase in the hall. Daller: Well, no, Mrs. Seguine allowed him to buy, Burke: No, I already had this house from the first deal. Im always doing something. Burke: Scalia. Q: Was that house that you restored in a similar condition as this house? First thing I started with was the basement because it had four-foot of water in it. And that makes more sense to people when they see something. Q: Today is November 9, 2021. It was a mess of a mess. 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. Lets move out, youre being kicked out anyway, the house is sold. Its all part of history, and theyre just destroying it every way they can. And then finally I had a man come in and talking to me about how hes bought a place on Staten Island that hes opening up a place like Saks only not as nice. Is there anything, you think? The ceilings had fallen down because a lot of the drain pipes had leaked. And they added this big dining room to the other side of the house. So I took that out of the brick and I got some cement, put it all back in, put the wall back up. Staten Island, New York. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. Right across the creek. And I think we can end there. And its three little girls sitting on a bench with big baskets of flowers in front of them. And Ill see to it that, financially, things work out for the two of us. So I had all my goodies packed in a box, getting ready to go. Burke: It was. Q: And thats what allowed you to buy this house? Q: Yes. Eventually, he was able to move his collection of Victorian-style furnishings safely into the home, and add to it larger pieces of furniture to complete the restoration. So theres no more Scalamandr, I dont think, is there? And we cant come over here because both of them lived way out in New Jersey, and theyd come every day. So as long as I own it, I own it, theyll pay for it. Daller: No. Oh, that was the ghost in Tottenville. Burke: Well, I wanted a beautiful Victorian look. Christ, a good ten, twelve years. And with that money, I restored most of the house. The fact that the Seguine familythis was the farmhouse, their mansion was in Rossvilleand thats long gone. Burke: Yes. Why cant they just appreciate something for what it is? Facebook gives people the power to. Or was that brother Ed? And if theyre gonna make a museum out of it, theyre gonna have to pay somebody to greet people and take them on tours. Burke: I went and I was stationed in England, and I loved being in England. George James Manger , 100, of Staten Island died on May 4, 2022. And he and his wife, Adriana, they retired and moved to Florida. Burke: Im glad I did. That was gorgeous. And while I was up there, I was sent up to work with Father Tom. Because it was a big roof, like this, and then the gutters run around. Burke: But what were we going into before I got into the architecture? And my neighbor across the street, who had lived there forever, she comes over again with a couple of little plants for me. Loving son of Joan (Perry) Burke of Plymouth and the late George W. Burke. Because Mrs. Seguine was holding the. I found a beautiful place in Tottenville and I opened it and called it the Tidewater Inn. She had to move them to New Jersey. Right. Thats whats in this whole house, all the things you see. All rights reserved. That place took off like you couldnt believe. I had all the walls done. If you give me a big helping hand here. I said, You know, I dont make that much money. Because the other way, my uncle was digging into whatever a little bit of savings he had, in order to pay. I mean, I had a beautiful condo in Florida. And I invested in a couple of things. He upholstered that chair with the things in the back. Daller: Yes. Yes, she died and she was in the front parlor in the coffin, wasnt she? Im offered fortunes for the front field, for the side field, for the backfield. Phone: (718) 966 . Valley Stream. Now what are you going to do with this? 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. Im going to get gifts now because Im staying in the house and Im going to fix it up.. And with the money that I made from there, I put it right back in the building. Q: Was that here in the house? I lived in one room, for almost five years. The kitchen was never in the basement. I think I got the two of them for five bucks or something like that. And in the meantime, I made a couple of little investments and they turned out very well for me. I mean, after it was finished, who cared? And he said, George, you know, that big, beautiful house that sits empty? Tell us about when you were born? They bought a house. Burke: Oh, God, Mario come out here all the time. Daller: No. But I was glad that I got this. 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. And people were coming from all over the island. 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. I did everything. And a couple of my friends came as bartenders for me. But you used tell me. Daller: Yes, definitely. Burke: Oh, well, the Eskimos up there would give me beautiful mukluks and all kinds of things. And my father died, and we were all very young. Burke: So, in other words, fifty years from now, if someone wants to learn about the house, they can find out. Located in Staten Island, NY. But not long ago, I was talking about it. That poor horse. What the hell is this? All of a sudden, she went, Youre in my house, and get out! Holy Christ. Unbelievable. And that was the end of them. And they were big floors. A necklace with a gold heart that opened like a. The mansion, oh god. Because he paid for the entire outside himself. Then she got to the point where she couldnt keep it anymore. So thats my uncles hope for it as well. Daller: Mm-hmm! Daller: Yes. So I paid it off and bought it in cash, with the cash. So when I get out of the service, I got a job. In fact, I think it was just landmarked wasnt it? They were all along the waterfront here. You can retire. And one day. And if I couldnt take care of them, Id call down to the base and theyd send a helicopter and theyd pick them up and take them down to the hospital, because we had to take care of them, because Alaska was ours, and all the Eskimos was our responsibility. I bought those buildings. You got to get out. So we moved to Florida. Thanks very much to you. Burke: Yes. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a member of the Historic House Trust. I dont need The Death of Cleopatra hanging above my fireplace. 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. I had no idea that that was it, when I bought the house or anything. Burke: Ed. And not only that, we got a lot of manureI used to have it to put on all the gardens and to put on the fields and whatnot. Wantagh, Seaford . And I got a good price for that. Daller: Thats a story you should share, about the lilacs and the lady. Loving son of Joan (Perry) Burke of Plymouth and the late George W. Burke. Burke: So I dont know if that was a ghost. 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. Daller: I think weve touched on everything, really. Burke: And that was called the Tidewater Inn. 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. Because he lived right here, lived right here on Staten Island. And if they only would have remained, they would have been a part of it, and everything could have been fully appreciated. And the people that lived there, they got a little too old to stay there. Utica. Burke: And he was one of the top portrait painters in Madrid. Find the obituary of William Burke (1966 - 2021) from Staten Island, NY. He did so much work for you. Its a part of the history that should remain. And she wanted to start running things and taking things over. So I just grew up with it, knowing it. Click here to view all obituaries Search Obituaries Contact Us / Location. I just repainted. Daller: Mm-hmm. Well, he lived on Staten Island. Hes the man that built the house. This old? And then I said, well, now Im going to buy a home. After Burke returned to Staten Island, he purchased and restored two houses and an old restaurant and bar before he was contacted by Bess Seguine in 1981, who had inherited the then-deteriorated Seguine Mansion. Get out. Put through the years, people recognized it and everything. It was gorgeous and very ornatewas very, very much like Greek Revival. Q: Yes. And getting an American Dollar from being in the service, getting my payeven though it wasnt that muchbut at that time, over there, it was worth a fortune. He worked by himself. Skip to main content (800) 896-5587. That was the most beautiful mansion. And he owned the funeral home. And they were going to pay for everything if they owned it. So I rented the apartment next door, and I broke a hole in the wall. Daller: What about the coat? The story about the coat that you had from Alaska? Then I went looking for the big pieces. Daller: Right, we really dont discuss any of that. I was And I was so damn busy, I never got to go home. And the house was like this, a big piece with two big wings. Theyre all McMansions. You can go and look and read about anything about the South Shore of Staten Island. It feels like home, because thats what its been. And in the basement, I put the kitchen and a dining area and everything. We have a choice in having a caretaker come in also to maintain it. I know the Port Richmond store you just bought. Of course, she loved the smell of lilacs. 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. Find the obituary of William Burke (1966 - 2021) from Staten Island, NY. Donald was born August 16th, 1954, in Staten Island, New York, to Michael and Eleanor. They cant build houses on it. And I said, What in the hell is this doing in my house? So I opened up the lid and there was this old lady laying in there, with this big lace collar around her neck, and her hair was puffed up behind her head, like that, was all gray. And I hope whoever is in charge of itLinda will probably be here in charge! 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. Daller: You know, people dont understand them. Theyre all gone. He was an old craftsman from the other side. 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. Dont remember what happened to it, right? Where all the servants lived. But they did a lot for me. And I always used to say, Wonder who lives there! and so forth and so on. Devoted father of Matthew I. Burke, Jason L. Burke, and Georgina P. Burke, all of Hull. Yes, that was all Scalamandr. 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. Facebook. Burke: Oh, and then the house, when I bought it, everybodythe real estate lady, she wouldnt come in. So she said, Bess said, Were going to have to quit, George. I said Oh, shit. And that was the end of that. So I stayed there, worked for him for years. Daller: You met some interesting people there. Sign up for NYPAP mailings and our Newsletter to stay up-to-date. And then he got married and moved in with his wife. Thats the only way to explain it. This was the farmhouse. Burke: Oh, I forgot about that. Interviewee: George Burke Location: Staten Island, NY Interviewer: Sarah Dziedzic Date: November 9, 2021 . Unfortunately, all the grounds areI dont even know if the house is there anymore! Kathleen graduated from St. Peter's Girls High School in 1962. And I had the two apartments! 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. And on top of that, I still worked for Sherwin Williams. And so they lost it. Architectural style and interior style? You said you started with the basement. Its still there, the framework of it, with the brick. So, unfortunately, there arent many people that care that way anymore. I said, I still have friends that myour parents met before we met. And I often wondered what happened to that brooch because I gave it to Bess. The one in particular, United States Steel [Corporation]. 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. Of course, nothings there. He brought a crowd with him and it was just to tell him thank you for everything that hes done. But when they were building houses, if you had a third story, your taxes went out of sight! But they are the ones thatup in arms, saying, Aww, that poor horse. Everybody came in to a coldwater flat in the Bronx and walked in amazed because theyve never seen anything like that. Burke: Mario Buatta got me into all of that. And it never had a kitchen. 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george burke staten island obituary