I was advised by just about everybody to give it up. Daller: No. Its still there in Port Richmond. Or is there a way for things to be changed? Its all stay in here. Burke: I think that waswhod ya call-it got me involved with that. Yes, Mrs. Mackey. STATEN ISLAND . Daller: Well, he said, he felt that house had spirits in it. More beautiful than peoples houses. I mean, we had clocks, baby-Ben clocks, hanging in apartments. They couldnt. Facebook. Interviewing George Burke, and. But I dont remember seeing the main house. Probably. The one owned by the steel companywas that a beautiful house! 12/15/1947 - 04/06/2023. Burke: So I dont know if that was a ghost. Daller: Oh, I dont know. 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. You come out and take over the boys and mens department in the store. I said, Thats fine. So finally, I think, the old lady died, didnt she? Lives in Hotazel, Cape Province, South Africa. You are to get out. George was an engaged conversationalist and even better listener. And one day. Id come back up and I could still smell it in the hallway. Theyll take care of it and be able to show tours. What the hell is that coming from? So I come down the stairs, and as I got down the stairs, the spelling got stronger and stronger. 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. The Old Bermuda Inn. At GenealogyBank, we have made family research easy by digitizing more than 330 years' worth of Brooklyn obituaries in our national newspaper database. The orientals that originally were on the floor here, I put up in the bedrooms upstairs. George Burke. Burke: Oh my god. Enter Because thats what I bought with the money. She was born in Troy on November 16, 1926, she was the daughter of the late George Mileon and Catherine Andrelos Mileon. That was her name. What can I say? So everything just kept going off and someone would have all of this, someone would have all of that. Daller: But it feels like home. And the basement was beautiful, where you can walk out onto the porch and out into the garden. Burke: One was a necklace with a heart on it. No, its not something were talking about right now. He was pastor of Holy Child for 12 years until his retirement in 2000. Daller: The stables. Just landmarked. And then you could walk under the porch out into the garden. Everything has to be environmentally done properly, so by the time you figure it out, youre spending more money, when youre making no money because you have no horses. He appreciated it. And he said, Mom, Ill move in to the other part of the house. So after a couple of years going back and forth, his daughter, she decided she wanted to get involved in it. All rights reserved (About Us). And you can ask[gesturing to Daller], Daller: Everybody got something. So I had people come in and wanted to buy the Tidewater Inn. Daller: Then you got rid of thatbut those are the early days. So that had the outside kitchen. Daller: The staircase wasnt even straight. But I had all that money! And there was a big flight of stairs that went across the big porch across the front of the house, posts. In lieu of flowers, donations to honor George may be made to Tunnels to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10306. And a couple of my friends came as bartenders for me. And my nephewwhat the hell was he? He was in the Air Force. And I would just would go around and Id just pick stuff up. Daller: We lived several places. Funeral Home website by. So they. And she had this woman who was a caretaker. Theyre all McMansions. You can go and look and read about anything about the South Shore of Staten Island. And they were going to pay for everything if they owned it. From last time I saw it, it looked like it needed a bulldozer! She said, No, no, no. She said, you can save it. So you really cant even try to say what does it feel like? Wantagh, Seaford . Q: Andif this is something that you cant discuss, let me knowbut, for example, if you decide to repaint, like you did in this room, is that something that the board fundraises for? 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. Still kept it. But it only reached a certain point of it, not in the very beginning. 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. Burke: Well, a good example is the one right here at the end of the street. But under that porch was the basement. I mean, one year, the oil bill here was $11,000. Burke: And he was one of the top portrait painters in Madrid. And, oh, nobefore then, when I had moved in, I had moved in, and the house had been empty for years. So I said to her, I said Bess, the only thing Ill save your house is a bulldozer! George Burke is one of these dedicated keepers: He minds the Seguine Mansion, which he bought in 1981.Tell us about when you were born?I was born on Oct. 11, 1930, one of nine siblings, to an Annadale family.As a student, what was your career aspiration?I wanted to be an interior designer.Where did you go to school and did any one particularly influence your future career?I attended both primary and high school in Tottenville, however, I attended college in England at Hammersmith, where I majored in interior design. Of course, I went to school here. I come down the stairs and I opened the door. Mom, you own the house, you own at least part of it, or half of it. He did the White House and everything. But it doesnt work that way. I dreamed, I saw it. They really dont know what history is all about. Its still there. I found these here on Staten Island in somebodys basement! But that was a condo. Daller: It was like, we cant even find him anymore. And if you were wearing them and you went and got in your car and turned the heater on, you smelled like piss. And as you see it today was from me doing all those little things. Daller: You met some interesting people there. And she wanted to start running things and taking things over. And they were good investments. Burke: Oh, its in beautiful condition because the guy I told you, Jimmy Pistilli, he had it landmarked. I bought those in Germany. So I took that out of the brick and I got some cement, put it all back in, put the wall back up. I cant go and say, You know, fifty years ago that was mine, and I never gave it to you. The one in particular, United States Steel [Corporation]. And he died young. And in the meantime, I made a couple of little investments and they turned out very well for me. It was terrible. I open the door to the parlor. Q: Did you start the restoration process at that house? They cant develop it. Theyd come out and Id say, Look, I can get you this. Then there was the main hall that went through, just like this: door, front door, back door. And theyd come out and Id get involved with them. So we need to get help. Help NYPAP document and celebrate NYCs preservation movement. Burke: Her sister has it [indicating Daller]. And then when we realized we were broke, all my brothers joined the military, got married, moved away. For an online guest book, please visit www.mcnamara-sparrell.com . She said shell keep the doors locked and call Linda if anybody wants to get in and take anything out. Well, what are we talking about? Burke: Oh god. Burke: Yes. When I bought the house, the real estate people, they wouldnt go in. Skip to main content (800) 896-5587. Msgr. They were great. You want to take down every statue thats been there for a thousand years because, No, that statue shouldnt be there. Father Burke was assigned to Sacred Heart from 1988 to 2003. Because I wanted the man that built the house, and this is the man that saved the house. I dont think anythings missing? One day, he was gone. Im gonna save it, its a gorgeous house!. Got a good price for a couple of other real estate pieces that I bought and fixed up and sold. And my neighbor across the street, who had lived there forever, she comes over again with a couple of little plants for me. While stationed in England, he studied interior design and architectural history and began to collect antiques through estate sales and flea markets, focusing on ceramics, paintings, light fixtures, and many other decorative items from the Victorian era. George Horace Burke. William M. Burke William "Bill" Burke, 84, was a native Staten Islander who loved nothing more than his family.. [laughs]. He spends time in every part of it. And so I had all that stuff in my apartment. And he asked me would I be interested in working for him out here on Staten Island. Q: The Friends of the Seguine Mansionthe friends group. And now the people that I sold it to, the Pistillis [James and Kathleen Pistilli], they had the whole thing researched and now its got landmark things on it and everything. The real estate lady wouldnt come in. And when youd come down, there wasthe stairwell come down, and it was a double parlor, like this, and where this door was, was with two double doors. Luis was great. Ticonderoga. I loved them too. To send flowers I went to boot camp, I loved it. Burke: What were the things I did when what? She said, George, when she died, she was laid out in the coffin, right in that room, in front of those two windows. Because my house was right across the street from it. Then I went looking for the big pieces. Daller: Right, we really dont discuss any of that. So thats where I got most of the stuff thats here in the house today. And I just got a call from all my lady friends saying that my house is falling apart. But you used tell me. I mean, as a kid going down here crabbing, down on the beach, we used to look back at the house all the time. Burke: Yes, there was a little man in New Jersey. And I had to laugh. Christ, we had a good time. I collected all my antiques and all my stuff when I was traveling. He introduced me all the time tobecause look at look at what he was. Isnt that a huge house theyre building, you told me? George was a graduate of Hanover High School, Class of 1976 and entered the US Navy. And I wish the hell I could have gotten a hold of that before they tore it down. And she couldntthey couldnt keep up with it anymore. 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? So I would go to the flea markets and things. Right? And the house across the street from it, the Old [Sir Walter] Tyrrell House. And right outside the window right here, is a great big round, thing thats all brickgreat big round thing, big as this room, covered-overand thats where all the water from the drain pipe from the roof would go in there and fill it, and it was called a cistern, and that was connected to the kitchen downstairs. And with the Air Force, I enjoyed every minute. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. I dont know what the hell Ill do if you do that. And she used to drink all the whiskey like crazy. I said, No, no, no. Q: What do you think the role of this house is, in this part of Staten Island? Hes done it for forty-plus years, now its time to give back. And she was laid in a dress with a big lace collar. Absolutely gorgeous. But, Q: Let me ask you some more about the items that you collected when you were. Burke: Of course, Id been in Alaska for all that time. But not long ago, I was talking about it. I lived in one room, for almost five years. Q: When you were youngwhen you were a kid. 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. I went to grammar school and high school here. And Im looking at looking at it and I said, You know, thats the last house. Burke: No, who gave me that? Before he died, thats what he was. 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.. That house, it was a big French mansard, big Victorian. They couldnt handle it, the clientele that came in. Brother Bill? They were all six floor walkups and, thats where you lived! And then Id been in Europe all that time. And all these houses would never here! Find an obituary, get service details, leave condolence messages or send flowers or gifts in memory of a loved one. 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. Yes. You cant ride on the street. Im sorry that, during all that construction, I wasnt taking photographs, of step by step. 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. But the picture in the locket was all crumbled up. And I had more bargains from Mrs. Murphy. George Burke. If you want to come, behave yourselves. 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 had the military ship the items back to family members in New York City, a perk of military service that made moving his collection back to the States possible. Wed go down through the junk yards and whatnot. It was under your bunk. Though he thought it had no chance, he called and learned that Parks had long been thinking about trying to obtain the mansion. Niagara County: Lockport Union Sun and Journal Obituary Index, 1900-1903 and 2007-2011; Oneida County. Q: How did you establish a relationship with the Parks Department and the Historic House Trust? I mean, look, theyve been trying to get rid of the carriage horses in the city, for how long now? Because she would always want her bottle of booze. Things like that? So when he left the apartment and came to Staten Island, things started to move back into different sisters again until he was ready to relocate it again. A couple of years ago, I painted them this color, didnt I? And when they werent in the house, they would go and buy them at the stores, and there was always lilacs in the house. But when he was in Europe, he rode. And while I was up there, I was sent up to work with Father Tom. Yes, that was all Scalamandr. 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. Lets keep fighting it, because there was no way to fight. Oh my god. Veterans; Directions; Sign in In Memory of George Simon 1944 - 2021 Obituary. And I could turn the horses loose and theyd keep all the fields cut and mowed, you know? Burke: Chris will stay living here. Loving brother of Stephen Burke of Florida, Joan Burke of Plymouth, and Timothy Burke of Plymouth. And the whole big building used to be a big private home, and then they had made it into a restaurant. I think hes given you a great history of what started and, basically, youve talked about his life from the beginning, so, I dont know. Burke: Oh. Q: You mentioned that the South Shore has changed in the last few years. I spent enough time breaking my back. Ill make you the drapes. The drapes are still up there. You made enough money. And then the Eric woke up, and I said, Well, I dont know. So she was always, Come on, George. What are we gonna do here? So he said, Well, I really love doing this, George. And I said, Okay, John, thats fine. And I had a beautiful restaurant and a bar connected to it. So one day, my sister Bess said to my mother and me, she said, Go pack. Get to know GeorgeThe events he hosts: Three events are hosted by George yearly at the mansion. Burke: Well, look at the mansion! I cant think of the name of the thing now. Loving son of Joan (Perry) Burke of Plymouth and the late George W. Burke. Yes, she died and she was in the front parlor in the coffin, wasnt she? I bought the house and Bess and Marge came over. Daller: Yes, well, thats what we just said, yes. I had all the walls done. What a damn dream, there she was, laying in her coffin there, with her finger at me. It doesnt happen on the North Shore because were very condensed and its a dense population. Daller: He did the sofa upstairs as well. Q: Right. That works! Thankfully, no ones come here and said, Oh, you might have had slaves. 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