Theres too much business going on here. So were talking about this and talking about this. I mean, these little gold chairs, are Victorianthats a Victorian chaireverything is really Victorian. And I often wondered what happened to that brooch because I gave it to Bess. Home; About Us. 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. And as I said, I was in the military up there and we werent a big group of military, it was like a small base. Thats annoying certain people. What was it, in the city? It was terrible. GEORGE BURKE OBITUARY. All rights reserved (About Us). Q: You mentioned that the South Shore has changed in the last few years. My sisterher mother [indicates Daller], Francesmy sister living in the Bronx, she got me a little apartment and she got me a job working for Saks Fifth Avenue. The mayor and everybody else in the cityyou cant ride on the beach. Theres none of the spirits. The orientals that originally were on the floor here, I put up in the bedrooms upstairs. They were all six floor walkups and, thats where you lived! Sure, Id no idea of ever owning his house because I had a beautiful big house in Tottenvillebig French style house. Burke: Oh, God, Mario come out here all the time. Most of them were like china and vases, such like that. Obituary Tribute Wall Service Information . (718) 761-5544 | matthewfh@matthewfuneralhome.com | 2508 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10314. Devoted father of Matthew I. Burke, Jason L. Burke, and Georgina P. Burke, all of Hull. Because, now, they cant tear it down. 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. Q: And so, what sort of vision do you have for, you know, the next the next forty years, for how the grounds are maintained and how. See Photos. And I always used to say, Wonder who lives there! and so forth and so on. Burke: Yes. Daller: But when you got it, it really was in need of repair. Thats ittheres no more of them. And they were good investments. Daller: Yes, definitely. Thats not good. The same thing thats going on with statues. And I never had timesometimes Id be sleeping on the pool table there because I just couldnt leave! So as long as I own it, I own it, theyll pay for it. I started with the basement. 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. Its, all the numbers are accounted for. And I did, I got in St. George wasnt it? What was. I mean, as a kid going down here crabbing, down on the beach, we used to look back at the house all the time. But it only reached a certain point of it, not in the very beginning. Burke: Yes. It makes sense because she was an old lady. So I said to her, I said Bess, the only thing Ill save your house is a bulldozer! Burke kept records of the work, most of which he completed himself and financed the through the sale of his business, the Tidewater Inn. And what they did is they bought a whole fleet of old taxis. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Unfortunately. Q: So tell me about what its been like for you to live here. George had a wonderful career with the MBTA, starting as repairman and becoming the Superintendent of the Red Line until his retirement. And I was so damn busy, I never got to go home. All my life, I was raised in a big house. And you would have been taxed in this country if it was already like that. Always curious and seeking information, George started a second career with Siemens, where he worked for ten years as a Service Specialist of Building Technologies. Burke: Yes, there was a little man in New Jersey. That was Mrs., what was her name? Luis was great. And there was French doors that went out from the basement under the porch. Burke: Well, look at the mansion! And I looked in the thing, I said, Holy shit. He did the White House and everything. Bulldozed that down. I have no idea what it would be like to live in some other place. Do you remember that? So we need to get help. If you lived in Alaska, where it was always cold, it was fine. And the kitchen was outside. And each little petal and everything is done beautiful. Beloved husband of Rosanna (Ialuna) Burke. And then Iwhatd I do then, Ioh, I paid for this house, didnt I? I was seventeen years with the Air Force. Theyre deciding they want to build, so they tear down and build. Wed go down through the junk yards and whatnot. And all my brothers. You want to have someone living in it, you cant have an empty house. FDNY firefighter Timmy Burke. And one day. All Rights Reserved. And the porch, I dont thinkone end of it, you wouldnt dare walk on because the whole thing would have collapsed. Would you just sell me two acres there? Is there anything, you think? My mother and his wife never got along too well. Like this chair that youre sitting in, these are Chippendale chairs in the Chinese style. And thats what I did. I saved that, thats still there. Our History; Map & Directions . I said to him, Are you kidding? Yes. So coming back to it was a change. But unfortunately, it all fell in. Im joining the Air Force. So I went out and I joined the United States Air Force of course. 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. And my other sisternow, of course shes passed awaybut now her daughter took it, and the daughter gave it to her daughter. Cheers! And youd walk out, and the porch was all brick, and at the end of the porch was a big arch that had little windows in it and a French door where you could walk out to the garden. That wasyou probably dont rememberthere was this great big factory right down here, built on the beach. Did quite well. And with the money that I made from there, I put it right back in the building. She said, George, when she died, she was laid out in the coffin, right in that room, in front of those two windows. But the upper story of the house was two more floors. Im offered fortunes for the front field, for the side field, for the backfield. We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. He spends time in every part of it. I woke up with a sweat. So thats how that all came about. Daller: Well he formed that, thats the board. And it didnt take long to sell because it was a big piece of property, nice house. Utica. But, thats what I did. I bought those in Germany. And is there a way where, according to how you would like the house to be maintainedwould everything stay in its place? But you do have Chris thats upstairs that lives in the servants quarters. So Id go over there and, of course, Bess Seguine was always over there. Its going to hell. I cant go and say, You know, fifty years ago that was mine, and I never gave it to you. Staten Island. What were the things that you did when you were young? And in the meantime, I made a couple of little investments and they turned out very well for me. So I would go to the flea markets and things. And if you went around with Mario Buatta, that was like going with the President of the United States. Theyre very few. And then upstairs was like a big balcony above that porch. So I figured, hmm! So I went down in Rossville and I bought a beautiful, big old, rundown place and restored it completely. Because Evelyn didnt like the house, his wife. And I dream that I heard some noise. And people were coming from all over the island. These are those Persian carpets. I restored all those buildings down in Tottenville, all those great old buildings. She said shell keep the doors locked and call Linda if anybody wants to get in and take anything out. Tarrytown-Sleepy Hollow. I loved Alaska. Its still there, the framework of it, with the brick. Its all stay in here. OBITUARY Kathleen Burke January 20, 1945 - January 26, 2023. In good condition? Q: I wanted to ask, also, theres a painting of you in the house, right? My sister, Frances, got me a nice little apartment in the Bronx, right next to her. And he had helped meyou know, while I had my own ideas for design, and whatever I thought of, he said, George, thats great. I frequently told her how much I really longed to own the house. Mom, you own the house, you own at least part of it, or half of it. And then I was able to get all my stuff out of storage and out of peoples homes where I stored them, and furnished the house and moved and lived in the whole house, took care of it. Burke is joined in this interview by his niece, Linda Daller. Burke: I think, what was left of it, the sons moved to California and they opened up a Scalamandr in California. Q: And you said that you restored the garden there too? He worked by himself. Well. 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. See Photos. Must have been twelve big columns, it was, oh! And then, it wasI guess that was in the spring, then later on, I dont know what I was doing. I cant remember her name. Right? He come over he looked at it. Q: So part of why it closed was because. And thats what this house is. Or is that real? That was real. I think so. But big stuff like couches and chairs and that kind of thing. But that was a condo. So thats my uncles hope for it as well. Its a beautiful house. And a lot of it got given away, got lost. Or is there a way for things to be changed? Burke: Theyll come in, but youll have to have somebody as a guide. They cant build houses on it. And I was the assistant to the general who was the surgeon for the European Command. 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. I had no idea that that was it, when I bought the house or anything. Burke: Yes, its a big oil painting, a big painting like this. Got a good price for a couple of other real estate pieces that I bought and fixed up and sold. Big fluted columns with big Corinthian capitals on them. And over the years, it became just prohibitive to try and do. in memory of George W. Burke, please visit our floral store. Daller: It was like, we cant even find him anymore. And that was the end of them. Burke: She has it. So Walter was re-stationed to Fort Lauderdale in Florida. Daller: That was the house that had ghosts. Right. The Greek Revival house is one of the few surviving examples of 19th Century life on Staten Island. They tore down those two nice little cottages that were there. Restored the building, looked around, come down, bought this house from Mrs. Seguine, and then moved out of the bar and restaurantbecause I had a room upstairs in it. Q: The stuff that you got in England, from Mrs. Murphy. So tell me about when you went to Europe. Ill give you a job. Yes. They tear down one house and build five. Burke: Anyway, she was well known here on Staten Island. So it shows you that you have a friend forever. She was a nasty old lady! But that was funny. 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. Burke: Yes. I spent enough time breaking my back. You cant ride anywhere but in a circle arena. newbury street, boston shops; valley urologic associates patient portal; cherie chan age; leaf filter . Its been so long now. And finally their husbands were getting pissed at them, because they were never home, they were always here. And then, on the third floor, which was in the mansard roof, that was all the servants quarters. And its three little girls sitting on a bench with big baskets of flowers in front of them. Daller: And he formed the board in order to support the house. 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. Yes, the dining room and the kitchen was on the other two, side. And they said he had the box, and took it with them. Good God! And were doing this interview in Burkes home, in the Seguine Mansion on the South Shore of Staten Island. And he dealed in antique rugs, and regular rugs and everything. So thats where I got most of the stuff thats here in the house today. donations to honor George may be made to Tunnels to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10306. Burke: Well, I was always an antique collector. So she was always, Come on, George. And then one of my brothers had just gotten out of the military. And in the basement, I put the kitchen and a dining area and everything. But I dreamt it and I knew every single thing about 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. And she couldntthey couldnt keep up with it anymore. A couple of years ago, I painted them this color, didnt I? Isnt that a huge house theyre building, you told me? But the basement was the summer dining rooms and summer kitchen. But when I die, they say theyre going to make a museum out of it. I had the best collection of the most beautiful carved ivory and things because they didnt have money but they would give you things. And she was laying like this. And also about the history of Staten Island, or the style that the house is decorated in, the Victorian style, your collection. george burke staten island obituary. Grandchildren Maria, Victoria, Madison, Michael, Ryan, Reagan, and Mickey, and great-grandson Angelo. Works at Sandvik. And you can ask[gesturing to Daller], Daller: Everybody got something. And I could turn the horses loose and theyd keep all the fields cut and mowed, you know? Burke: Chris will stay living here. There was the main house, over here was the bar, over here was this big dining room, and this was the main house. Q: So what was it like when you had the house finished and furnished? Like there was old Greek, like the Parthenon, the Greek templesoh, it was beautiful. I thought for sure that would never go. STATEN ISLAND . Yes. And it was actually three stories high. Join Facebook to connect with George Burke and others you may know. Its Greek Revival. Daller: Oh, yes. So we talked to our brother Bill and he had come up with the money, bought the house. So I picked up this one building that had a little old bar next to it. Always, in that vase in the hall. And I walked into there and I walked up, and the lid was closed on the coffin. And I hope whoever is in charge of itLinda will probably be here in charge! Daller: Oh, theOh God now, whats it called? Theyd work out, and theyd be waiters, or this and that. And Ill see to it that, financially, things work out for the two of us. So when I get out of the service, I got a job. This whole corneryou could stand and see the street out there, so this whole corner was rebuilt. He was an old craftsman from the other side. Burke: So that should pretty well cover it, I think. Im always doing something. 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. Find an obituary, get service details, leave condolence messages or send flowers or gifts in memory of a loved one. They didnt even have soap. Daller: If they cant ride, why should they be here? And then when you could see the house, it was a goddamn mess. So I bought it. So my mother decided she would make it into a two-family, and rent out one part of it. So its saved forever. Daller: No. And the post is still there and the staircase is still in good shapebut thats still in the house, now, down there. 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: Yes. Half the railings were gone off the porch, and the column was falling over, and, oh, Jesus. All these empty buildings and things. 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. Because the water was in the basement for so many years, all the dampness had lifted all the floorboards and everything, and so I had to dry the house out, and replaster the walls. And then finally she sold the house and she bought a beautiful place in Greenwich Village and moved to Greenwich Village. Would you? Its unreal! Stony Brook. That was something that you had restoredis that right? Victor. Oh, that was the ghost in Tottenville. 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. Loving brother of Stephen Burke of Florida, Joan Burke of Plymouth, and Timothy Burke of Plymouth. Burke: Yes. 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. All these walls used to be white. And he asked me would I be interested in working for him out here on Staten Island. And then, on the side of the house in the back, there was a little piece built out. She was great, I loved her. You just named them. Burke: Well, the house, actually, from the outside, is aoh, shitthe name of it went right out of my head. But when they were building houses, if you had a third story, your taxes went out of sight! Q: Was it a similar style? So by the time he came back, all this had changed. So everything just kept going off and someone would have all of this, someone would have all of that. Formal gardens, stablesstables that you could live in. 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. Daller: No. He said, when he was moving here, he told the people there, he goes, Im moving. Youre coming with me. So Id say Okay, Murphy, lets go! She was something, I mean. We all got coupons. Well, do you know what your preferences are? I mean, after it was finished, who cared? George Burke purchased the Seguine Mansion in 1981 in an effort to preserve its history and restore it to its former beauty, (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel). Burke: But anyway, it was a big beautiful cameo brooch, and was wrapped in an oil cloth rag! I had just bought this house, and it needed a lot of work. Its some very wealthy unknown-known person who was there. Then she got to the point where she couldnt keep it anymore. 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. Im sorry that, during all that construction, I wasnt taking photographs, of step by step. And I went from room to room and it took me a couple of years, didnt it? And theyd come out and Id get involved with them. Save my house. And I thought, Oh, shit. I was down on the beach one day, I forgot what were doing. And when they werent in the house, they would go and buy them at the stores, and there was always lilacs in the house. Facebook. Daller: You met some interesting people there. Thats the usual setup, I think, for historic houses. [laughs]. They couldnt handle it, the clientele that came in. And so they lost it. I was born right in the hospital across the street, and grew up 90% of my time on Staten Island until I became old enough and I joined the military. I remember you always loved it and liked it. Burke: Oh, yes. Daller: But it was the thing with the lilacs smell. It has to stay exactly as an old plantation house. You got to get out. So we moved to Florida. One woman wouldnt go it, cant think of her name. Then upstairs, was all the bedrooms. 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. Q: Yes. And we used to say, Wow, wonder who lives there? And I lived there for quite a few years. She was the widow of the late Louis A. Muscatello and J. Kenneth Feiden, Sr. and predeceased. He was appointed judicial vicar of the Interdiocesan Appellate Tribunal for the Province of New York in 2009. But, with that money, I paid this house off. Now you can look up Brooklyn obits and track down your bloodline in New York in a matter of seconds. But those things, I couldnt. But that was the cistern for doing all the laundry and everything in the basement. Its still that way. IN THE CARE OF. Up until a year ago, he was still cutting the lawn! Burke: Oh god. Burke: Well, I wanted a beautiful Victorian look. 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. The Seguine girls, as they were called,. Q: You mentioned that the South Shore has changed in the last few years. Yes, but it was weird. Burke: What its been like for you to live here. This the expensive piece of property! They sold it to the developers. Q: Yes. Q: Your collection of the items that you bought from Mrs. Murphy. Its Meissen. 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. 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