Seguine Mansion facts for kids
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Seguine House
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Seguine-Burke Mansion
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 Location in New York City
Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 440 Seguine Ave, Staten Island, New York |
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| Built | 1838 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Website | http://www.seguinemansion.org |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002761 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 6, 1980 |
The Seguine Mansion, also known as the Seguine-Burke Mansion, is a historic house. It is located on Lemon Creek near the southern shore of Staten Island, New York. This beautiful house is built in the Greek Revival style. It is one of the few buildings left that shows what life was like in the 1800s on Staten Island. The mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also a member of the Historic House Trust, which helps protect important old buildings.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
Building the Mansion
The Seguine family first bought land near Lemon Creek a long time ago. This was between 1780 and 1786. Joseph H. Seguine, a grandson, built the main house in 1838. At that time, he also added a hay barn, a carriage house, and stables. Joseph was an important businessman in the area. He even helped start the Staten Island Railroad company. Joseph passed away in 1856.
Changes in Ownership
In 1868, the Seguine family had to sell the house and land. However, in 1916, some of Joseph's descendants were able to buy the house back. It stayed in the Seguine family until 1981.
Saving the Mansion
By 1981, the house needed a lot of repairs. It was sold to George Burke, who had experience fixing up old buildings. Mr. Burke not only saved the mansion but also made sure the land around it would not be divided up. Restoring the outside of the house took more than five years. It also needed sixty gallons of paint!
Mr. Burke filled the house with his amazing collection of art and furniture. He had collected many of these items during his time in England. He was there after World War II, serving in the Air Force. After fixing up the house, he also created a horse riding center there. In 1989, Mr. Burke gave the Seguine Mansion to the City of New York. He still lives there and helps care for the site.
The Mansion Today
The New York City Parks Department now owns the Seguine Mansion. If you want to visit, tours are set up by the Friends of the Seguine Mansion. You need to make an appointment to see it. The Friends of Seguine Mansion is a group that raises money. They use these funds to help care for the mansion and its grounds. They also seek grants and donations to support their work.
See also
