The Seguine Mansion, also known as The Seguine-Burke Mansion, is located on Lemon Creek near the southern shore of

Staten Island Staten Island ( ) is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Richmond County, in the U.S. state of New York. Located in the city's southwest portion, the borough is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull an ...

. The

Greek Revival The Greek Revival was an architectural movement which began in the middle of the 18th century but which particularly flourished in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in northern Europe and the United States and Canada, but ...

house is one of the few surviving examples of 19th Century life on Staten Island. It is listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

and is a member of the

Historic House Trust The Historic House Trust of New York City was formed in 1989 as a public-private partnership with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation to preserve the historic houses located within New York City parks, although most of the houses ...

. James Seguine is believed to have purchased property near Lemon Creek between 1780 and 1786, and his grandson Joseph H. SeguineSeguine Genealogy (person #26)
/ref> built the house on the property in 1838.Historic House Trust
At the time, he added a hay barn, carriage house and stables. Joseph was a prominent businessman in the area, founding several companies including the

Staten Island Railroad The Staten Island Railway (SIR) is a rapid transit line in the New York City borough of Staten Island. It is owned by the Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority (SIRTOA), a subsidiary of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and ...

company. He died in 1856. In 1868, the family was forced to sell the house and land. In 1916, descendants were able to repurchase the house and it remained in the family until 1981. In 1981 the house was in serious need of repair, and was sold to George Burke, who had previously restored other historic buildings in the community. Burke not only saved the building but also ensured that the property would not be subdivided. The renovation of the outside of the house took more than five years and sixty gallons of paint. Burke filled the house with his elaborate collection of art and furnishings, many acquired during his years in England after World War II, while he was in the Air Force. After restoring the house and establishing an equestrian center at the site, Burke donated the Seguine Mansion to the City of New York in 1989, and retains a life interest in the site. The

New York City Parks Department The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, also called the Parks Department or NYC Parks, is the department of the government of New York City responsible for maintaining the city's parks system, preserving and maintaining the ecolog ...

owns the house. Tours are scheduled by Friends of the Seguine Mansion, by appointment only. The Friends of Seguine Mansion is a not-for-profit (501C3) formed for the purpose to own, operate, manage, and do everything normally associated with conducting the business of fund-raising for the care and maintenance of the Seguine Mansion residence and grounds, together with the power to solicit grants and contributions for the corporate purposes.

References

External links

Historic House Trust: Seguine Mansionwww.seguinemansion.org
{{Authority control Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Staten Island Houses completed in 1838 Museums in Staten Island Historic house museums in New York City New York City Designated Landmarks in Staten Island Prince's Bay, Staten Island

See also

References

External links