What a shame. They were the Mackeys. Burke: Of course, I come from a big house. Well. But, thats what I did. She had a caretaker or she had a woman that took care of her, or something. Im going to retire, Im going to go down to that big old house, restore it, fix it all up, move in it, and enjoy it. So I made sure it was filled in with dirt the rest of the way, so I wouldnt have that water getting in the basement. They bought a house. 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. Victor. So I would walk around, Id look and Id see some beautiful stuff for sale, for nothing. Right? 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. So I went down and I just went around and everything I seenall the stuff you see hanging in this house, most of it come from me going around and wheeling and dealing in, you might as well say, the black market. You know, nobody wanted to end it but nobody wanted to, say, Lets do it. These are those Persian carpets. And with the Air Force, I enjoyed every minute. Then, on that side, was the dining room, and the kitchen. 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. George Burke. You dont have to worry about, sleeping on your couches and all that kind of stuff, and, you know, pulling out fake beds, and that kind of stuff. Thanks very much to you. Q: Can you give me an example of one of the things that you worked on together in the house? And there was French doors that went out from the basement under the porch. Find the obituary of William Burke (1966 - 2021) from Staten Island, NY. And it was twice the size of this house. Burke: One was a necklace with a heart on it. Thats what I wanted. The stables, everything has to remain the same. Donald was born August 16th, 1954, in Staten Island, New York, to Michael and Eleanor. Daller: Yes. The woodwork, the moldings, the parquet floors. And it was quite difficult to maintain the big house we were living in. And people were selling anything out of their house to support themselves and live. And whats going on up the street here now? But the one that I remember was a great big brooch. See Photos. You couldnt tell what it was. And these roofs had big arches, like this. Burke: The only thing is, the house will be closed. Would you just sell me two acres there? What a damn dream, there she was, laying in her coffin there, with her finger at me. They moved in there, and they lived there. Of course, I went to school here. Burke: And he was one of the top portrait painters in Madrid. And it was one of those busy, busy, goddamn nights. Yes. And I gave that, I thinkI dont know if I gave it to Bess. She was living in the house untilshe owned it until she died, and then I would take it over. So coming back to it was a change. Daller: See, now you learned about kitchens. Q: Was it Mario that suggested the life tenancy agreement? Theres a bunch of little houses now built all along through their gardens. Of course, nothings there. Q: No, that covers it! Well, what are we talking about? George Burke's White Party NEW! And I dont like this. And shed go to her father and her father and say, You know, George, shes my daughter, and this and thatand I said, Yes, well, John, let me tell you something. Burke: So that should pretty well cover it, I think. You cant ride anywhere but in a circle arena. Q: Yes, absolutely. And all my brothers. Hes been maintaining it for forty-plus years. 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? If you want to come, behave yourselves. Burke: I went and I was stationed in England, and I loved being in England. See Photos. This the expensive piece of property! They sold it to the developers. Were going to this estate. The only thing that will save this house as a bulldozer! [laughs] But anyway, I saved it. They didnt even have soap. [laughs] And I lived there for a long time. I want it now. I could never get it. 6389 Amboy Road. I bought those buildings. Burke: Oh god. And my nephewwhat the hell was he? First thing I started with was the basement because it had four-foot of water in it. Copyright 1998 2023 New York Preservation Archive Project. I said, No, no, no. And I never had timesometimes Id be sleeping on the pool table there because I just couldnt leave! Burke: Chris will stay living here. Burke: About the candle? And I renovated the bar, I renovated the other side, my two sisters came to work for me, running the kitchen and the dining room. Daller: He did the sofa upstairs as well. Do you drink? No, we dont drink. So I would collect all the stamps. In fact, her husband was a big-wig. They cant do anything. And he asked me would I be interested in working for him out here on Staten Island. I mean, I could do a little woodwork, but I wasnt a carpenter. Burke: Yes, its a big oil painting, a big painting like this. But they donated it to the Sisters of Charity, figuring that the nuns could live in that gorgeous mansion. So I went out and I said toI had two roommates, and I said to my roommates, Wheres my box? And they said Oh, well, Sergeant Joiner came in and took it. I said, Oh, no! I went running out. The mansion, oh god. It was so overgrown. And, well, lets face it, they never had any hot water over there at all. Now what are you going to do with this? So I couldnt take any of the clothes. She married her husband Thomas Burke on April 24, 1965, and had five children. Or did you have to just guess and make decisions? So I figured, oh, shit. But under that porch was the basement. And they would give me all kinds of beautiful little carved objects and things that would be carved out of the whales teeth or. I could. So I figured, hmm! So I went down in Rossville and I bought a beautiful, big old, rundown place and restored it completely. Burke: Its right on the Boulevard and it goes down to the beach. Daller: As a matter of fact, we had an event years ago. He come over he looked at it. I have questions about closets too! Lets move out, youre being kicked out anyway, the house is sold. That was the mansion. Daller: I mean, that big wrap-around porch that went all the way around the house. Daller: Well, they hope to. Q: Well, Im pretty much at the end of my questions. And you cant control it from the grave. So every time she wants to go riding, she has to go all the way to New Jersey, ride her horse, and then come all the way back. All these walls used to be white. George Burke. And I loved it. Remember him? There was nine of us in the whole family. And I think we can end there. So she said, Bess said, Were going to have to quit, George. I said Oh, shit. A lot of these drapes, they did. Burke: Theyll come in, but youll have to have somebody as a guide. Right across the creek. And so people saidthey took all the horses and they moved to New Jersey. So I found this big beautiful, French, mansard roof, big Victorian house in Tottenville. He was the top interior designer in New York. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a member of the Historic House Trust. Yes. So its a shame. And that was a kitchen, and that was bedrooms and a little living room, all up there. And over the years, it became just prohibitive to try and do. So theres no more Scalamandr, I dont think, is there? Burke: Well, most of the stuff in the house, he worked with me. So I got this on the front porch somewhere, nailed to the house, butdoesnt matter. Like our page to stay informed about passing of a loved one in Staten Island, New York on facebook. Daller: No, that still has to be discussed. And he and his wife, Adriana, they retired and moved to Florida. 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. Ill help renovate it, fix it up and such. And thats what we did. I moved in the house, and I would come in the house, and right in the front hallway, you could always smell lilacs. Staten Island, Brooklyn, New York, Kings, Long Island, and New Jersey (718) 966-7800 And she was laying with her arms, like that. 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. 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. Yes, the dining room and the kitchen was on the other two, side. It was unbelievably gorgeous. February 15, 2023 (81 years old) View obituary. Dont forget I, for yearsin London, I went to university. When I was over there looking at their house. Q: So this is going to part of an online archive. Did quite well. And that went for years. He said he believes that whoever was in that other house, really didnt want people there. So Id go over there and, of course, Bess Seguine was always over there. Burke: Of course, Id been in Alaska for all that time. 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. I had all the walls done. 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. When I bought the house, the real estate people, they wouldnt go in. But he was excellent. When I bought it, I didnt know what was that ones house. They didnt have it six months and they went under. Staten Island, Richmond County, NY Genealogy Site - Staten Island Recent Obituaries George Burke. And that was, Mrs.these mirrors came from that house, they were in the parlor in that houseWhat the hell was her name? Yes. 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? 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