Daller: Oh, theOh God now, whats it called? And she wanted to start running things and taking things over. Right across the creek. Subsequently, I worked for Sherwin Williams in their design department.What did you do after that?I bought the Seguine Mansion, my home, in 1981, and began my journey. Chris was the one that got involved with it. Jack Johnson and George Burke bought the inn in February 1973. Q: I mean, I live in a small apartment, so what is it like to live in a kind of museum quality home? Find an obituary, get service details, leave condolence messages or send flowers or gifts in memory of a loved one. My father was in the political-end, and he was in Borough Hall and everything like that. And I want my painting. Q: Your collection of the items that you bought from Mrs. Murphy. I didnt know they were lilacs, but I could smell something pretty. Daller: He enjoys the whole house. And people were coming from all over the island. And, of course, being in the military and traveling with them, the government shipped all my stuff that I bought and picked upshipped it all back to America for me. This whole corneryou could stand and see the street out there, so this whole corner was rebuilt. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. But that was biga big, two-bedroom condo. And a lot of it got given away, got lost. In good condition? I found a beautiful place in Tottenville and I opened it and called it the Tidewater Inn. You couldnt even see it. And, you know, who has that!? Lookit, I saved the police station and the two buildings next to the police station. But not long ago, I was talking about it. And then of course, being in New York and being in the thing like that, I got to be very, very good friends, with Scalamandr. Burn it down, put a candle in the middle of the hall. Daller: At least the property itself, because when you stood outside, I mean, you couldnt see anything. Parks takes care of the outside of the house and I the inside, Parks pays taxes and water and I pay all other expensesOver the years, what or who has inspired you?I'm inspired by memories of growing up on Staten Island, remembering the Seguine family, and now being here to enjoy it with them.What do you see for the future of the house?My hope is, with the help of the board of directors, I will see the house continue and be available for future generations to enjoy,Who have you strongly admired?Edith Susskind, who was a Staten Island treasure in grace and beauty. Burke: Oh, God, I stood on the edge here and I watched what was going on over there. And he was stationed here, in St. George, and he would come home and wed live in the house. Q: Okay, all of that. So I paid it off and bought it in cash, with the cash. Daller: Thats been acquired over the years. [laughs] But, itll be here. Burke: Hawaii. And in the meantime, I made a couple of little investments and they turned out very well for me. Daller: Because you might remember, he was away for so many years. She was great, I loved her. It was there that I was awakened to the oldness of buildings, its gardens and the historical legacy of its art.Did you fulfill your desire?Yes and worked alongside Mario Buatta, known as the Prince of Chintz.What other occupations have you held?I had a long career as a medic in the Air Force. to the family or plant a tree All that gorgeous porcelain, like the Flower Sellers Childrenits a big piece 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. Hes the man that built the house. And I had to laugh. And so shes got the bridge, and it costs money. And I know everythingId love to go out to Staten Island. So he said, Good. And the kitchen was outside. I found him through somebody. And I could turn the horses loose and theyd keep all the fields cut and mowed, you know? She had a caretaker or she had a woman that took care of her, or something. Because he paid for the entire outside himself. And we recognized Mario at the event. 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? It was so overgrown. And then when they decided thatthey owned a beautiful house on one of the Keys in Florida. Well work it out, one way or another. And so the two of us started and we madecalled it the Old Bermuda Inn because John loved Bermuda and he was putting a lot of money in it. Like there was old Greek, like the Parthenon, the Greek templesoh, it was beautiful. Daller: And he formed the board in order to support the house. 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. And that way, it wouldnt burn the houses down. You said you started with the basement. And I had beautiful big pieces of Meissen that I got when I was in Germany, and it all went here and there andI cant get it back. But they donated it to the Sisters of Charity, figuring that the nuns could live in that gorgeous mansion. And he said, Mom, Ill move in to the other part of the house. And all this beautiful stuff, I used to put in a big box. Wed go down through the junk yards and whatnot. And in the basement, I put the kitchen and a dining area and everything. And through all the years that the old lady had this woman taking care of her, the lilacs were always in bloomwhen they were in bloom, they were in the house. But that was a big improvement, putting in the kitchen, because there never was a kitchen in the houseand where the kitchen is now, that was the laundry room. And its three little girls sitting on a bench with big baskets of flowers in front of them. That was something that you had restoredis that right? Q: You mentioned that the South Shore has changed in the last few years. Put a candle right in the middle of that floor and go take a walk. [laughs] He called it the one-candle house. I thought for sure that would never go. Of course, she loved the smell of lilacs. It was unbelievably gorgeous. The story about the coat that you had from Alaska? Was very little time on here. And a couple of my friends came as bartenders for me. In lieu of flowers, donations to honor George may be made to Tunnels to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10306. Good God! I frequently told her how much I really longed to own the house. Special thanks to The Peggy N and Roger G Gerry Charitable Trust for their support to complete this initiative. He worked by himself. Its, all the numbers are accounted for. Also, surviving are her siblings Peggy . And I said, Was that a dream? So my sister Bess said, Well, come on, lets go to Florida. I was advised by just about everybody to give it up. For an online guest book, please visit www.mcnamara-sparrell.com. So it didnt matter. But I put the kitchen in the basement and sealed up that, because once that filled up with water, it would leak into the basement. Father Michael Martine has served since 2009 as pastor of St. Joseph's parish, Staten Island. And these roofs had big arches, like this. Theyre deciding they want to build, so they tear down and build. Thats what I wanted. And it was one of those busy, busy, goddamn nights. Im sorry that, during all that construction, I wasnt taking photographs, of step by step. It was a mess. So I said to her, I said Bess, the only thing Ill save your house is a bulldozer! Mrs. Mackey. Where were you stationed and what was it like? You cant ride anywhere but in a circle arena. He said, when he was moving here, he told the people there, he goes, Im moving. And people were selling anything out of their house to support themselves and live. Q: Right. Daller: We lived several places. Just as long as its saved and its here. Browse Staten Island Advance obituaries, conduct other obituary searches, offer condolences/tributes, send flowers or create an online memorial. And he asked me would I be interested in working for him out here on Staten Island. Burke: Oh, it was all overgrown with undergrowth. So I just grew up with it, knowing it. 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. Remember him? Daller: But thats how he [referring to the painting of Mr. Seguine] came back to the house. Each day inspires me that a house of this size and stature has survived and thrived.How did you come to purchase the house?I always admired it and I was well acquainted with Bess Seguine, a descendant of Joseph, the original owner of the home. Q: Can you tell me about the ghost in that house? I got one or two things out of it. He was an old craftsman from the other side. And everyone became extremely close. But it doesnt work that way. So Walter was re-stationed to Fort Lauderdale in Florida. Daller: Well, they hope to. But, Q: Let me ask you some more about the items that you collected when you were. Daller: Oh, thats exactlyI mean, because that was the reason for getting a board, was to also help get things done. He did the White House and everything. But the only thing was it was too small. A necklace with a gold heart that opened like a. Because thats what I bought with the money. I had the house put back together. 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. I grew up loving it and always having it, and my mother was great with it. Q: Well, Im pretty much at the end of my questions. And all these houses would never here! And they repaired all these taxis, repainted them, and then sold them all to Cuba. And Luis Caizares painted that. (nee Rutecki) Laudeman. And the White Party we do in order to take care of doing cleanup on the lawn, doing any kind of plantings, or anything, because he did it all the years. Burke: Oh god. Burke: Mario Buatta got me into all of that. What was. And then finally I had a man come in and talking to me about how hes bought a place on Staten Island that hes opening up a place like Saks only not as nice. Daller: No. It was terrible. If you dont want to come dont show up. And he said since hes been here, he has nobody here. Burke: Yes, I had to go down in the basement, and put a post, and then I had to jack up the stairs. Burke: I never lived in a little small house, I have no idea. But before we know it, there wont be a thing left in the house. Oh, we were crabbing. In lieu of flowers, donations to honor George may be made to Tunnels to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10306. Burke: But anyway, it was a big beautiful cameo brooch, and was wrapped in an oil cloth rag! Yes, by the time I got to do all that I had no money left. Yes, Mrs. Mackey. Q: And did you keep records of the restoration process? Q: No, that covers it! I restored all those buildings down in Tottenville, all those great old buildings. I lived in one room, for almost five years. Burke: So then I gave it to the Historic House Trust of New York. Daller: Mm-hmm. And Ed was very good at taking dents and things out of cars and he could spray paint. Theyd go in and theyd take the windows out and theyd use the windows, and they destroyed it. So while I used to work then with them, and then I decided, this is not for me. Christ, we had a good time. After Burke returned to Staten Island, he purchased and restored two houses and an old restaurant and bar before he was contacted by Bess Seguine in 1981, who had inherited the then-deteriorated Seguine Mansion. Christine of Cincinnati, Ohio and sons Thomas Burke and wife Christine; John Burke and wife Patricia of Staten Island. Burke: Like a locket. George: Oh, I knew the Seguines for years. Oh, God, it was gorgeous. Shit. I donated the house to Historic House Trust retaining life rights while I continued every effort to preserve it. Burke: No, who gave me that? You can search by first or last name, state and publication date. Q: So well have audio recording and a transcript for researchersand Ill remove those names that you mentioned, Linda. 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