BRICK UNDERGROUND
DISCOVER THE ANTEBELLUM-STYLE STATEN ISLAND MANSION YOU'VE PROBABLY NEVER HEARD OF - AND THE ONE NEW YORKER WHO ACTUALLY LIVES IN IT
For architecture buffs looking for a Greek Revival antebellum-style house in New York City, here’s a clue: Take the Staten Island Ferry. Once you’re on the island make your way to the Seguine House, an 1838 mansion facing Prince’s Bay originally built as part of a working plantation.
Though it had fallen into disrepair, the 16-room home, now restored and refurbished, is the star of a new book “The Seguine House: A Nineteenth Century Working Estate in Twenty-First Century New York City.”
Here, author and interior designer Christina Mantz explains why the house is so unique, how Frederick Law Olmstead had a role in the grounds, and why the savior of the property — now run by the city —still lives there. << READ MORE
Though it had fallen into disrepair, the 16-room home, now restored and refurbished, is the star of a new book “The Seguine House: A Nineteenth Century Working Estate in Twenty-First Century New York City.”
Here, author and interior designer Christina Mantz explains why the house is so unique, how Frederick Law Olmstead had a role in the grounds, and why the savior of the property — now run by the city —still lives there. << READ MORE
ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST
Inside the seguine house, a working estate in new York city
Text by Rheana Murray | Photography by Robert Mantz/Courtesy of Rizzoli | April 16, 2015
New York City isn’t the first place that comes to mind when one thinks of a plantation, but on the city’s Staten Island exists one so charming and beloved it is the subject of a new book: The Seguine House (Rizzoli New York, $50).
Joseph H. Seguine built the Greek Revival mansion on his farm in 1838 and made a fortune harvesting oysters. Nearly a century and a half later, the estate was purchased by George Burke, who grew up nearby on Staten Island and had admired the house on Prince’s Bay as a boy.
Author Christina Mantz outlines Burke’s renovations and efforts to preserve the home’s history and maintain its elegance, paying tribute to a time when “gracious living and fine manners were of paramount importance.” Burke donated the home to New York City in 1989 but still lives on the property—a fact that surprises some visitors. “He finds it sad that people have trouble imagining anyone actually living among such fine things,” Mantz writes.
Burke still has horses in the stable, and peacocks roaming the estate. Keeping a Seguine tradition alive, he also continues to host the lavish parties the home had been known for in the 19th century. Both Burke’s and Seguine’s design touches can be seen throughout the home, as illustrated in the book’s gleaming photographs, taken by Robert Mantz, the author’s husband. << READ MORE
Joseph H. Seguine built the Greek Revival mansion on his farm in 1838 and made a fortune harvesting oysters. Nearly a century and a half later, the estate was purchased by George Burke, who grew up nearby on Staten Island and had admired the house on Prince’s Bay as a boy.
Author Christina Mantz outlines Burke’s renovations and efforts to preserve the home’s history and maintain its elegance, paying tribute to a time when “gracious living and fine manners were of paramount importance.” Burke donated the home to New York City in 1989 but still lives on the property—a fact that surprises some visitors. “He finds it sad that people have trouble imagining anyone actually living among such fine things,” Mantz writes.
Burke still has horses in the stable, and peacocks roaming the estate. Keeping a Seguine tradition alive, he also continues to host the lavish parties the home had been known for in the 19th century. Both Burke’s and Seguine’s design touches can be seen throughout the home, as illustrated in the book’s gleaming photographs, taken by Robert Mantz, the author’s husband. << READ MORE
STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
NEW BOOK CELEBRATES THE SEGUINE MANSION
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- For Christina Mantz, the moment has finally arrived.
The design consultant celebrated the release of her new book about the Seguine Mansion Wednesday morning inside the breathtaking home in Prince's Bay.
The coffee table book, titled "The Seguine House: A Nineteenth-Century Working Estate in Twenty-First Century New York City," offers a full-color photographic volume highlighting the beautiful historic 1838 Greek Revival Seguine house, including its stunning interiors, glorious and romantic gardens and its stables in Prince's Bay.
Bubbly with excitement over the five-year project finally coming to fruition, the West Brighton resident and book producer provided plenty of hugs and kisses to house caretaker George Burke.
"We thought it would never happen -- but if it ever happened I knew she could make it happen," said the 85-year-old Burke, who has spent years restoring the home.
Ms. Mantz, who grew up in an old farmhouse, said: "I've known George Burke for over 30 years and when you grow up in an old house you kind of know everyone else who has old houses, and all their stories intertwine, and seeing this house and all the parties here, of course, how can you not fall in love? It was a love affair and we had so much in common. We love all the old stuff. It's the genteel life, I just love all that." << READ MORE
The design consultant celebrated the release of her new book about the Seguine Mansion Wednesday morning inside the breathtaking home in Prince's Bay.
The coffee table book, titled "The Seguine House: A Nineteenth-Century Working Estate in Twenty-First Century New York City," offers a full-color photographic volume highlighting the beautiful historic 1838 Greek Revival Seguine house, including its stunning interiors, glorious and romantic gardens and its stables in Prince's Bay.
Bubbly with excitement over the five-year project finally coming to fruition, the West Brighton resident and book producer provided plenty of hugs and kisses to house caretaker George Burke.
"We thought it would never happen -- but if it ever happened I knew she could make it happen," said the 85-year-old Burke, who has spent years restoring the home.
Ms. Mantz, who grew up in an old farmhouse, said: "I've known George Burke for over 30 years and when you grow up in an old house you kind of know everyone else who has old houses, and all their stories intertwine, and seeing this house and all the parties here, of course, how can you not fall in love? It was a love affair and we had so much in common. We love all the old stuff. It's the genteel life, I just love all that." << READ MORE
WALL STREET JOURNAL
ON STATEN ISLAND, AN ANTEBELLUM MANSION ShINES BRIGHT OLD WHITE HOUSE
By Josh Barbenel | Feb 11, 2015
“He wakes up every morning saying how can I make my home more beautiful,” said Christina Mantz, who grew up in an 1840s farm house on Staten Island. “Less is more is something he never learned.”
Mr. Burke still climbs a ladder each year to paint a portion of the exterior. He waters his trees and formal gardens by hand and feeds his flock of peacocks. He throws a spring garden party where guests are encouraged to dress in white.
In the past few years, he set up a foundation to eventually run the mansion alongside the city’s Parks Department.
To raise money to support the house in the future, Ms. Mantz put together a 124-page coffee-table book tracing the mansion’s history and Mr. Burke’s restoration. It is to be published at the end of March by Rizzoli New York. Her husband, Robert Mantz, an artist who works in advertising, handled the photography.
She has so far raised $42,000 of the $50,000 budget for the book, “The Seguine House: A Nineteenth-Century Working Estate in Twenty-First Century New York City,” ($50).
Mr. Burke still climbs a ladder each year to paint a portion of the exterior. He waters his trees and formal gardens by hand and feeds his flock of peacocks. He throws a spring garden party where guests are encouraged to dress in white.
In the past few years, he set up a foundation to eventually run the mansion alongside the city’s Parks Department.
To raise money to support the house in the future, Ms. Mantz put together a 124-page coffee-table book tracing the mansion’s history and Mr. Burke’s restoration. It is to be published at the end of March by Rizzoli New York. Her husband, Robert Mantz, an artist who works in advertising, handled the photography.
She has so far raised $42,000 of the $50,000 budget for the book, “The Seguine House: A Nineteenth-Century Working Estate in Twenty-First Century New York City,” ($50).
