Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-06-02


hardly be estimated for the historian, be-
cause within the walls of the old mansion
are many mementoes of a bygone time, and
because it is associated with some of the
chief characters in the history of this country
during one OF its most interesting periods
The estate extends from One hundred and
fifty ninth street to One hundred snd seventy
fifth street, and from Harlem river to St.
Nicholas avenue and the Kingsbridge road.
The old mansion, which is situated on the
southeasterly part oil the ground, overlooks
the Harlem river from a hill of considerable
hight From the roadway in front of the
house view can be obtained which .
CANNOT BE EXCELLED IN BEAUTY
and extent at any point in the city. Almost
under the base of the hill is the northern
terminus of the Metropolitan Elevated road
Beyond this lies the river with its low banks,
always enlivened by the movement of row.
ers out for practice. In the middle distance
are the factories at Mott Haven and the up
per portion of Harlem. Beyond these an
undulating country, rich in foliage and gar
dens, carries the eve onward until it rests
upon the blue waters of the distant Sound,
backed by the shores of Long Island. The
house itself is one of those old-fashioned
buildings which are becoming fewer every
year in this country. 1t is a very solid
looking structure of frame, with a broad
piszzs, the roof of which is supported by
four pillars. 1t bears every appearance of
age except that of decay.
The quaintness of the outside hardly pre-
pares the visitor for the strange appearance
of the inside. Entering the door Is like
stepping backward into past age. The hall
is of the most generous proportions. 1t has
an archway in the center, as if it might
once have been divided; but The present
owners say that there have been no altera-
tions in the house since the day it was built
even the floors remain the same. The hall
is lined with objects which are evidently old.
A spinning wheel stands beneath
VERY LARGE PICTURE OF NINE. JUMEL,
her niece Mary, and her son. Beside this
painting hangs a small picture of Napoleon
/, who has always been an object of admira-
ton in the family. Ga the left of the hall
is parlor, whose chief historical attraction
is that it was the scene OF the marriage of
Mime. Jumel, then widow, to Aaron Burr.
1t contains objects of interest, however,
which, unlike the scenes that can only be
remembered, have lasted until the present
day. Among them is a huge, well-worn
black leather trunk, made in circular form
and fastened by heavy clamps and lock,
the key OF which is as large as a modern
door-key. The trunk was once the property
of Napoleon and was used by him to carry
his charts during some of his campaigns.
The room is crowded with bric-a -brac and
objects of art, all of which are old and
curious. The furniture is of unique pat
tern, cumbrous in shape, surprising In
weight, and suggestive of discomfort.
Across the hall is the dining-Foon, which
the present occupants of the house, Mrs.
Caryll, Nine. Jumeps grand niece, her h1s-
band and her father, Nelson Chsee, say is IN
exactly the same state to-day az Il vas wnen
used by Washington in 1776. xsers cer-
tainly is nothing modern IN IL except the
stove. In recess at one end of the room
stands massive sideboard 500 years old,
| with broad marble top and legs That look
large enough TO support a small house. This
sideboard is loaded Tith old-fsshioned silver
ware, every piece large, heavy and OF curious
design. The chairs are straightforward and
80 weighty that it taxes ones strength to
move them. There is another sideboard on
the other side of the room; this mas several
series of shelves, and looks like a small
French fiat house inhabited by china and
bric-a-hrac The windows command good
view of both sides of the Harlem to the
eastward, and it is asserted that
GENERAL WASHINGTON
spent as many moments in gazing anxiousiy
out of them in the direction from which ne
expected Kuyphausen and his Hessians az he
did in allaying his appetite. The dining
table, like the other furniture, is large and
heavy. In a corner stands an old clock
which marked the hours when the world was
younger by two centuries than it is now.
At the end of the hall is a heavy door, sur
mounted by pair of gilt wings with
Egyptian aspect, opening into large octag
onal apartment. Here, as elsewhere, every
thing is old. The furniture is of solid
ebony, upholstered in heavy blue satin, and
was once in the Tuileries. The chandelier
is of old French fashion. 1t was once the
property of the famous General Moresu,
l. L.. Al.
jealousy of the first consul, came to New
York and lived in house almost on the site
of the present Stock Exchange. When he
gave up that house his effects we're sold at
auction, and then Madame Jumel purchased
the chandelier. On a little table stands a
small gilt copy of the hammered copper
statue of Ferdinand ii OF Saxony which
adorns one of the squares Of Dresden. Even
the wallpaper has been on the walls for 118
years, and was there when Washington occu-
pied the house. In this room General
Washington held his councils of war; when
his army lay intrenched mile to the north
at Fort Washington. Here, too, he received
delegations of Indian chiefs at a time when
their friendship was of vital importance TO
the country. Just over this room is the bad
chamber which was occupied by Washington
when he was at the house. In whatever
direction the visitor turns either within the
objects of historical interest. Not far away
y the former home of
ALEXANDER HAMILTON.
The tomb Of Audubon, the naturalist, is only
a short distance from the house in Trinity
Cemetery. As one OF the present occupants
of the house said Yesterday: "This spot is,
perhaps, more than any other on the island,
intimately connected with the past, the pres
ent and the future of New York" The old
mansion was built in 1868 by Colonel Roger
Morris, who was a fellow-solditr of Wash
ington at Barddock's defeat in the following
year. Colonel Norris remained loyal to the
king of England, and when the British
evacuated New York, he and his wife having
been included by the act of attainer passed
by the Legislature is 1879, went TO England
and remained there until they died. 1t was
during the beginning of active operations
around the upper end of Manhattan Island
that Washington made this house his head
quarters. From the cupola of the house,
after hasty crossing from Fort Lee, be
watched the movements of the enemy. His
occupancy of the house then was very brief,
for fortune at that time favored the British
and Washington was obliged to make a
hasty retreat. Afterward, when by the cap
ture OF Fort Washington the whole island
fell into the hands of the English,
GENERAL KUYPHAUsEN,
commander of the Hessian forces, made it
his headquarters, and it was 30 used until
November %, 1888. Washington wac again
at the old house in after years, when il was
a tavern kept by Talmage Hall, who had
Just started line of stages from Boston to
New York. The Rogers Mansion was the !
first stopping place out of this city, and was
noted for the beauty of the view which 1t
commanded and the excellence OF the table.
Washington's last visit to the house, az |
shown by the record in his own diary, was
on Saturday, July 10, 1890, while he was |
president Of the United States. The house |
passed through the hands of several owners |
in the next few years, but finally came into !
the possession of Stephen Jumei, wealthy |
Frenchnan. His wife had formerly been a
Miss Polly Bowen, native OF Providence, !
z. /. She was celebrated in her day for her |
beauty; and the picture in the old house, /
painted in Rome when she had attained the |
age of eighty years, is that OF a woman Of
attractive appearance in state OF remark |
able preservation. After Mr.. Jumel had !
been dead few year,, lis widow
MARRIED AARON BURR,
who thus became interested in an estate |
lying very near 10 the home of Alexander !
Hamilton, his victim in the duel at Wee /
hawken in 1904. Years afterward the Oldest /
son of Alexander Hamilton, by convey /
anee made TO him by Nine. Jumel in 1884, !
acquired an interest in the property. He |
afterward conveyed his interest 10 a trustee |
for Nine. Jumels benefit, after her death to