Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-13
REVOLUTIONARY MANSIONS.
Ancient Houses Still Standing in New
York City.

The celebration of the centennial Of
Washington's Inauguration has stimu-
lated an interest among New Workers in
the history of Washington's time, and
especially in the landmarks still exist
ing in the city that were associated
with events of the revolution and the
years Immediately following, says the
New York Sun. OF the few buildings
of Washington's time which still re-
main the oldest is probably the Jumel
mansion in One Hundred and Sixty
first street, near St. Nicholas avenue.
The house, which was then called
the Morris mansion, WAS built by Roger
Morris in 1857. The main part of the
high. with a spacious attic. An extern
sion of octagonal form obtained large
and stately parlor, magniticently
furnished, with bedchambers over it.
The central hall, or passage-way to the
parlor, was twenty feet wide. The walls
OF the mansion were OF imported
Holland brick, sheathed with blanks,
Under the entire building was cellar
dug out of the solid rock. In this
building Washington had his quarters,
while the Americans were slowly evac-
uating the city. From the porch in
front of the house he watched the
movements OF the enemy's feet in tho
Hudson below.
Long before the revolution the region
about Riverside park was dotted with
country seats and deer parks, and was
then known as Bloomingdale. Here
was built the famous Apthorpe mansion,
originally nobleman's palace, now a
restaurant and beer hall in ex-Alder-
man Wendel's Elm Park. Under the
roof OF this mansion the secret expedi-
tion of Nathan Hale was planned late
on Saturday night, September IA, l776.
Here Washington had his headquarters
when the intelligence of the approach
of the British fleet was brought to him.
When he moved further north and the
British occupied the city, Lord Howe
and his staff occupied the same apart
ments In which Washington had slept.
The building will soon be torn down to
mako way for IL new street.
There are two other historic build
ings, though OF a somewhat later period,
in that neighborhood. One, THE
Grange" in One Hundred unc Forty
seventh street, near Tenth avenue, was
built by Alexander Hamilton in 1902.
The other, built about the same time by
DR.. Samuel Bradhurst, stands in One
Hundred and Forty-eighth street.
Another building OF u still later date,
stands near General Grants tomb. 1t
is the Claremont mansion, occupied at
various times by many distinguished
persons. 1t was built by DR.. Post. He
was succeeded by Viscount Courteuay
afterwards earl of Devon. After the
earl came Francis James Jackson, Brit
ish minister. Joseph Bonaparte, ex-
king of Spain, lived in this mansion in
1915. Now prosperous restauranteur
occupies 1t, and dispcnses beer and
sandwiches to West Side pleasure
seekers
In the lower part OF the city, now
called down town" and then known as
"the city," few OF the old buildings re-
! main. The old Clarkson house in
Whitehall street was burned in 1776.
| In 1893 three story brick building was
built on the site and is still there. The
| row of old-fashioned houses on State
street is also relic of 1889. The site
! OF the French Huguenot church which
was built In 1858, is now occupied by the
produce exchange. The Kennedy house
ut Broadway, and an old frame house
adjoining 1T, from which Washington
| is said to have viewed tho fireworks or
the occasion Of his Inauguration, were
removed to make room for tho Wash
ingt0n building.