Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-06-08
HEISTOL'S HAUNTED HOUSE.
4 Mansion ut which Joseph Bonapartc
and OtIler Noted people Djn,d

4 Mansion at Which Joseph Bonapartc
and OSier Noted People Dined.
In this old town, which is tcoming
over with interesting historical anec.
lotes Of the time when Bristol was
ono OF the most prominent summer
resorts of tho coSIntry, it would be
IN anomalous condition of affairs
not to have an old house which the
imagination of those inclined to SUI
perstition has tcnantod with eorie
inhabitants
Upon the banks Of the Delaware
river, ON RGlclitfo street, above Dor
rance, stands an old white mansion
that is dreaded by even the small
boy, and the young people of the
town when out rowing on dark sum
NOR nights mako u dctouN when
near tho haunted house" and row
far out in the stream. Tradition has
1t that the building is thoroughly
furnished; that the table in the large
dining room is always set ready for
Il banquet, and that on certain nights
tho shades Of those who Onco inhab-
tied tho place again gather round tho
once hoSpitablo board and re-enact
tho festivities that were held there
in the early part of the century.
The old house was built in 1916 by
u Major Lenox, who, Squire William
Kinsey, tho venerable authority ON
local history says, was United States
minister to the court of St James
and was for number of years resid-
ed i'll by the diplomat and his accom-
plishcd wife. Many distinguished
people from Europe and Ameiuca
were frequent visitors to the man.
sion, and tho hospitality of Major
LcnOX was provcrbial. Among those
who frequently camo to tho place
was the cX-lling of Spain, Joseph
Bonapartc, who, the historian re-
lates, frequently came down the Del
aware from Bonaparto park at Bor-
dentown in the handsome barge pre-
scented to him by Stephen Girard,
with the American flag and the
French tricolor waving from the
mast. lie was often accompanied by
the one timo dashing cavalry COM
mandcr, Prince Murat.
The brother of tho Emperor Napo-
leon sometimes drove down by way
of Trenton, and it is said that while
making the journey one day he was
thrown from his carriage and injur-
cd about the head. DR.. Phillips at
tended him at tho old tavern of John
BesSOnctt, now the Delaware House,
corner of Mill and Randolph streets,
and received shortly aftcrward q
500 note and 1ino steel engraving
Of Napoleon.
At the death Of Major Lonox the
mansion reverted to his niece, Miss
Sarah Lukcns Keone, Il woman of
great beauty and culture who had
attracted much attention at court in
London. Her aunt entertained great
hopes of contractinga marriage with
some Of the English nobility and in
dignantly refused Miss Kccno's hand
to Il John II. Powell of Philadel-
phia stating that her niece was in
tended for Il duke or lord and not
u brewers son. Miss Kceno died as
she had lived, an old maid and with
Il compassionate feeling for those
Of her Sex similarly situated devised
the mansion and several thousand
dollars to the bishop of the Protes
tant Episcopal church of the diocese
OF Pennsylvania in trust for the
maintenance Of five, six on moro
aged gcntlcwomcn, widows or single
women Of responsibility and decay
cd fortune who had become destitute
i'll old age. bristol pa Letter in
Philadelphia Times.