The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-03-29
OLD HOUSES OF AMERICA
SOME OF THEM THAT ARE Pre-
SERTED
by Women's ana Historical Soc ieties
but Others That Are Not.

~
says Traces of the Dutch settlers in
this city are nearly vanished, and but
for determined action, principally OF
the part of women, many other period!
in the nations growth would be lief
without Visible trace. At the King
Manor associations election, held re-
Gently, Mrs. Mary Craigie was made
president and Alice Morse Earle of
Brooklyn historian. The aim of the Or
ganization is to preserve and restore Tho
house of Rufus King in Jamaica, Long
Island, which will be made the club
house of the society. The kitchen is to
be Get apart and furnished by the
Daughters of the American Revolution;
the large drawing groom by the Daugh-
ters of the Revolution, the east room
by the Jamaica womans club, and the
library by the Brooklyn public library
association. Colonial and Revolutionary
appliances will be made to serve mod
ern purposes. The house will be rem
devious and meeting place for all
kinds of women's organizations. The
quaint old building, which was erected
more than 200 years ago, ie surrounded
by 10 acres of land, studded by stately
trees, many Of which were planted by
Rufus King and his son, Governor John
A. King 1t was continuously occupied
by the King family from the time of it's
purchase by Rufus King in 1906 until the
death Of Miss Cornelia King in 1896
Rufus King, although United States
senator and minister to England, found
time to devote to agriculture and horti-
culture, and to the collection of rare
plants and trees. He was president of
the first agricultural society organized
in Queens county.
A proposition that New York city buy
the Jumel mansion on Washington
heights has been presented to the board
of public Improvements, and If 1T be-
comes the property of the city it Will
be preserved as museum OF historical
relics The house was built in 1883 by
Roger Morris, and was presented to his
bride, Mary Philpse, who is said to
have rejected as sutton, George WASH
ington. During the Revolution it was
occupied as WaShington's headquarters.
The stump of a tree to which the great
general used to tie his horse has been
preserved Bret Harte owns letter
written by Washington, in which he
mentioned this tree and other details of
the place. The estate was bought by
Stephen Jumel in 1912, and was fitted
with every luxurious furnishing of the
times Among the illustrious people
whom Nine Jumel entertained was Je-
rome Bonaparte. A window is yet
shown through which he is said to have
leaned in frolic and there is a door
1,,oit bn
sage of 'lady and a prince" at the
same time.
Mime. Jumel married Aaron Burr in
1888 in the tea-room at the left of the
hall. Were the old-time people of a
hundred years ago to return, it is prob
able that the noble colonial mansion
would be the one feature Of the great
metropolis to present familiar appear
ance 1t is now owned BY General Fer
dinand p Earle.
Efforts are being made by the Yonkers
historical society to preserve the man
sion in which Mary Philipse Morris
spent her married life. The society
proposes to purchase the old manor
house, now used as the city hall, where
she was courted by George Washing
ton The building was erected in 1852,
and was the house of Frederick Philipse.
The room which is now used as the
mayors office was the bedroom which
during the Revolution, was saved for
Washington when he visited there. The
"Washington seat" it still shown. An
old superstition guarantees the fulfill
ment of any wish made by one while
sitting in it, The "secret passageway,"
which was made as a way of escape in
case Of an Indian attack, still remains.
The historical society expects to pay
$780, 900 for the old house. Two I'M
known persons have promised to head
a subscription list with $4,000 EACH
The Pennsylvania society of Colonial
Danes of America proposes to restore |
Stenton, the antique mansion of Phila- |
delphia which has been the scene of |
many an Indian encampment, military |
procedure and social festivity. 1t was |
built in 1928 by James Logan, who came |
from England in 1899 with William
Penn, and was secretary of the province
of Pennsylvania under him. Logan act
ed as governor of the province from
1876 to 1888, and was chief justice Of the
supreme court of Pennsylvania
for many years. The old house was
taken DOSS6SSlOIl VI NY NftllCl al oil w Ia
liam Howe before the battle of German
town 1t was afterward occupied by |
General Washington, with his staff
During his presidency Washington was
q guest there, being entertained most
by Deborah Norris Logan, who
has been called Pennsylvania most
colonial dame" Direct
descendants of James Lagoon still own
the property, and have granted permits
sion to the Pennsylvania society of Co.
lonial Danes of America to preserve
and restore the antique mansion.
The Somers mansion at Somers Point,
near Atlantic City, which was burned
was built in 1885. It was the
birthplace of Richard Somers, COM
mander of the United States man-of
war Intrepid, who lost his life when
that vessel was destroyed by an interior
explosion in the harbor of Tripoli in
1904 The resolutions of coincidence
passed by Congress after the loss Of
The Intrepid Were destroyed with the
DID house.
A massive stone chimney is all that
remains of the Whiting house, on the
I'D Boston post road, near Byram
bridge. in the town of Greenwich, which
was destroyed by fire this winter. The
- r,.,,-. r7-oe I,yi1t -, 1910 hv Holm