Perth Amboy evening news., 1904-03-19

was UiItn OCCuDlOo Ny uiO hNN VI NV
Colonial troops. General Hugh Mercer
was assigned to the Amboy command
and the governors mansion became his
headquarters. He remained here until
Washington's retreat from. New York
when his forces Joined the Continental
army. He was wounded at the battle of
Princeton and died soon thereafter.
Amboy was then occupied by the British
forces under Howe. and Lord
Howe, his brother. The flag of old
England was again seen over this build
ing and it became the headquarters of
English forces. Back and forth, the
opposing armies journeyed until finally
the American arms were triumphant.
In 1884 o portion of the interior was
partially destroyed by fire. The next
year Mr.. John Rattoone bought and re-
paired it. Mr.. Rattoone was mayor of
the city in 1796-1S09, judge of the court
of common pleas, surveyor general and
v%estryman and warden of ST. Peters
church. In 1909 the building became a
hotel and was called the Brighton House.
1t was soon after this date that the large
extension on the south side vas built.
In 1916 it came into possession of Mr..
Matthias Bruen, a grandson of Mr.. Obe-
diah Bruen, one of the founders of New
ark. Mr.. Bruen, a man of great wealth,
was engaged in the tea business, the
tea houses" on Front street being used
for the storage of this article. The
present dining room was used as his
library and art gallery, and many promi-
nent citizens of u country were his
guests. Mr.. Bruen died in 1916. His
youngest son was DIR. Alexander Bruen
who lived in the family home until
many years after his fathers death, when
he removed to New York City. He in.
herited large wealth and lived a life OF
leisure, being especially fond of books
and music.
After DR.. Bruen's removal, the build
ing was again used as a hotel and befor'
the Civil War was patronized by guest
from the Southern States. In 1883
came into possession of the Presbyterian
church, as a gift from DIR. Bruen to b.
used as q home for disabled ministers O
that denomination. After an occupanc.
of twenty years it reverted to the heir
of the donor. For one hundred ant
forty years this house has stood and i
is now a splendid specimen of colonia
architecture. The bricks were brought
from England, and the door and win
dow frames were hewn instead Of being
planed. The CRATES and andirons are
Interesting bits of antique. A stone
window sill on the north side of the
house has chiselIed in it: N. r. 1859
Indeed, the high ceilings, wide halls
carvedl wood work, the immense wine
cellar carry us back to that historic
period which gives to us now few monu
ments that we're then the silent wit
nesses of a mighty and heroic struggle
From its observatory may be seeI
Sandy,,Hook and the quiet waters of thu
bayton.which more than a century ant
a quarter G sailed the ships of tn,
British navy intent on keeping thi
State a colony of the Crown. Soutl
is South Amboy and winding dow
from the southwest is the river on whicl
the Raritan Indians sailed their canoes
IN n summer evening this view is on
of surprising beauty. To the west an
| north rise the homes and stores an
5 busy factories of a city with its MOI
r than twenty thousand population, wher
in the far gone past marched the BritisI
: red coats in their brilliant uniforms Q
0 the ragged, weary, but finally triumph
i ant Colonials.
h copyrighted 1901 BY E.. 9. Mendenhall.