The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-25
Old BOnaparte Chateau
To Rise from Ashes
Refuge of King of Spain, Located at Bordentown,
~ j., Is Being Restored by Harris Ham,
mond, Washington Architect

From its ashes is to rise the famous
old chateau. designed as a refuge for
Napoleon. by mis- brother, Joseph Bona
parte. The famous old manse, located
at Bordentown, n. J., is lying in charred
ruins, over it's labyrinth of secret pass
ages. The work of restoration is in
charge of Harris Hammond. of Wash
ington and New York, son of John Hays
Hammond.
The work will be directed on the ground
by Edward Shinn, or New York. Old
prints and drawings of the chateau.
which was a three-story building of the
French renaissance type will be strictly
adhered to by the architects. Mr.. Shinn
contemplates a tour within the next few
weeks in search Of relics of the first
Napoleon and his family, with which TO
adorn the restored chateau.
Mr. Harris Hammond, who has charge
of the restoration plans, paid a short
visit to Washington yesterday. He came
to this city on business connected with
the plans for restoring the historic struc-
ture, and spent only a few hours here,
returning to New York on a night train.
While here he told of his plans in con-
nection with raising the chateau out of
the ashes OF the past, and spoke of the
history of the famous site and building.
History of Chateau.
Joseph Bonaparte, who was King of
Spain, came to New Jersey in 1875, and
under the name Of Count de SurviIliers
purchased an estate of 200 acres on the
Delaware River. Here he erected a mag
nificent chateau.
With cautious foresight he constructed
beneath the building a network of secret
passages. In this labyrinth, one not IA
miliar with the key, would be hopelessly
lost. Three entrances to the underground
passage were constructed, one on the
Delaware River, and two on Crosswicks
Creek. Not far from the chateau was
a subterranean room, semi-circular in
shape, and fitted with all comforts and
provisions for a person intending to re-
main a long time.
This labyrinth and traces of treasure
vault have been uncovered by Mr.. Ham
mond's surveyors. The discovery gives
credence to traditional stories in the
of hidden treasure on the
old estate.
After the battle of Waterloo, Joseph
placed his chateau at the disposal
of Napoleon. He had a vessel waiting
to secretly transport the defeated EN-
PcAOI " COuHllyB
seclusion OF the chateau, he could keep
in touch with European affairs, and d.
rect matters looking toward his rehabiIi-
tation. Napoleon finally decided, how
ever, to surrender himself to the British
Joseph returned to America and held
a miniature court at the estate, his
daughter, the Princess Zenaide, who
afterward married Charles Lucien Bona
parte, her cousin. also having home
near the chateau.
The fate Of the famous old chateau
was almost as strange as its history.
While members Of the household vert
away on a hunting trip in the game pre-
serves Of the estate, a maid undertook TO
burn some old letters. The flame caught
onto lace curtain before an open win
low, and the building was burned down. |
Joseph Bonaparte returned to Europe |
IN 1872, and his estate passed into the |
lands of Thomas A. Beckett, an English |
nan, who erected a dwelling near the |
lite of the chateau.
The principal part of the estate is on
Point Breeze, at the junction of theI
Delaware and Crosswicks Creek. The