Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-09-20
|tEPT|0N At
2b|LLOP HOUSE
amber of Commerce to
qeet at Famous Mansion
Tomorrow Afternoon

|OTTENVILLE, Sept. 20-A re-
ion will follow the meeting of
Staten Island Chamber Of Com
e tomorrow afternoon on the
nds on the historic old Billop
e, situated on the shore of the
III Island sound in Tottenville.
meeting will be held at the Tot
lille school at 8 o'clock following
n a sightseeing tour will be
of this end of the island end
at the Billop house where mem
of the Philemon Literary and
orical Society of Tottenville will
lie refreshments on the lawn.
lie members of the Chamber OF
merce from the north and east
es of the island will assemble at
Richmond at 2 o'clock and
e the trip here by automobile.
Tottenville committee In
ge of the arrangements include
/. Cozzens, chairman; Gilbert s..
a, N. J. Lowe, S. l.. Ritz and
kEsi1afstrom.
Il old Billiop house, where the
otion is to be held is the oldest
g on Staten Island. 1t was
smemorable by the many his
incidents which occurred there
Re and during the revolution.
IN efforts have been made in past
N, to preserve it as a historic
but were unsuccessful until
ugh the efforts of Borough
|sident Van Name it was en-
ed within the boundaries of the
Enfield boulevard. 1t is hoped by
h visit Of the Chamber of Com
Zee to arouse such interest in the
building that money may be
Id to provide for it's preserva-
The house at present is in bad
of decay although there is a
ly occupying the lower rooms.
this October damaged the old
ling considerable.
ne house was built by Captain
stopher Billopp, an officer of the
fish navy, who obtained Staten
d for New York by circumnavi-
g it in his small vessel in 1868
erection of the Duke of York. 1t
been disputed whether the is
belonged to New York or New
hy and the Duke, to settle the
ne decided that all islands ly-
in the harbor which could be
kmnayigated in one day should
|1g to New York. Captain Bill
S, small ship, the Bentley, carry
two cannon. was commissioned
lrry out the order and he did II
an hour to spare. In consldera-
of this service the Duke gave
4 a tract of land containing 1,163
Is on which he built the Manor OF
stley, named after his ship.
4 e set to work at once to build the
Fse. and most of the materials
lSaAlthered on the plantation. The
as, however, which holds the
y.walls together firmly after 25O
rs came from England and the
ks from Belgium. 1t is a line
linen of Colonial architecture,
Eough much of the woodwork has
len into decay. The doors and
Edows still remain, and many OF
rooms, such as the large kitchen.
i easily be restored to their for
r condition. An attempt was made
number of men who formed the
riley Manor Company to restore
niSS7.
is wide Colonial porch. with high
.ars, overlookS the bay. An old
hioned hall runs through the
Use. and the staircase is the plain
of that time. The kitchen Is
most interesting place at present.
the big oven is still there, and
iron trammel with the hooks
chains used in cooking in WASH
.on's time. Above on the CHM
walls are the hooks on which
meat hung to smoke.
he basement is made famous by
aene in one of Fenimore Cooper's
els. .The Water-Witch." The
II is of brick, and beside the main
rance is a fireplace. 1t was ap-
emily first used as a kitchen. In
rear is a dungeon-like cellar in
.ch many a patriot was imprisoned
ling the Revolution. for the Bill
,os we're Tories, and led a strenu-
life because of the hatred the
onists bore them.
IN the right of the entrance Is a
Tor which was the scene of many
.ial entertainments when Colonel
lopp, a descendant of the Captain.
: a distinguished figure in the life
New York before the Revolution.
I'd Howe, Generals Clinton, Kuy-
Ian, Cleveland. CORVALLIS, Bur-
Ind others rel guests there.
'wy there also that Lord Howe
d a famous peace conference with
Franklin. John Adams and
ward Rutledge.