Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-02-08
Homes of Tradition
Hid By N. Y. Skyline

New York, Feb. 7--(AP)-Hidden
and almost forgotten behind the
Wanted skyline Of New York lis a
score of old homes that are STEPPED
in tradition, romance, intrigue and
adventure.
Amid the tinsel and glitter of Fifth
Avenue commercialism at Ninth
street, stands the old Brevoort home,
a rugged monument to an old dull
gold romance. Its halls, now oc-
cupled by a private family. also are
peopled with spectres of a dim. half
forgotten past; it's story, throbbing
In human interest, now relegated TO
files of musty,s old newspapers or
weighty, unread tones at the library.
1t was the scene of the first masked
ball eyer held in New York.
That was a night of nights on Feb
ruary "a, 1910, when society turned
out en- masse for the imported
amusement" as the newspapers of
debutante daughter of Anthony Bar
. clay, the British consul. had given
her heart to young man from South
Carolina named Burgwyne. Despite
the objections of her parents. she at
tended the ball with him. They were
dressed as two characters from
"Lalla Rookh" then popular opus
by Thomas Moore, the Irish poet. At
4 o'clock In the morning when the
festivities were at their height, the
lovers slipped away and were mar
ried while still in their costumes. A
scandal resulted which caused So
ciety to ban masquerade balls for
many years.
Estelle Ann Lewis. the poet. whom
Poe called "the rival of Sappho," and
whom Lamartlne described as 1.-The
female Petrarch," lived in the house
which still stands at 125 Dean street.
Here Mrs. Lewis held salon from
1924 to 1910, her visitors including
Washington Irving, Fenimore Cooper,
N. p. Willis and young poet named
William Cullen Bryant. who came
there to recite his new poem
''Thanatopsis." 1t was said that Poe
, first read his poem on 1.-The Raven
at Mrs. Lewis home.
A few doors away is the old house
at 1875 Dean street where the noted
southern poet, Sidney Lanier, lived in
1S74-75.
Equally as interesting. but more
! exploited, is the old Morris Jumel
house at 160th street and Jumel
| place. which was for more than half
a century the social center of colonial
| New York. Built in 1865 by Lieut.
! Roger Morris, it became the head
! quarters of Gen. Washington during
the battle of Harlem Heights. After
the battle of Long Island it was con-
8 Fa1 of i,s &bx
| for the Tories. In 1910 it became the
| home cf Stephen Junel. French
| wine merchant, whose widow mar
ried Aaron Burr in 1888. year after
| her first husbands death. Among
Mrs. Jumers distinguished guests
| were Gen. Lafayette and Joseph
| Bonaparte. 1t is preserved as mu-
| scum.
| The old building at POT Bowery Is
| the former clubhouse Of the Timothy
| d. Sullivan Association. where Tam
| many Hall politicians went to consult
| Big Tim" 1t is said to have wit
messed more political schemes in the
making than any other building ir
the country.
Nearby on Long Island there still
stands the two story frame house
where John Howard Pavne composed
the words for Home. Sweet Home,
which he later inserted in his opera
"Clari. the Maid of Milan" The
opera was sung in London on Nav
1928. bringing instant fame to the lit.
tie home at East Hampton.
In Yonkers stands the origina
stone manor house of Frederick
phillipsc. the richest man in New
Amsterdam" Here upon an estate OF
several thousand acres granted hin
by King William and Queen Mary il
1893, Phillipse built the house IL
which years later his daughter Mary
was wooed by a young civil engineer
named George Washington. She
married ROGER Morris. the Tory. and
went to live with him in the Morris.
Jumel house.
: OF the multitudes who pass the
northwest corner of Duane street and
broadway every day. few know thai
it Is the site of John Anderson's cigar
store. 1t was the tragic murder 81
his sales girl. Mary Rogers, who was
an intimate friend of Washington
. Irving, Edgar Allen Poe and Feni-
| more Cooper, that INSPIRED the theme
| for Poe's tale of 1.-THE Mystery OF
| Merle ROGET"
| At 81 Jane street modern apart
| ment house marks the site of William
! Baynard's country home where on
! July II. 1904, Alexander Hamilton
died following his famous duel with
Aaron Burr at Weehawken, N. j.
| just across the river.