Transcriber’s note
Minor punctuation errors have been changed without notice. Hyphenation was standardized. Spelling was retained as in the original.
About This Book
A compact historical and architectural portrait follows an old Manhattan mansion through successive phases of private residence, public entertainment, confiscation, and resale, linking its ownership and uses to broader urban change. The text combines chronological incidents with detailed description of the house and grounds—portico, dormered roof, octagonal drawing-room, broad halls, gardens and distant city views—and catalogs preserved furnishings, paintings and planted trees. Anecdotes and atmosphere convey how the building’s interiors and landscape preserve material traces of past lives while standing amid a transforming city.