“It may be laid down as a primary position, and the basis of our system, that every Citizen who enjoys the protection of a Free Government, owes not only a proportion of his property, but even of his personal services to the defense of it.” GEORGE WASHINGTON.

The Mansion Behind The Mansion

Long before the intuitive gridded streets of Manhattan, that we know today, were conceived; there stood Gracie Mansion. She is located on what is now 88th Street off East End Avenue, and perched above the East River. We’re talking about a really old house here! So old in fact, that around the time when it was built most of Manhattan was farmland, meadows and wooded areas.

Another beautiful house, however, called Belview Mansion (not to be confused or associated with Bellevue Hospital – that’s a whole other ‘type’ of ‘mansion’) preceded Gracie, and was erected in 1770 by a wealthy British loyalist named Jacob Walton – used as a summer home. Belview featured a two-story central pavilion flanked symmetrically by one-story wings, each ending in a three-window bay. A compass-point weather vane sat up on the top of the structure.

In 1776 the property was appropriated from Walton by General George Washington to be used as a fort;

“Jake…we need your house.”

“G-Dub! Take it easy old boy. We’re having lemonade on the porch. Perhaps, pull up a rocker and tell me what this is all about.”

“Jake…there’s simply no time. You’ll be drinking tea in a dungeon somewhere if you keep up with me. Get rid of yourselves and the lemonade! I’ll explain everything in a few months.”

GW set up cannons on site and aimed at ‘hell gate’ - a direct access-gap for British ships in the East River. It seemed like the perfect place to protect the city, however, the British still succeeded in bombarding the house and destroying it in its entirety. Washington’s men retreated further inland, and the Brits (in fact), held base there until,...