Show T" ljjj - f L l t TH - J" l iff si - - - i i J - - -- 4 it it vi 1 It - Rl'sti - J 'TV 'V-'H''- iir - v - 'v i t i Alexander Hamafon's home Is a neglected US monument I n 1804 two of America's founding fathers paired off in a duel to the death and when the smoke cleared Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton lay fatally wounded and Vice President Aaron Burr stood triumphant Many Americans consider Burr a ruthless villain and Hamilton a truly great force in shaping the nation But you'd never know this by visiting their old mansions only a few blocks apart in New York City Burr's dignified Georgian home has been completely renovated refurnished and It is as handsome today as when Burr married its widowed owner Eliza Jumel a century and a half ago But Hamilton's mansion the Grange has fared poorly through the years Unpainted rotting shutters askew the building is jammed between an apartment house and a church The identifying sign outside is so rusted it can hardly be read and even the American flag is torn! Perhaps recognition will catch up with history this year the 200th anniversary of Hamilton's birth The American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society which owns the Grange hopes to raise $350000 from various bicentennial celebrations The money would be used to repair the house and move it to a wooded site a token of respect to a man who both in life and in death lost to one of the most controversial figures of the Revolution Inside Hamilton's home a crumbling ceiling offers little protection to exhibits of our early history I n rrit f ml -- ! uu ftn rift n J" 1'- 4" " i L The home of Aaron Burr is well maintained yet he killed Hamilton was not as important historically Family Weekly August 11 1957 9 |