Couple Unearths Forgotten History During Dilapidated Mansion Renovation

Discovery of the Chancellor's Mansion

• 🏡 In 2018, Jaime and France Arty purchased a dilapidated 19th-century mansion on Long Island's Gold Coast with the intention of transforming it into a family home.
• 🗺️ The couple found the house by accident while lost and were initially struck by its severely dilapidated state, including a large hole in the roof and a hostile environment with ticks and poison ivy.
• 💡 Despite the challenges, the land and the potential for their children to play freely sold them on the property, leading them to embark on a massive renovation project.

Unearthing Historical Figures

• 📚 Jaime Arty's research into the mansion's history, documented in her book "The Chancellor's Mansion," revealed the stories of individuals nearly lost to time.
• 묘 The mansion was built by Judge William Townsen Mun, a humanitarian, abolitionist, and advocate for women's rights, who moved to Oyster Bay during a cholera epidemic.
• 👩‍🦰 Mun's paid servant and housekeeper, Sophia Moore, a woman of color who bought her freedom before slavery was outlawed in New York, was highly respected and buried in the family cemetery.
• 🇺🇸 The house also has ties to President Theodore Roosevelt Jr., whose son Ted and his family lived there.

Renovation and Legacy

• 🛠️ The renovation, which began in 2018, involved addressing significant structural, electrical, plumbing, and heating issues, with some original features like the staircase being restored.
• 💪 The renovation taught the couple about perseverance and their ability to overcome challenges together.
• 🌟 The project has breathed new life into the historic home and shed light on Oyster Bay's forgotten history, inspiring others to take on similar challenges and preserve legacies.
• 🎨 Jamie Arty has added her personal touch to the home with pastel accents throughout the restored rooms.