Alex Hortis

On Christmas 1843 and Christmas night on Staten Island, there were a group of men that were walking towards the town's only tavern. One of them noticed smoke coming out of the kitchen chimney of Captain George Hausman. Didn't think much of it. There had been snow and it may have been wet logs. But soon a young kid comes down the road and yells, fire, fire, fire.

On Christmas 1843 and Christmas night on Staten Island, there were a group of men that were walking towards the town's only tavern. One of them noticed smoke coming out of the kitchen chimney of Captain George Hausman. Didn't think much of it. There had been snow and it may have been wet logs. But soon a young kid comes down the road and yells, fire, fire, fire.

They run back. They arrive at this chaotic scene at the house. The back kitchen is on fire. There's flames spitting out of the windows, smoke billowing out. They break down the door. They find a way in. And inside, it's just a very intense fire. There was resin melting from the top. You know, it was permeated with smoke. Everything seemed to be on fire.

They run back. They arrive at this chaotic scene at the house. The back kitchen is on fire. There's flames spitting out of the windows, smoke billowing out. They break down the door. They find a way in. And inside, it's just a very intense fire. There was resin melting from the top. You know, it was permeated with smoke. Everything seemed to be on fire.

So as he's sifting through the ashes, he hits something hard. He initially thinks it's a sheep or a dog. It ends up being Emmeline Hausman's torched and bludgeoned body.

So as he's sifting through the ashes, he hits something hard. He initially thinks it's a sheep or a dog. It ends up being Emmeline Hausman's torched and bludgeoned body.

He docks his schooner, and then he's walking over to the ferry boat, and he literally runs into his sister, Polly. And it falls upon Polly to tell him, the horrible news. They ride back in silence. He doesn't know what to say or think. He goes to the house, and all that's left is this burnt-out, scorched kitchen and the horrible remains of what was left of his family, Emmeline and Annalisa.

He docks his schooner, and then he's walking over to the ferry boat, and he literally runs into his sister, Polly. And it falls upon Polly to tell him, the horrible news. They ride back in silence. He doesn't know what to say or think. He goes to the house, and all that's left is this burnt-out, scorched kitchen and the horrible remains of what was left of his family, Emmeline and Annalisa.

Everyone knew everybody. But what was also distinct about Staten Island was just across the bay was the largest city, North America. And if you go over the hills, you could see some of the lights and all the ships going in and out from all over the world. So it was a very stark contrast between a very rural, small town that was connected to the great metropolis of the West.

Everyone knew everybody. But what was also distinct about Staten Island was just across the bay was the largest city, North America. And if you go over the hills, you could see some of the lights and all the ships going in and out from all over the world. So it was a very stark contrast between a very rural, small town that was connected to the great metropolis of the West.

He had a very prosperous oyster business. There was an oyster craze in New York. And so much of Staten Island's economy was feeding New York oysters.

He had a very prosperous oyster business. There was an oyster craze in New York. And so much of Staten Island's economy was feeding New York oysters.

It was considered sort of a match made in heaven because it was a marriage between two great clans on Staten Island, and clans meant everything on Staten Island. And these were families that predated the formation of the United States, and in the case of the Hausmans, predated even the English arriving.

It was considered sort of a match made in heaven because it was a marriage between two great clans on Staten Island, and clans meant everything on Staten Island. And these were families that predated the formation of the United States, and in the case of the Hausmans, predated even the English arriving.

He ends up being a drunk, ends up being abusive towards her, and ends up spending all the family money. So she separates from him, and in the 1840s, this is, if not unheard of, it's certainly scandalous.

He ends up being a drunk, ends up being abusive towards her, and ends up spending all the family money. So she separates from him, and in the 1840s, this is, if not unheard of, it's certainly scandalous.

He has a schooner business, but he's away at sea for long stretches of time.

He has a schooner business, but he's away at sea for long stretches of time.

George Waite is a 30-something sort of merchant prince. He owns his own apothecary just off Broadway. Broadway is the commercial emporium of the Western world at this point. And she would go in, come for a long weekend, and travel back, usually on Monday or Tuesday, back to Staten Island.

George Waite is a 30-something sort of merchant prince. He owns his own apothecary just off Broadway. Broadway is the commercial emporium of the Western world at this point. And she would go in, come for a long weekend, and travel back, usually on Monday or Tuesday, back to Staten Island.