Newsday from New York, New York • 34

23 I Its an Open House Caretaker shares history with kids By Peter Ortiz Roy Fox could see the kids from his third-floor bedroom window crawling under the rfin link fence surrounding the house on Jamaica Avenue. So whats going on guys? Fox called out from his window. I've got to get my football, 10-year-old Anthony Pearson said. Pearsons friend, Ramiro Zamdamo, 10, turned to him and whispered in his ear. A few seconds later Pearson looked up at Fox.

Can we see the house? Pearson shouted back. Let me get this straight, said Fox. You break into my house and Im suppose to let you see it? Yeah, Pearson said. Tomorrow at noon Ill have the gate open, you come in and ring the bell, Fox said. The next day, a little before noon.

Fox saw Pearson and two of his friends walking toward the open fence. That could be them, said Fox, who stood under the awning at the side entrance as the rain came down. Their clothes soaked, Pearson went up to Fox followed by his friends. Lets get out of the rain, said Fox inviting them into the house. Welcome to the Rufus King Manor Museum, a 181-year-old, four-story house that sits inside an 11 Vi -acre park between 150th and 153rd Street along Jamaica Avenue.

Fox lives there rent-free in return for house-sitting this historic landmark in Ja- yMMCfir maica. Though its not part of his duties as caretaker, Fox has been taking neighborhood kids on unofficial tours of the house. King was one of the most important writers of the U.S. Constitution and the strongest anti-slavery delegate at the convention, Fox said as Pearson and his friends looked up the winding stairway leading to the master bedroom. According to the 1810 census, King, an attorney who moved to Jamaica to become a gentleman farmer, was listed as the owner of a slave named Margaret, whom he freed two years later.

Despite this, he was still viewed as the harshest critic against slavery among his follow founding fathers. It was Ruftis King who put a 20-year limit on importation, of slaves in the 1787 Constitutional Conyenjfcmt Fox said. His Ip, his track reaped Ncwaday Kathy Kmoniock Roy Fox, caretaker of the Rufus King Manor Museum, outside the historic house in Queens. He moved into the newly restored house three years ago. Since then, the copper spouts and gutters outside the house have been stolen (theyve been replaced, but not with solid copper fixtures).

Fox is now fighting for a permanent fence to replace the temporary one encircling the house to discourage vandalism. But besides taping up a few broken windows from rocks thrown by kids. Fax has not run into nuyor problems with his Jamaica neighbors. It feels like a village to me, Fox said. My whole life revolves around a five-block radius, which is what it must have been like for Rufus King.

Foxs interest in Rufus King led to weeks of reviewing documents and books cm Kings life and the history of Jamaica last summer. He tells visitors how King was the last member of the Federalist Party to run for president against James Monroe in the 1816 election and how, under Presidents Washington, Adams and Jefferson, he served as ambassador for Great Britain. He hopes to show the history of Jamaica to people who may not be aware of it in this area, said Fox's wife, Mary, an on-site supervisor for Prospect Park. Fox spent nine years at a Pittsburgh radio station, where he married his wife, a former listener, on the air in 1984. She later became his producer.

They left Pittsburgh that same year and moved to New York where they worked on WMCA from 1985 to 1987. But by 1984, Fox felt he was losing his audience. I grew out of the vehicle," said Fox. Im not going to quit growing, to stay successful in radio. Fox, 53, derided to leave radio for good in 1989 after working a few months at WXYT in Detroit.

While in Detroit, he and his wife promoted a listeners idea to send teabags to Washington in protest of a proposed 51 percent Congressional pay raise. Although the idea helped to delay the pay raise and brought national coverage for the radio Btation, Fox said program directors cowered to pressure and did not support the idea. I realized we were working for fools," said Fox, who quit After leaving radio in 1969, a listener got Foxs wife the job with the Parks Department at Prospect Park. She heard of a vacancy few a caretaker at Ae Ruths King Manor and helped her husband get an interview. No one told md, this la what expect you to do, they just told me to move incite recalled.

Although its not required, he does minor maintenance dunes around the house. Since moving in. Fox has opened the house to the neighborhood kids including the third-floor apartment he shares with his wife. The tour was almost over when another one of Pearsons friends stomped by. Fox let Pearson lead the tour this time.

They went through the entire house a second time. I wish this was my house, Pearson said. Fox put his hand on Pearsons shoulder. This is your home, Fox said. IpWRoto King housdtt not open Auringselhoivsbtitfor.

if information on tours, or to arrange tours, call Mary Arme Mrozinski at (718) 291-0282, ext 34. The Urban Parte Rangers plan free tours of the house on Saturday, Jan. 2 and Saturday, Feb. 6. Call for information.

In 1820, King, who served as one of the first two senators from New York State, would again fight to prevent slavery in the state of Missouri. Fax bdievea that most Jamaica residents are not aware of the work done by King. Ik says most are just surprised to find him living in the house. We were playing football, then he saw us, said Pearson, who lives in an apartment building across the street from the manor. I didnt know anybody was living there." Fox was a radio broadcaster for 30 years before moving into King manor and its surrounding nark in Jamaica.

NEW YORK NEWSOAY, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1982 for volunteers in Queens beginningJan. 6. The substance abuse and treatment strategies workshops will be held from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. weekly.

They will train volunteers as information and referral intake persons and as mentors for the Sister-to-Sister Program. For information or to register, call (718) The first of the programs, the Home-Buyer Club, is aimed at teaching potential buyers to learn how to buy homes and find special financing programs for houses in the citys core. The club will start Feb. 19. Anyone interested in buying a home sponsored by the organization, or in learning how to become a homeowner, can register for the meet- SOUTHEAST QUEENS Workshops Offered On Substance Abuse, Treatment Strategies The South East Queens Community Partnership, in cooperation with the Outreach Project, will offer workshops JAMAICA How To Buy Your Own Home, A Service Offers Tips Neighborhood Housing Services of Jamaica is offering programs to help city residents became homeowners.

ing by calling (718) 525-2558. 4- pr 0 rr 11.