St. Lawrence River and Boldt Castle

Greetings from Boldt Castle! The Boldt Castle is just one of the many millionaire's summer homes. However, the difference is that Boldt Castle on Heart Island (formerly Hart Island) including all structures on it, is no longer privately owned. It was taken over by the Thousand Island Bridge Authority in 1977 to be restored as a tourist site because of it's romantic story typifying an era long past. Also, many of the millionaire's homes in the area are not castles as the dollar today surely doesn't do what it did in the 1890's when Boldt began building on the islands. He first had a Power House built which houses a three faced clock 90 feet above the waterline and housed all of the power source for the island. This was finished in 1899 before construction of the castle was even conceived. Then the Dove-Cote was built. This stone tower was topped with a pigeon house, part of the "Hennery", when they collected fancy fowl. The Alster Tower (Play House) consists of an ornate shell room, carved stair and balcony, as well as a two-lane bowling alley in the basement. The Boldt Yacht House was across the water on Wellesley Island and housed the family's three yachts and enormous houseboat in slips that were 128 feet long. When building on the island George Boldt included a small boat lagoon which changed the shape of the island to that of a heart. He included the heart theme through-out the construction and decorating process. The castle rises six stories from the foundation level which houses the swimming pool and lounge, going to the highest tower room above the level of the leaded glass dome. An elevator serves 127 rooms. Massive granite walls were ornate with cast terra cotta details and inside plaster walls were decorated with many sculptures and designs . The Boldt Castle was to be the testimony of the love George Boldt had for his wife, Louise, and when she died suddenly in 1904 before it was finished, a telegram arrived on the island ordering all work to stop. Three hundred workman put down their tools and left the island. George Boldt never visited the island again and the castle began to fall into disrepair from the effect of the elements and the graffiti. In the restoration process they are following the original blue prints. They have replaced 160 windows and have repaired many of the cement roof tiles and replaced many others with clay tiles but same style. The main open stairway to the second floor in addition to the balconies on two floors and the leaded glass dome skylight on the fourth floor have been restored. The main terrace and entrance , vestibule , reception room , billiard room , dining room, hall, ballroom , and library have all been fully restored. The grandchildren have donated a dining room suite owned by the original family, but the other furniture is just period furniture. As we did both trips, out and back, we took photos of the many types of houses along the way from a trailer, small bungalows and ranches to very large ranches and multi-storied frame homes We even saw new construction and wondered how they handle the septic systems?? They don't, there are green tanks which are emptied by honey dippers that go from island to island (and note the bird's nest on the chimney). Turbo power is furnished by under river cable which is $150 per foot plus the cost of installation!! I did not get a photo of it as was not fast enough, but there was a home built with lots of glass that was raffled off for a hospital fund raiser. The winner was a registered nurse in that hospital. After a few years of enjoyment, she decided that it was not a home that she could afford to maintain on a nurses salary. So she had to put it up for sale, much to her disappointment. However, when she opened the envelope with the check from the sale she became very pleased with the 25 million dollars for her original $50 investment!! Wouldn't we all?? This pink house was one of several pink homes one millionaire owns. When asking his wife what color they should paint this summer home, her choice was pink! I believe one they own is in Hawaii. Go figure! They at one time had a study done to try to determine how many islands there actually are in the Thousand Island area. There were three groups that did a count from the air with three different results. So averaged, they determined the count to be 1793 islands. An island is any stone outcropping with two living trees on it. If the trees should die or be destroyed, the island is then only considered an outcropping. This island is the smallest one on record at this time. In this area you are not permitted to remove any trees except for the purpose of construction. We also enjoyed the boats. Anything from motor boats , cabin cruisers , and sail boats to pontoons , cruise boats , and a meritime laker . We've also seen tug boats but not on this trip. We were on a triple decker from Uncle Sam Tours and had a delicious luncheon during the first hour. They have many choices of tours and I would like to take another just to hear the history. But doubt that we would spend the money for another. Must save that for interests in other areas as we travel. We are looking forward to Maine and lobster!