A Quick Look At Boldt Castle!!

The forecast yesterday was for rain most of the day, with the water works opening up full blast all night.  The plan was to see Clayton and check out a few geocaches before having a nice dinner on the bay with the tour of Boldt Castle tomorrow in the maybe sunshine, but that changed as soon as we got in the car and drove through town ... you know that jello thing??  Instead of seeing Clayton, we drove to Alexandria Bay and got on the two hour boat tour at 2:00 ... with no rain coat and little to no battery in my camera!! Yikes!!

For $21.00 each, the boat tour was great in the beginning, seeing all the old mansions on the islands, but as the rain started to come down, I headed to the bottom of the boat for shelter against the wind and wet.

Apparently there aren't many of the old mansions left.  When the depression hit, many burned down their beautiful houses for the insurance money, except they forgot the insurance companies were broke in the same depression!!

This baby Osprey hawk was testing his lungs and squawking something fierce!!

A short while later, on top of a navigation buoy, I think mom on the left was cutting up lunch for baby on the right.

There are all kinds of houses on the islands, some big and some small.  Although some have electricity from underground cables, many only have propane for heating and cooking.  There are no septic tanks and many draw their water from the river.

As we passed Boldt Castle, I got this one picture of the whole house.   When I discovered my battery was practically gone, I didn't take any more pictures of the waterway because I knew we were coming back for a castle tour.  The battery needed charging and I planned on doing so last night ... after all, who needs a camera battery when you're geocaching, right??  

Once the boat tour was over, we were dropped off at the island to tour the castle.  For $8.50, you are granted access to all the buildings, including the Yacht House.

The story goes that George Boldt from Prussia, became the most successful hotel magnate in America.  He married the love of his life, Louise, and was building this summer home just for her.  He changed the name of Hart Island to Heart Island, but in 1904, she died unexpectedly.  

All building was stopped and Boldt never returned to the island.  It sat in disrepair until 1977 when the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority took possession and began restoration.  The Alster Tower is a mini-castle playhouse, sometimes occupied by the Boldts during construction of the main house.

With only an hour to spend on the island, I didn't get to see inside the playhouse or the power house shown here, but what we did see was just beautiful!!  It was designed with steam generators to provide electricity to the house.

Although only a couple of rooms were ever fully completed and it was never furnished, the purchase agreement says the Bridge Authority and/or Parks Service will restore the castle, but never fully complete the building.  Italian artisans were brought in to rebuild the plaster moldings and install the wooden stairways and wainscoting found in the basement.  Other than that, none of the decorations are original.

This sitting room was one that had been completed, but the furnishings are not of that period.

This is actually a picture of the completed dining room, with the next image being how it looks today.  All the doorways are covered with tapestry like drapes, so are barely visible.

This amazing dining room table was donated by the grandchildren and returned to the castle.

As you climb the six stories to the top, you can see the actual construction, including the steel beams that make up the frame of the house.  The main floor and part of the second have been completed, but the upper floors are a testament to the destructive side of many people who came to the house when it was vacant.  Graffiti covers every single wall that I saw and most have been damaged like this.  Interior walls are construction with regular brick or these construction blocks, both covered with a thick layer of plaster.  It's truly a shame to see ... 

From the third floor, you can look down at this magnificent staircase with marble steps.  The tour is self-guided, as you wander through the entire 120 room building.  There is even a swimming pool in the basement, along with a tunnel from dockside to bring supplies in to the house by the back door so to speak.  

Hanging above the third floor is this spectacular Dome of Skylight.  There's a ballroom, a billiard room, library, butlers pantry, Mr. Boldt's chambers and Mrs. Boldt's chambers, reception rooms, guest chambers, servant's quarters, a roof parlor, observation deck and several rooms dedicated to Miss Boldt, their daughter.

This room was decorated and furnished in the way someone thought Louise's room would look, as were several other rooms on this floor, including a huge bathroom.

Mr. Boldt's room was just as spectacular, with a wooden fireplace mantle.

The daughter Louise Clover's room was also beautiful, although no mention was made of the son, George Jr.  

While here, you can take a shuttle across the channel to the yacht house were George kept his boats on Wellesley Island.  Unfortunately, with only an hour to spend and no battery left at all, I didn't get to tour several of the buildings or have time for any pictures of the castle grounds, which are just amazing with their Italian gardens.  If you come to see the castle, be sure and plan for at least two hours in order to check out everything.

Dinner at Channelside Restaurant was excellent ... at least the view and the food were very good.  The service however, was another story.  Once we got our meals, our waitress spent all of her time with her friends and people she knew, ignoring us completely.  I finally got the attention of the young kid seating people, and asked him for assistance with the dessert tray and a to-go box, at which time she came running up.   I specifically asked for separate bills, but she didn't get that right either.  She got no tip ... zero ... but on the way out, I gave the kid $5.00 and said thanks!!  

I expected rain last night, but didn't expect the heavens to open up like they did and STILL ARE!!  It's pouring so hard I fear the puppies and I might wash away into the river created below us.  I'm guessing 4 inches ... maybe more!!  The old saying when it rains it pours, is definitely true in upper New York!!