George Boldt, general manager of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel
in New York City and manager of the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel
in Philadelphia, and his family enjoyed an earlier frame cottage on
Hart Island (the original island's name) for several summers, which
they greatly expanded. In 1900 the Boldt's launched an ambitious
construction campaign to build a huge masonry structure, one of the
largest private homes in America. They engaged the architectural
firm G. W. & W. D. Hewitt and hundreds of workers for a
six-story "castle", a major international landmark. In addition,
four other masonry structures on the island are architecturally notable.
Equally distinctive is a huge yacht house on a neighboring island
where the Boldt's had another summer home and a vast estate,
incorporating farms, canals, a golf course, tennis courts,
stables, and a polo field.
Boldt Yacht House
George Boldt owned over 60 boats and he had this
huge yacht house built for them
The "Castle" behind us
The Yacht House
Alster Tower
(The children's play house)
The castle was built for the love of his life ..his wife.
It was being constructed as a Valentine gift for his wife;
however, she passed away in January and Mr. Boldt
stopped construction. He never returned to Heart Island.
Dome
700 workers stopped work the next day.
Originally Hart Island, George Boldt added an e
to make it Heart Island and had the island shaped
like a heart.
Main Staircase
Right in the middle of the St Lawrence Seaway
The Dove-Cote
The bottom portion of the tower houses an elevated
water tank which supplied water to the island structures.
It was topped with a dove house – where they collected
fancy fowl.
The Heart is the theme of Heart Island
and in his crest.
Power Plant and Clock Tower
Front entrance
The Thousand Island Bridge Authority is finishing the Castle
as to original plans..It laid vacant for 73 years to the elements
and vandals.
The Gazebo
Alster Tower
Stags on top of the main gate
Departing back to the boathouse and onward to Clayton..
Boats..OH BOY!
Clayton, NY and the Antique Boat Museum
Zipper
La Duchesse
This 106' houseboat was built for George Boldt in 1903.
It had no engine, so it had to be towed with a tug to various
places along the St. Lawrence. After Mr. Boldt's death,
the houseboat was sold to Edward Nobel, owner of
Beechnut and inventor of Lifesavers. In 1943,
a pipe broke and the La Duchesse sunk with a
submerged pilingpiercing the hull. It was sold
to Andrew McNally(Rand-McNally) for $100.
She was refloated and extensively repaired, adding
a steel hull. In the 1980's, Mr McNally bequeathed
the boat to the museum.
It is a Victorian home on a barge.
Classic home downtown
Had lunch overlooking the river
Drove to Alexander Bay to see the town
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