Boldt Castle, Part II

Here are some more photos from Heart Island. This is the dovecote

Manicured gardens contrasted to the natural shores of the adjacent island

When Mr. Boldt built the house, his objective was to create a full-sized Rhineland castle. It was inspired by his childhood home in Germany with a dash of whimsy. So if it feels like you're at Disney, that's because Disney's castle shared architectural inspiration. Also, it will feel like Disney because there are people everywhere! This is a busy place.

A devoted family man, Mr. Boldt had this modest playhouse constructed for his children which includes a theater and bowling alley. Truly, it was a favorite space with unique mouldings and lovingly fantastical designs.

What is that you ask? The yacht house, of course. Also, it is located on adjacent Wellesley Island which is accessible by car but once served as a place of agriculture and duck hunting to provide for not only Heart Island, by Mr. Boldt's hotels from what I understand.

Boldt Castle, Part I

Did I mention I've been taking a ton of travel architecture snapshots over the past couple years? Well here are some from Boldt Castle. And if you've never heard of it, you might have heard of the dressing that this man made popular. Thousand Islands? Really its just Russian dressing rebranded for your reuben sandwiches, as I understand it, by George C. Boldt for offering in his hotel, the Waldorf Astoria. Also, note the Waldorf Salad which I've never really been a fan of. Just not my cup of tea. But if you have the chance to visit the Thousand Islands, please do! Not only will you be glad to know the origin of the namesake dressing but truly the St. Lawrence River is one of the most naturally breathtaking places I've ever seen. Also, this house. Sorry the photos aren't great - I didn't bring full camera equipment with me on this trip.

Now my daughter is a HUGE fan of this house because it is on Heart Island and has hearts... everywhere.

Yet sadly, it was intended as a love token for his wife, Louise, who passed only weeks before Valentines Day when he intended to present it to her. So at the time, they ceased work on the house and it was never finished.... until relatively recently by the local community. You will see that evidence of unfinished work throughout, including the top floor where they've stabilized it to show the character of how it was found.

More of the beautiful grounds and other buildings to come!

Antique Boat Museum

I stumbled upon this Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, NY recently. If you are a fan of wooden boats, or boats in general, this is a must-visit place. There are world-record breakers, some of the first of their kind and even an incredible house boat.

Architecturally speaking, the design of the museum is just beautiful. I love the colors on the repair shop.

Camp Sagamore, Part III

Mrs. Vanderbilt added quite a bit of fun to the property including this very inviting "Playhouse"

Lots of taxidermy. It is also the only structure on the property designed by a professional architect but happens to be the least structurally sound and has required the most repair.

As Photographed in 1940 for Life Magazine

 Which naturally features an adjacent en plein air bowling alley. Replete with original (and working) return.

Photo from Martha

And of course, decor for all seasons

One last thing, I thought these twin cottages were my favorite. Still used by visiting family (although the property is in the care of Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks) these were built by Mrs. Vanderbilt for her children, this is one of the two.

Camp Sagamore, Part II

Let's take a look at the main compound of Camp Sagamore in the Adirondacks. New York State is beautiful in the summer, a local to Upstate told me they call it the "wooing season" and I can see why.  So the main lodge is clearly the centerpiece of the property. The man who built the property was William West Durant as a self-sufficient wilderness camp from 1895 - 1897. The Main Lodge was all that stood here, inspired by the chalet style it was intended to be intimate with only five bedroom suites. Also, note Durant was a pragmatic man - the door was based on one he saw in a catalog. Not unlike many modern home decorators. 

Due to financial reasons he sold it to Alfred G. Vanderbilt in 1901 and visited the property frequently until his untimely death on the Lusitania. His second wife, married in 1911, Margaret Emerson McKim really made the property home and together they did a great deal of entertaining and building, adding so much life to the compound and making it what it is today. This is the Main Lodge's details and interiors. I just love the "rusticated" (a term the trustees of the property use lovingly) details of the main door. A blacksmith worked on site full-time and fabricated everything by hand.

Care for croquet?

I'll be honest, I didn't bring the best equipment for interior, low-light photos. So some are mine but some are "borrowed" from Martha Stewart, as below:

 Back to my snapshots:

Here's the dock, just beautiful and in keeping with the surroundings.

Dining Lodge

Here's the interior from Martha's site:

Now, my photos - because this view and this window...