The Tragic Story of the Boldt Castle

The Boldt Castle, which is situated in the renowned 1000 Islands neighbourhood of Alexandria Bay, New York, is once again evolving into the finest residence and destination in the area. Boldt Castle and the Boldt Yacht House have something for everyone, whether you come every year to see what’s new, or are searching for a family holiday near to home.

On Heart Island, Boldt Castle was to serve as a testament to a man’s unfathomable love for his wife. The beauty of the building was only surpassed by George Boldt’s passion of Louise, the love of his life and the inspiration behind the summer residence.

The son of poor parents, George C. Boldt emigrated to America in 1864 from Prussia, Germany. He was the most prosperous hotel magnate in America, managing and profit-sharing the Waldorf-Astoria in New York, the Bellevue-Stratford in Philadelphia, and serving as the director of the Hotel Association of New York. He was a man of extraordinary organizational ability, audacity, and imagination. The enduring monument of Boldt Castle honours the memory of the man whose aspirations were limited by his ability.

The Castle:

About 300 labourers, stonemasons, carpenters, and artisans were employed by Boldt to complete this extensive construction project. The boat house alone took up 35,000 square feet of the 60,000 square foot castle, which was to be six stories high and include 120 rooms. The primary residence would be decorated with elaborate furnishings, tapestries, and mosaics imported from Europe and other parts of the world in the best Gilded Age fashion.

One of the most ornate rooms in the castle, the ballroom, features modern crown moulding and was lit dramatically to light up what should have been many entertaining evenings on Heart Island. The Boldts were never able to take advantage of the room’s architectural intent to mimic the acoustics of live music. The ballroom was renovated in 2005 to its current state.

The accommodations of George Boldt’s Suite are understated for a man who would have spent most of his time entertaining visitors, dreaming up new architectural designs, and sailing on the St. Lawrence River. Rarely would a trip to Heart Island have been spent in isolation in the bedroom. As the estate’s master, George Boldt would have had a personal valet whose responsibilities would have included taking care of George’s wardrobe, grooming requirements, and personal requests like delivering mail or private messages.

The grand staircase was finished in 1999, and then the marble floor, the oak millwork, and the stained glass dome were installed. With the exception of two original water colour paintings of the island by Philadelphia, Pennsylvania artist Frank H. Taylor, the main hall is filled with imitation art pieces. Frank Taylor, an author and illustrator for Harper’s Weekly, was probably acquainted with George Boldt. Fortunately, a portion of the original plaster ceiling was finished and managed to survive the years of abandonment, allowing workers to create replica moulds in 1995 that showcased the genuine artistry of the time.

George Boldt was genuinely committed to a life of learning, and he owned a modest library. Before going to bed, he was often known to stay up late reading books in his study. His Waldorf-Astoria office resembled a small library more than it did a place of business. George’s close friends thought he might have easily succeeded as an engineer, attorney, artist, or musician. Boldt played a significant role in the architectural design of both his hotels and the building of his residences. He frequently went to meetings with the engineers he had employed. Even just prior to his passing, he started studying French irregular verbs.

The reception room is where the Boldt family Butler would have cordially beckoned you into the grand estate. All personal items would have been quickly transported to a recently prepared guest bedroom suite with the footman. You would have received a number of tea and coffee treats before Mr. and Mrs. Boldt showed up to formally welcome you to their house. The Boldts’ opulent way of life is only partially visible in the welcome room. This room, which was initially finished in 1904, was renovated and made public in 1993.

The History:

In 1851, a young George C. Boldt was born on the German island of Rügen in the Baltic Sea, amid a gorgeous setting filled with castles. His life epitomized the phrase “rags-to-riches narrative” after he immigrated to America at the age of 13. It doesn’t happen often that a struggling immigrant who was employed in a cramped hotel kitchen during the final year of the Civil War ends up being referred to as the “creator of the modern hotel.”

In New York City, Boldt worked in the kitchens of numerous hotels before, at the age of 25, securing a position at the Philadelphia Hotel. After working there for a while, he met Louise Kehrer, who would later become his beloved. He married Louise the following year, and the two immediately had a family. Their daughter Clover was born in 1883, while their son Charles was born in 1879.

Louise, who was actually the steward’s daughter at the Philadelphia Hotel, was no stranger to the hospitality industry. Boldt and his wife worked together at the Waldorf Astoria to make sure that the visitors were treated like kings and queens while they were there. Louise painted the rooms and gave guests the most exquisite flowers, candles, and even pincushions while he oversaw the hotel’s commercial operations. They stood by the phrase, “the customer is always right.”

George devised a concept to build a castle in 1899 that was based on buildings in the Rügen area where he was raised. For the gigantic stone structure’s design and construction, he hired 300 craftspeople and construction labourers. The anticipated date was set for February 14th, 1904, which was also Louisa’s birthday and five years after work began. He added hearts on the statues, flowerbeds, and stained glass that made up the castle, among other things.

Unexpectedly, Louise passed away from heart failure just ONE MONTH before the castle was officially unveiled. When George learned that his soul partner and the love of his life had passed away, he was completly distraught. He quickly sent a telegraph telling the builders to stop building the castle right away. Since his princess had left, George Boldt never went back to Heart Island and never finished the castle.

George Boldt died in 1916 and flags were flown at half-staff across New York City. He was the highest-paid employee in the United States around the turn of the century, and he was also very well-liked and respected.

The castle was fully completed and built after the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority bought the land in 1977. The castle now has 120 rooms and is six floors high. Its first floor underwent a comprehensive restoration and features furnishings from that time period, representing the interior design that George and Louise would have desired.

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This fantastic five-hour tour gives you the opportunity to admire gorgeous views of the 1000 Islands from the water and spend time exploring Boldt Castle, learning some history along the way. Don’t forget to bring your passport as Heart Island is American land.

Website: https://www.boldtcastle.com/visitorinfo/

Price: $74.50 per adult

When: May up until September

Address: City Cruises Gananoque, 280 Main St., Gananoque, ON

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