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| In Pardise, On Paradise Thousand Islands, St. Lawrence River |
We
were treated to good weather for the 42 mile run from Sackets to Clayton. The waters of Lake Ontario and the St.
Lawrence River are crystal clear. The
first clear water we have traveled in since leaving Florida. The fabled Thousand Islands (actually 1,834
of them) are as picturesque as all the stories say. Although discovered by the earliest explorers
in the 1500s, the Thousand Islands did not became a tourist mecca until the
late 1800s and then only for the very wealthy.
It is said that General Ulysses Grant visited after his Presidency and extolled
the virtues which led to the rush to acquire islands and build large summer
homes and castles.
Clayton,
NY is 15 miles downriver from Lake Ontario and is in the heart of the Thousand Islands. At the turn of the 19th century
during the summer 20 trains a day deposited passengers who then boarded steam
ships for transport to their homes or elaborate hotels. Today it continues to thrive on tourism with
the Antique Wooden Boat Museum being a large draw as well as numerous
restaurants and shops. The
Boat Museum is worth the trip in itself displaying pleasure craft of all sizes since
the invention of the outboard motor. One
building is set up like a boat show of days gone by complete with prices for
the boat at the time.
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| Debby liked the 1935 Ford Phaeton more than the collapsible canoe tied to the side. |
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| George Boldt's "HouseBoat"105' Built in 1900 |
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| One of 100s on display |
We
took a commercial boat tour from Clayton to visit Boldt Castle, about 9 miles
further downriver. George Boldt
emigrated from Prussia in 1868 at the age of 15. He worked in hotels starting as a bus boy,
working his way up to eventually owning the Waldorf Astoria in New York and a
similar hotel in Philadelphia. Being madly
in love with his much younger wife in 1900 he started construction of a castle
on Heart Island, so named as he reshaped it to look like a heart. 300 workers spent 4 years constructing the
160 room, 6 story main building along with power station, children’s play house
and yacht house to keep his 18 boats.
Unfortunately in 1904 just before completion his wife died
suddenly. As the castle was to be a
monument to his love for her he immediately stopped construction and never returned
to the property. The site lay dormant
for 73 years until the state took it over and began restoration. The opulence rivals Hearst Castle in
California.
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| Childrens Playhouse Boldt Castle |
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| Boldt Castle |
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| Power Generation House Boldt Castle |
