Saturday we got up very early in the morning, 4:30, to drive to Ontario and take a cruise to/by the 1,000 Islands. These beautiful islands are in the waters of the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario. They are called the Garden of the Great Spirit by the natives. This gorgeous area is where the U.S. and Canadian borders meet in the middle of the water. The Canadian Province of Ontario and the state of New York in the U.S. A. are the 2 connecting land areas. There are actually 1, 864 islands. I found it very interesting to know that to be considered an island, a land mass has to meet 3 criteria. 1. It must be above water level year round. 2. It must have greater than 1 sqare foot of land surface. 2. It must support at least 2 living trees. The islands and the waterway are so, so beautiful. It was and still is a place where many want to vacation. There are boat races, fishing competitions and many other wonderful activities. Lining the shores are islands with one little cabin, with no man made structure, with vacation homes, and also many gorgeous mansions.
We went with two other couples and we had such a pleasant day together.
After cruising for about 3 hours, we arrived at beautiful Heart Island and Boldt Castle. George C. Boldt came to America from Prussia in the 1860's. He was very poor and as a teen, he began woking in kitchens of hotels. Being man of tremendous skills, daring and imagination, he became the most successful hotel magnate in America. He became the managing/profit sharing part owner and builder of the Waldorf -Astoria in New York and the Bellevue-Stratford in Philadelphia. He became the president of several companies and a trustee of Cornell University. Boldt fell in love with Louise and they had 2 children, a boy and a girl. Because of his great love for Louise, he bought Heart Island with the idea of building a castle and gifting her with it on Valentine's Day. Construction began with the finest craftsmen and artists working on the castle. All of the materials were of the finest quality with sculptures, stained glass, Italian marble, tapestries and many beautiful pieces and fine furniture imported from different European countries. Suddenly in January, Louise died at the age of 42. George was so heartbroken. He called the island and told them to stop working. 300 men dropped their tools and left the island, never to return. George never set foot on the island again. Not one meal was prepared or served and not one bed was slept in. Boldt Castle stood for many years unused and deteriorated to a state of disrepair. In 1977 the island was sold by the owners and the 1,000 Island Bridge authority assumed ownership. They immediately began a rehabilitation program.
The castle is gorgeous. It rises 6 stories. The first 2 floors are mostly done, but the rest of the castle remains unfinished. There is also Dove-Cove, the first structure built on the island. It is a Hennery where the family collected fancy fowl. It is also the first of many towers that were to rise on this and other islands nearby. The Alster Tower, the arch, the power house, Italian gardens, underground passages, pool, and the yacht house are also structures on the island. All of them are very beautiful and masterfully built.
The boat house, below, was moved across the water a ways. It houses 3 huge yachts as well as other boats.
The grounds are gorgeous and the view is beautiful no matter which way you look.
All around the house is a large porch with cement benches.
The grand entryway with a marble stairway.
The reception room.
Beautifully exquisite ceilings and walls are throughout the castle.
The game room.
I think Michael would love this fish caught in the river right by the castle.
Stained glass dome.
Dining room.
The Butler's pantry.
The library.
The ball room with a huge organ.
The unfinished 3rd floor.
Mosaic floor by the bathroom.
The unfinished pool.
Our little cruise ship can hold 500 passengers.
