Alexandria Bay, New York

July 2-5 2019

The morning of the 2nd we moved down nine miles to Alexandria Bay, another very popular stop in the Thousand Islands. A pause in our movement of Laughter as taking place as a lively discussion on which little Bay was the actual entrance to the dock was settled. At that moment a  Coast Guard boat hailed us asking if we had been boarded within the last year. Toms reply was no, the last time was on our way back from Cuba in 2015. Not exactly accurate as they did not board us just came along side. but the young man seemed to think it was funny. We were asked to keep our course while they came along side, boarded and completed a safety check. Tom explained that we were actually getting ready to pull in so we would just put her in neutral. Two young men came aboard. I took over at the helm so Tom could get our boat and dinghy registration and other info. They were extremely nice and we actually enjoyed visiting with them. No issues with the boat registration but the dinghy registration was not in the same file where Tom swore he put it. After a few failed attempts to find it the boys took the numbers off the side of the dinghy and said not to worry but he would have to right that on the report he gave us. They helped us find the correct entrance to the village docks and left. Tom was really frustrated about the lost registration. Did you look in the waterproof box we keep in the dinghy, I asked? Why would I do that was the response, that would make sense. Of course both copies of the registration were in the dinghy box, now one is in the file!

There  was only room for one boat our size on either side of the village dock so we were thrilled that one side of the dock was empty. Because of the high water situation we weren't to worried about the depth at the docks. As Tom slowly brought Laughter in while I stood on the bow lines in hand I realized why it was probably empty. We were only about 2 inches from floating up on the dock.The water was so high our fenders floated parallel to the dock rather than perpendicular. The mounds of goose poop covering the dock was another indicator of why it was empty.  Tour boats came and went from the dock next to us so the people watching was in full force. Our spot was perfect for viewing the upcoming fireworks over Bolt Castle. We scrubbed our area of the dock and set fourth to wonder the town.
Alexandria was a much busier town than Clayton. Lots of tourists, shops, and restaurant/bars. Our first afternoon at Alex Bay, as it is called by the locals,  we walked the main street to the other end. Low and behold another Village dock. This one was at least 1000 foot long and a lot busier with boats and tourists looking at boats. We much preferred our little dock on the other side of town.

     Laughter at the Alexandria Village Dock with her river mustache

                                                            Sunken rock light house

                    Three sisters island. It is actually three small islands connected by bridges. 

This is a close up of the lighthouse on three sisters island. Someone is still living in this house year round. 

 

     Not sure the person who owns this home is there right now

                         Another example of the problems locals are having with the high water
                                                             

                                                               

                                                                 Boldt Castle at night

                                                                     How bout this for a bar!

                                                The line on Fourth of July evening for the tour boat

                                                          In our Fourth of July gear

       Fireworks over Boldt Castle

                                                  A really nice park on the river

                                                   Sunset from the park

                                                   BB pork nachos

Boldt Castle

July 3, 2019


Bolt Castle, stands as a tribute to the love story of famed hotelier, George C. Boldt.  George Boldt lived one of America's greatest rags-to-riches stories. He was only 13 when he immigrated to America from the small Prussian Isle of Rugen. He started at the bottom, working in hotel kitchens throughout New York City. With ambition and a gift for diplomacy, George became the millionaire proprietor of New York City's Waldorf-Astoria and owner of the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia. in the 1890's George and his wife Louise began vacationing in the 1000 islands region of northern NY state. George purchased now famous Heart Island and planned to transform the property into the ultimate gift of love for his darling wife. In 1900 he hired the most skilled masons and architects money could buy to create his own version of a Rhineland Castle. Wellesley island, as it was called then, was the summer home for the Boldt family for four years, while their six story 120 room home complete with tunnels powerhouse, Italian gardens and a drawbridge was being built. In 1904 George sent his workers a telegram saying, stop all work, Louise has died. Heartbroken, he never returned to Heart Island. For 73 years Boldt Castle was abandoned to the elements and vandals. In 1977 the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority was gifted the historic Boldt properties. Since then the TI Bridge has transformed the ruins of Boldt Castle into one of the premier attractions in the 1000 islands international Region.
It was amazing to me that someone would have a castle built on a small island as a summer home, especially back in the 1900's.

                                                                   

                                          This was the entrance for guests of the Boldts

                               The remainder of a bowling alley that has not yet been restored

                        The third floor has not yet been repaired so there is graffiti on the walls and walls not yet repaired. This photo reminds me of the first house my first husband and I bought. It was a repossession that had holes in the walls with broken slats like these. Does that make me old that I owned a house with slats?

                                              Guess they were planning on lots of guests

                                               Notice the way the toilet is flushed

                               We were not able to see the antique boats or boat house as it was under water

Singer Castle

July 3, 2019

The ride out to Singer castle took nearly an hour on the ferry but with so much to look at it didn't seem that long. Singer Castle has a long history and since its original owner Fredrick Bourne, Singer Sewing machine magnet it has changed hands several times. Bourne had an architect friend Ernest Flagg. Fredrick had Ernest design and build a "Hunting and Fishing Lodge"  in 1905. Bournes lodge was based on a novel written by Sir Walter Scott called Woodstock. The novel inspired Flagg to create the castle, originally known as the Towers with secret passageways, tunnels, and a dungeon. A portrait on one of the walls tips back so the host can spy on his guests from a secret passageway and grates placed high on the walls in rooms such as the dining room allow the host to spy or servants to monitor the needs of guests. Italian stonemasons were hired to shape granite brought in from a nearby island to build the castle. Bourne and his wife Emily had 12 children and the castle remained in the family from 1902 until the mid-1960's. Most of the furniture in the castle is the original. The servants were never to be seen throughout the hallways which was made possible by all of the secret passageways and monitoring vents.  I loved Singer, it had so much character and the young man taking us through on the tour provided so many interesting tidbits.  Oh by the way, you can stay in the Castles suite, dinner and breakfast included for $775 per night.

                                                           

                                                     The approach to Singer Caste

                                                                          Clock Tower

Thought this chair leg was cool. The gargoyles on the chair legs were supposed to keep evil spirits away from the home

                                                   The wine cellar although it wasn't in a cellar

                                                        One of the secret passageways

one of the grates on the wall for spying

                                The family were very much into healthy life style. This box was a light box that supposedly helped rid you of what ails you. A little like an early sauna except that you could be electrocuted from your sweat and the electric wireing.

These were original exercise posters that were in the exercise room

original exercise charts

 

 outside covered sitting area

selfie in the garden where weddings are now held

                                                         The Singer family

                    Another view of the exercise room complete with medical paraphernalia

                                                                maids costume

                                                                          maids bathroom

 

Another view of the wedding gardens