One of the reasons that we traveled to the far northeast this summer was to escape the crazy heat and humidity of the southern states. Well, today that plan did not work out so well. We knew it was going to be a warm one, so left early to arrive at Gillette Castle soon after they opened just a few miles from us here in Connecticut. What an incredible place!
We selected our campground in the south central part of Connecticut to be able to explore the coastal areas and to make a trip up to Newington, CT, the home of the ARRL, or in other words the town in which ham radio’s organizing body exists. One of my hobbies that is on hold.
William Gillette
Once we arrived at the camp resort and perused the literature provided, we found this local attraction that is now a state park. Here is a quick history of Gillette Castle. More info here on this LINK.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, William Gillette became a successful actor, writer, director, and inventor. He amassed a good $3 million fortune and built this stone mansion with a good part of it.
His most well known accomplishment is writing the screenplays and starring in the Sherlock Holmes plays during this time. He is the one who added the hat and pipe to the character, as well as he came up with the phrase “Oh, this is elementary, my dear fellow,” which was later changed to Watson.
Gillette married in 1882 and only six years later his wife died from a ruptured appendix. He promised his wife that he would never remarry and never did.
Gillette found the location to build on a rocky cliff above the Connecticut River while he was sailing his 144 foot steamship, the Aunt Polly. He lived on the houseboat until he discovered this perfect location for his home. He was a full-timer, just like us!
The Gillette Castle
Wiki: The 3-story-plus-tower, 24-room, 14,000 sq ft home was built of wood, cement, and local Connecticut field stone, supported by a steel framework. The exterior of the home is covered in field stone. Woodwork within the home is hand-hewn southern white oak.
From the outside, it is a large stone mansion. Okay, that’s pretty cool, but once you walk inside, the woodwork is something like I have never seen before.
It has 47 unique, intricately hand carved doors that are incredible. Each door has moving wood parts that serve to either latch or lock the door. Most doors have some sort of railroad theme carved into them.
Gillette also installed a complete narrow gauge railroad on his estate to take visitors on tours.
The mansion was completed in 1919 and had electricity throughout, complete bathrooms with running water, and a secret passage. There are three floors of rooms and two towers that extend another two floors above the castle.
The highlights to me were the incredible built in wood craftsmanship all designed by William Gillette and built by his team of carpenters. And the superior view of the CT river from its perch high on the cliffs.
Sadly, he had no heirs and stipulated that the home not be sold to any “blithering sap-head who has no conception of where he is or with what surrounded”. So, the government took it over. Perhaps some irony there.
We returned to the campground to enjoy the 105 degree heat index. Hopefully, you are somewhere a little cooler!
Here are some photos:
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Take care and God Bless!
Really cool like something out of a storybook. As for the heat, sorry but you are on your own – it is always like that in Dallas in the summer!!! Lorna
Yes, we are sure not Dallas-conditioned to the heat and humidity!