Monday, December 31, 2012

The midnight Walleye Drop for bringing in the New Year 2013



Just for the fun of it!


For our die-hard fishing friends (and for anybody looking for something very unique), see the New Year's Eve walleye fish drop cam in Port Clinton, OH at midnight on the web. (You can even have it going on your computer at the same time the New York City's famous ball drop occurs on your TV if you are so inclined.)

As an alternative, here is the countdown clock on the web that has already started the countdown to the New Year!

Check in often with this blog. Many new wonderfully surprising features are in the works! Be sure to give us a look at least once per week. You may participate too. Just drop me an email with a Thousand Islands story or pictures (or any other fascinating nature story) to see yourself in print if selected. Happy New Year!


Monday, December 24, 2012

Merry Christmas 2012



For your online Christmas celebration, here is an extraordinary site with all kinds of interesting links: Peggy's Christmas Place.

And be sure to try: Patty's Christmas Page.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Our own hometown hero - Veterans Day 2012



I ran this tribute last year and it certainly is worthwhile to publish again as we contemplate this Veterans Day 2012.

We have so many heroes among  us, so to put a face on it, I will focus on one among us. Pictured in this blog is Todd Torrance from central New York State. He served in the U.S. Army with Fort Drum's 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan and Iraq.  I am using him to represent all of our veteran heroes: past, present and future. One day in Iraq he was on a security mission to protect the funeral procession for an Iraqi official. During this time his Humvee hit an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) which exploded his world. But let us hear it directly from him, as the New York Times featured a fascinating article by him which you can read by clicking here: New York Times, by Todd Torrance.




Above is pictured a tattoo on Todd's right shoulder, which dates his "alive date", the day he survived the road side bomb which took out his Humvee. Note the purple heart, and the 1/71 refers to his unit, the 1-71 Cavalry.


This aftermath of his alive date has culminated in having his date with Danielle, now his fiancée. If this were a movie, one could say this is the fitting ending to an amazing story, but alas, it is the beginning of great things to come for a survivor.

When I asked Todd to make a final statement for this blog, his final answer was to flash another tattoo for the cameraClick on his picture to see it larger. If the tat sounds familiar, you may also see it in 1 Thess. 5:24. 

In thanks to Todd and to all of our veterans, please view the following video, Thank you for my Freedom.


Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Remembering the HMS Bounty and Captain Robin Walbridge

Captain Robin Walbridge (on the right) with Pam Thomas, Operations Manager of Singer Castle at the time.

HMS Bounty docked at Dark Island.
(Click on photos to see them larger)
See more images below.


She came into view as we rounded Cedar Island on our way from the Chippewa Bay dock to Dark Island.  Arguably one of the most identifiable of the tall ships sailing today sat tied up at our main dock.  The “HMS Bounty” had come to call at Singer Castle.  Avid sailor that he was, Frederick Bourne would have loved her, all 180’ majestic feet from bowsprit to stern as much as we did.   

After summering on the Great Lakes the “Bounty” was once again on her way back down the St. Lawrence toward Montreal and then on to her home port for the winter season.  On that particular September day the crew and passengers sailing on the Bounty had a chance to be tourists instead of being the “tourist attraction.”  They would get to tour a castle in the 1000 Islands.  

While the crew and passengers toured the castle, Captain Robin invited castle staff members aboard the Bounty.  Our visit began with us climbing up the side of the ship to reach the main deck with the aid of ropes and for some of us a small ladder.  We saw all levels of the ship including the engine room, galley and cabins.  On the main deck stood the ship’s wheel -- the same wheel had been used on the ships in all of the “Mutiny on the Bounty” movies and during the shooting of “The Pirates of the Caribbean.”  We could imagine Captain Bly or Captain Jack Sparrow steering her over the waves with the sails billowing in the wind.  

Captain Robin Walbridge was a warm and gracious host – it was clear that he loved his ship and his life sailing on the Bounty.  At the end of the visit all of us urged him to stop again the next time he sailed the St. Lawrence.  Sadly Captain Robin Walbridge and the HMS Bounty will not be coming our way again….  On Monday, October 29, 2012 Hurricane Sandy claimed the life of [Claudene Christian and left] the captain and his majestic ship lost at sea. [They are still searching for Capt. Walbridge.] [11/1/12 update. Sadly, the Coast Guard search for the Capt. has been suspended.]
--------------------------
Above notice received directly from Jean Papke, Administrative Assistant to the President of Singer Castle on Dark Island, Tom Weldon.

Patty and I (Bob) have visited the magnificent HMS Bounty on the St. Lawrence River and saw the dedicated crew at work. Our hearts go out to the families of Captain Robin Walbridge and Claudene Christian who also perished in this tragic event.
...

Above, Bob Mondore and the HMS Bounty, St. Lawrence River, Ogdensburg NY- June 2010
Above, poster of 1962 movie: Mutiny on the Bounty. Fletcher Christian's name is listed directly under Marlon Brando's name in fine print.

Astonishingly, the late Claudene Christian was a direct descendant of Fletcher Christian who led the Mutiny on the Bounty in 1789 and was played by Marlon Brando in the 1962 film which featured this very replica ship which took her life during Hurricane Sandy.
Claudine Christian on the Bounty, from her Facebook page.

For updates on all things regarding ships on the St. Lawrence River, I hardily recommend Mike Folsom's The Ship Watcher Blog.


Monday, September 24, 2012

Dispatch direct from Singer Castle regarding "The Great Escape" show on Dark Island.


The Great Escape???

A little over a year ago the area was abuzz.  Emmy Award winning producer of “The Amazing Race,” Bertram Van Munster and Academy Award winning producer Ron Howard were going to film a pilot for a new reality adventure series at Singer Castle.  Many local people worked to bring the production to the area and many others participated in preproduction activities. They provided housing, food, transportation, artwork, construction work and support for the production crews who labored almost around the clock for two weeks just to set the scene.  Local volunteers participated in a trial run through of the escape and many others assisted during the over five hours of filming beginning at midnight on a cool and rainy night.  Those of us who live close to the castle enjoyed the beautiful sight of the castle on Dark Island all aglow with the hundreds of lights.  We could imagine how beautiful the castle was when the Bourne family came in the early 1900s and we wanted the whole world to have an opportunity to see our special place.  

Nine months later, “The Great Escape” premiered on TNT with an episode filmed at Alcatraz. When would the episode filmed at Singer Castle air?  It didn’t appear on the schedule, maybe next week.  We were greatly disappointed when the first season of “The Great Escape” ended without the Singer Castle episode being featured on the Sunday evening program.  Surely we were more interesting than the sewers below the City of Los Angeles.  All of us wanted to see the end result of the hard work.    

Well, we have great news for those of you who have been waiting to see the escape from Singer Castle.  Profiles TV and TNT have made one copy of the pilot episode available to Singer Castle.  While we are not allowed to duplicate it or post it on the internet, you will have an opportunity to view the show on Saturday, October 20th [2012]. A boat will depart from the Uncle Sam Boat Tours dock in Alexandria Bay at noon and cruise down river to Singer Castle.  During the cruise the episode will be shown and upon arrival at the castle you will have an opportunity to tour the castle and see where the production took place.  Tickets for this reservation only special event will cost $25 each and will be available by calling Singer Castle at 315-324-3275.  

[This entire announcement above was received directly from Singer Castle on Dark Island.]

Monday, September 10, 2012

Singer Castle chosen as a top destination spot for New York State (see #8)!

A DOZEN EXCITING WAYS TO STAY
IN NEW YORK STATE

Albany, New York (September 5, 2012) –Why stay in an ordinary hotel when you can sleep in a luxurious, remote lakeside yurt or a repurposed caboose? Here are more than a dozen wonderful lodgings across the state that are attractions in their own right.

1.    Safe Harbor in a Lighthouse: Saugerties Lighthouse, Saugerties, NY, in the Hudson Valley, sits on a remote shoal which can be reached by boat or via an easy half-mile walking trail. This 1869 landmark beacon, on the National Register of Historic Places, is both museum and inn. Two bedrooms and the lighthouse tower above them provide bird’s eye views of the Hudson River and offer an idyllic perch for spotting bald eagles and beavers and watching the sun set. The downstairs has a kitchen where guests can cook dinner and a cozy common room with a wood-burning stove.

2.    Luxury in a Backcountry Yurt: A backcountry experience with all of the creature comforts beckons at the Upper St. Regis Lake campsite, near Lake Clear, NY in the Adirondacks. A carpeted, fully-furnished and serviced yurt, accessible only by boat, sits on a promontory overlooking a lovely lake. Guests can take off in the yurt’s canoe on paddling adventures across three lakes and a river or swim and dive off the private dock. Come evening, they can cook dinner on the outdoor grill or indoor kitchen and then  watch for shooting stars through the yurt’s domed skylight.

3.    Floating in a Geodesic Dome: A geodesic dome with a round, “floating” bed is among the unusual accommodations at Pollywogg Hollër Eco Resort, Belmont, NY, in the Chautauqua–Allegheny region. Other options include an Adirondack-style lean-to with a queen-size bed and privacy curtains, and a popular loft cabin with its own pine-fired sauna, each with furnishings hand-hewn from native woods. Works of more than one hundred artists nestle along garden trails. The resort also features wine tastings in its own wine cellar, an organic garden and solar-powered electricity.

4.    A Converted Convent: While many of the lovely angels that decorate six-room Angels Nest Bed & Breakfast, in Rome, NY, in the Central New York region, were brought here by the inn’s owner, the spirit of the original convent seems to live on. The original prayer center, complete with pews and stained glass windows, now serves as a non-denominational chapel and the lovely angel-themed garden invites outdoor meditation. A sense of community is fostered around home cooked breakfasts, a well equipped exercise room and sauna and relaxing living area with a TV, books, music and games. Guest reviews also praise owner/innkeeper Mary O. Davis for her warm hospitality.

5.    Sleeping in School: Rest assured, you won’t be scolded for sleeping in this 1907 school house, but you’re likely to learn nevertheless. The Erie Canal Schoolhouse Bed & Breakfast, in Albion, NY, in the Greater Niagara region displays photos, newspaper articles and other historic documents found during the renovation, and the former auditorium showcases vintage model trains, a miniature Hudson carnival and antiques. Want to make some notes? The original chalkboards are still on the walls of several of the classroom-turned bedrooms.

6.    A Personal Theme Park: Why go to a theme park when you can sleep in one? Staying in one of the themed rooms and suites at The Roxbury Motel, in Roxbury, NY in the Catskills is like living on a set from your favorite TV show or movie. From the Stone Age Flintstones to Futuristic Jetsons, choices abound. The newest, slated to open this fall, is a three bedroom “Archaeologist’s Digs,” inspired by adventure flicks like Indiana Jones that will include secret passageways, hidden treasure, Mayan temples and Egyptian tombs. On a diet? Don’t choose Maryann’s Coconut Cream Pie room, which puts you in the pie with a whipped cream ceiling that looks real enough to make your mouth water.

7.    On the Track to Dreamland: You can fall asleep to the chug, chug, chug of a moving train at the Caboose Motel, in Avoca, NY, in the Finger Lakes region. While the sound is simulated and can be turned off, the five 1917 cabooses are the real thing. Converted into family-style motel rooms, the cabooses all have a single and double bed for lower berths plus two authentic upper berths and a bathroom with shower, along with modern conveniences such as cable TV, heating and air-conditioning.

8.    A Taste of the Gilded Age: Built in the early 1900s by Frederick Bourne, president of the Singer Sewing Machine Co., as an opulent “hunting retreat” in the 1000 Islands/Seaway region, Singer Castle is a quirky place with hidden passageways and dungeons. The 28-room castle and private island are now open to visitors during the day, but come evening, those who reserve the two-bedroom Royal Suite have the entire castle at their disposal, complete with a catered dinner and a private personal tour of this eccentric hideaway.

9.    Roaring 20s Splendor: Oheka Castle in Cold Spring Harbor, NY on Long Island, the French-style Chateau where financier and philanthropist Otto Hermann Kahn threw lavish parties during the Roaring 20s, is now a glamorous 32-room boutique hotel with a gourmet restaurant. Not to be missed are the Chateau Fontainebleau-inspired grand staircase and the Olmstead-designed formal gardens. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the chateau frequently appears in film, television, music and still photography productions, which helps account for the A-list celebs often spotted here.

10.    An Artist’s Town House:  Home to influential artist and women’s rights activist Alice Morgan Wright from 1888 to 1975, the Morgan State House Inn is an elegantly and artistically restored 19th century townhouse. Designed by the same architect who also designed the Gothic-style Cathedral of all Saints, the gabled mansion features architectural detailing, inside and out. It is located in downtown Albany, NY, in the Capital-Saratoga region, across from Washington Park and just steps from a number of interesting restaurants.

11.    A Hammock in the City: Cocooning takes on an almost literal meaning at the trendy NU Hotel, where guests can opt for rooms with hammocks instead of beds. Of course, regular beds and bunk beds are also available for those with more conventional sleep tastes. The hotel is located amid the restaurants, shops and art galleries of downtown Brooklyn in New York City, less than a ten minute subway ride to Manhattan.

12.    “Glamping” and more: There are many more off-beat accommodations across the state. Try “glamping” at the luxurious Orenda campground in the Adirondacks, go for the Catskill kitsch at Kate’s Lazy Meadow in Mt. Tremper, NY, decked out in groovy 50s decor by Kate Pierson, a lead singer of the B-52s rock band; or stay in a tower suite overlooking the Hudson River at Castle on the Hudson in Tarrytown, NY, a medieval style castle that includes a dining room once owned by Louis XIV that was transported from France. Or buy the painting off the wall at the Artful Lodger, a combination art gallery and bed and breakfast inn in Clinton, NY. Check out www.iloveNY.com for dude ranches, log cabins, and other unusual lodgings.

About New York State
New York State features 11 beautiful vacation regions. New York’s attractions span from landmarks such as Niagara Falls, to the wine trails of Hudson Valley and treasures like the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Whether it’s wide-ranging outdoor activities for the whole family like fishing, hiking and boating, culinary wonders and farm-to-table fresh foods, or the rich history and culture of one of the 13 original colonies, New York State offers diverse activities for all travelers. For more information, visit http://www.iloveny.com. Media can find press releases and more at thebeat.iloveny.com.
 

The following link shows how it is being reported in the media:
7 News/WWNY TV


Thursday, September 6, 2012

Canadian Senator fights for Singer Castle, Dark Island port of entry.

Canadian Senator Robert W. Runciman
Canadian Senator Robert W. Runciman is proposing that Singer Castle on Dark Island be made a port of entry so tours can visit there directly from Canada. Otherwise, tourists from Canada must check in first with customs elsewhere, such as at Boldt Castle on Heart Island, thus increasing their travel time substantially.  It is believed that this will increase tourism in the Thousand Islands area and therefore boost employment.

Click on the following links to read the news reporting on it:

WNNY TV-7News
Watertown DailyTimes


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Saturday, September 1, 2012

News Flash: The Great Escape from Dark Island will not be shown.

Unfortunately, the word is out that the pilot show for the Great Escape will not be shown after all. The Watertown Daily Times has confirmed what we have independently discovered. So we are getting this bulletin out ASAP with the corroborative reporting. Click on their link for the related article. Too bad for the network, the buzz about the show was huge and would have boosted their ratings for sure. The good news is that there was a tremendous amount of positive news reported about Singer Castle on Dark Island and the Thousand Islands region.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Surprise book signing Saturday at Singer Castle on Dark Island!


Tom Weldon: President of Singer Castle on the left; Bob and Patty on the right.
Photo from one of our previous signing events on Dark Island.

Surprise, we (Robert and Patty Mondore) will be at Singer Castle on Dark Island this Saturday, September 1, 2012 from afternoon to 4:00 pm  autographing copies of our book, Singer Castle Revisted. Patty will also have her wildly popular new inspirational book River Reflections. Of course, Dark Island's Castle of Mysteries (DVD) and the book River-Lations (as well as other works) will be on hand too!  Mention that you saw this blog and you will receive a great gift from us with the purchase of any book or DVD with our name on it from their souvenier shop while we are present. While supplies last, I have Flash Drives, baseball style hats, tote bags, toy knights, and more ready to be given away for free! See you Saturday.

P.S.
I don't mean to leave anyone out. I know going to Dark Island isn't like going to your local Walmart. So if you aren't in the area, drop me an email so I can get you in on the goodies!

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Sunday, August 5, 2012

The Great Escape TV Series: Singer Castle episode date still unknown.

8/9/12 Updated information.
I have promised to keep the readers of this blog on the cutting edge of information. I had received lists of all the shows for the Great Escape for this season. As a matter of logical deduction, it appeared that The Great Escape show featuring Singer Castle would probably be aired in the latter part of this month. I strongly cautioned with great emphasis that the date was only tentative and not confirmed. Alas though, I have just received information that this date will not be featuring our beloved Dark Island. It has been a real guessing game for all of us. Even the respected YNN cable news reported that this show "should air sometime in July" (which did not pan out). So we are still all in the dark on this mystery (pun intended). Watch this blog for further updates. As always, we will stay on the cutting edge and let you know what is happening when we know it. Thank you for staying tuned.



Friday, August 3, 2012

Patty Mondore - New book: River Reflections

Above photo: Patty Mondore's new book River Reflections.

There has been a lot of buzz and interest in the North country concerning Patty's latest book, River Reflections. Both Bob and Patty will be at the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton NY during its huge antique boat show this Saturday (Aug. 4, 2012) from 2 PM to 4 PM. Patty will be doing book signings for her new book, and we will both be available for some of our other works, including Singer Castle Revisited.

For details about River Reflections, click on this link for an article that was featured in the fabulous Thousand Islands Life online magazine. 

(River Relections follows on the heels of, but should not be confused with Patty's previous book called River-Lations. River-Lations is also the title of her popular column in the Islands' preeminent newspaper, the Thousand Islands Sun Vacationer that comes out every week during the summer months.) 

Below, Bob and Patty at last year's antique boat show. We have been very fortunate to have been invited to this renown event for many years. Drop in and say hello.

Bob and Patty are the entrepreneurs at Gold-Mountain.com and Bob is the author at SingerCastle.blogspot.com. We always enjoy any feedback and welcome article submissions or interesting photos related to the Thousand Islands for this blog.


Friday, July 13, 2012

Construction Projects on Dark Island


Above photo: Expansion of South Boathouse on Dark Island from antiquity.

On Wednesday, June 14, 1905 the Saint Lawrence Republican newspaper reported on the effects of the on-going construction of Frederick Bourne’s castle on Dark Island on the population of Chippewa Bay, New York.  The paper stated, “There are reported to be 116 names on the payroll engaged in the various works on Dark Island.  The business of repairing, painting and cleaning up on the islands is very active.  We soon shall see a decided increase in population in this locality.”

On Wednesday, January 19, 1910 the paper again reported on construction on Dark Island.  At that time the article said: “Contractor J. B. Reid has a large contract of removing rock at Dark Island the summer home of F.G. Bourne of New York.  The rock is being removed in the large yacht house to make a deeper waterway for larger yachts.  The space of solid rock to be removed is 90 feet long, 26 feet wide and 12 feet deep.  On the outer end or towards the river, they have to coffer dam the same to blast out the rock.  The stone is hoisted and carried by cables leading from the forward end of the boat house to scows, which are then towed out into deep water and dumped… there are 37 men on the job, divided into day and night shifts, so that work is going on continually.  An addition of 40 feet will be built on the present yacht house when the blasting is completed.  The power house has been raised one story and sleeping rooms for the servants have been finished.”  In that same time period additional guest bedrooms were added to the main building, the breakfast room was enlarge, another floor was added to the tower to house the clock and the south boat house was widened.

In 1928, Marjorie Bourne Thayer had a new master suite of rooms constructed over the area that was then known as the logia.  She also had a Squash Court constructed as a birthday present for her husband Alexander.  The project was extensive and would have kept a large team of carpenters and stonemasons at work for many months.

Since those earlier days, the majority of the construction projects on the Dark Island have been restoration projects aimed at keeping the Bourne’s castle available for the use and enjoyment of generations to come.  Many of the most recent projects have dealt with the island’s infrastructure and have not been visible to the naked eye.  The current construction project on Dark Island has been very visible in part due to the large frame of scaffolding that has been erected around one entire wing of the castle.  Guests now are able to readily see the results of the work of a talented team of stonemasons who have been carefully removing the crumbling concrete pillars from around the windows on one wing and replacing those pillars with new ones constructed of Indiana limestone.

Visitors can view the current construction project and hear about previous ones during their visit to Singer Castle.  The castle is open daily for 45 minute guided tours with the first tour at 10:00 a.m. and the final tour of the day leaving the main dock at 4:00 p.m.  Call 1-877-327-5475 or visit www.singercastle.com for more information.


Above photo: Old pillars
Below: New pillars
(2012 project photos)


Above report and photos received direct from Dark Island.

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Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Happy Independence Day! July 4, 2012



As we celebrate our Independence Day in the U.S.A.,
here are some American Flags in the Thousand Islands
for your viewing.

Update: Fireworks photo over Boldt Castle. Taken July 4th, 2012 in Alexandria Bay. Photo above by Patty Mondore.

Clayton, NY (Frink Park)
Photos by Bob Mondore
(Click on photos to see them enlarged.)

Clayton, NY Memorial Flag

Alexandria Bay Memorial flag. Taken on July 4, 2012.
Note Boldt Castle in the background (click on photo).

Close up video (by Bob) of the Memorial Flag in Alexandria Bay, NY. (Across the river from Boldt Castle, near the PFC Jack T. Sweet Memorial.) 

Singer Castle (then known as Jorstadt Castle) on Dark Island proudly flying the flag. Click on photo to see it.

Click on this link for our Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776.


Wednesday, June 13, 2012

See Stone Crew Cutting Stone to Repair Pillars and Archway - YNN News

Photo by Scott Garris

Click on this link to view news footage from YNN cable news. Buffalo, NY crew repairing mammoth stone pillars and archway. Tom Weldon, President of Singer Castle on Dark Island (1,000 Islands) is interviewed on this important work. David Phair of Raymond E. Kelley, Inc. is seen cutting stone and also being interviewed in the news video.
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Thursday, June 7, 2012

Tom Weldon on YNN TV News.


Tom Weldon approaching Dark Island. Photo by Bob Mondore.

The President of Singer Castle, Tom Weldon, was interviewed today on YNN. The news story and video reported an update on the upcoming action show that will feature Singer Castle on the St. Lawrence River in the 1000 Islands. As has been extensively reported on in this blog, TNT's new reality show is a new reality TV series called "The Great Escape".

The news story also features Larry Foster, the owner of Schermerhorn Harbor. The action packed show featuring Singer Castle will air sometime in July per news sources (while the first show in the series airs June 24, 2012). Stay tuned here for the exact date when announced.

See the YNN news story and video by clicking here.
Tom Weldon on left. Bob and Patty Mondore on the right.
(Click on photos to see them larger.)
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Monday, June 4, 2012

Take a free slideshow tour of Singer Castle!


Docking at Singer Castle, Dark Island
Photo by Bob Mondore. Pictured: Harvey Jones & Patty Mondore

"Singer Castle is a historic castle on Dark Island in the 1000 Islands region of the St. Lawrence Seaway that was once enjoyed by the wealthy Bourne family -- and it can now be enjoyed by you too! The red-roofed castle was built in the early 1900s and was truly a place where servants were not seen or heard, complete with secret passageways, underground tunnels and two-way paintings. The 28-room villa is set atop a lush hill on a private island, overlooking the St. Lawrence Seaway in Upstate New York, and has one suite for overnight guests to experience a truly one-of-a-kind escape." ---Lori Zimmer.

Click here to see the excellent slideshow of Singer Castle by Lori Zimmer.

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Saturday, June 2, 2012

Ospreys living the high life on the Castle


Scott Garris, resident caretaker of Singer Castle on Dark Island, shot these interesting photos of ospreys taking up royal residence on top of of Singer Castle. (Click on pictures to see them larger).







Thanks, Scott, for sharing these wonderful photos from the 1000 Islands!



 

Monday, May 28, 2012

First Wedding of 2012 Season at Singer Castle, Dark Island


Photo from Dark Island, 1000 Islands

Michael and Maritah Looney of Ogdensburg observed the old Bavarian tradition of Baumstamm Sägen or log sawing following their wedding ceremony in the Rose Garden at Singer Castle.  

Facing their first task as a married couple, the happy bride and groom worked together to cut a log in half while their wedding guests watched and cheered them on.  The sawing was symbolic of their ability to accomplish difficult things when they worked together

News direct from Dark Island.

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Friday, May 25, 2012

Memorial Day - PFC Jack T. Sweet - Alexandria Bay


Photos by Robert J. Mondore in Alexandria Bay, NY

On Memorial Day we remember our fallen warriors who protected our nation and freedoms.

 Above is a memorial located in Alexandria Bay, NY overlooking the St. Lawrence River and Boldt Castle on Heart Island. (Please click on the photos to see them larger.) The memorial is a testament to PFC Jack T. Sweet, a soldier who gave his life on Feb. 8, 2008 in Iraq at the age of 19 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Jack Sweet was from Alexandria Bay and his home base was Fort Drum in Watertown, NY (10th Mountain Division).

To all who have served, thank you!


Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Construction Repairs at Singer Castle



Photos by Singer Castle's resident caretaker, Scott Garris. (Click on images to see them larger). Photos are of the barge, payloader, scaffolding, and the new stone.


Ever interested in keeping the castle in pristine condition, the owners of Dark Island are now replacing the pilings around the Breakfast Room (called the chapel under previous ownership). The castle is still open for all tours this year as usual. See previous blog for open days in 2012.