Marjorie Bourne - A force to reckon with in speedboat racing during the early 1900s.

Marjorie Bourne, daughter of Commodore Frederick G. Bourne, won the above trophy in the 1911 Thousand Islands Yacht Club speedboat race. (Photo by Patty Mondore, copyright Gold-Mountain). Marjorie and her boat, called the Moike, are pictured below. The antique speedboat can still be seen today in Clayton's Antique Boat Museum in the Thousand Islands.

F.G. Bourne brought the Singer Sewing Machine/Manufacturing Company to its worldwide success. He also had built what is now called Singer Castle on Dark Island, a famous tourist destination spot. After his death, Marjorie owned the castle for many years.

Hammond Historical Society Display at Singer Castle

Thanks to the generosity of the Hammond Historical Society (near Black Lake in NY State), Singer Castle on Dark Island has a new display for visitors to view in the Great Hall.  Visitors will be able to see a beautifully designed evening dress in early 1900s style displayed on a turn of the century dress form.  The bodice of the dress laces in the back and is made of black velvet that is decorated with designs in black jet beading. The bustled skirt is constructed of a fine striped silk in a pale gold color.  It is difficult to imagine the efforts that the ladies of that era would make to fit into a garment with such a tiny waist. On the hat rack a gentleman’s black beaver felt top hat, a ladies hat and a hand woven coverlet are on display.

The above dispatch and picture are direct from Dark Island. Click on the photo to see it larger.

Happy July 4th weekend!

Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

It has been said that the price of freedom is not free. Throughout the years it has required a lot of work and sacrifice to maintain our freedoms.

Below is a picture of the making of parachute harnesses in July 1942 with a Singer Sewing machine (during World War 2). Location: Manchester, Conn. USA.

Next we have our allies on the British Western front in France using Singer Sewing machines to repair army boots during WW2.