Exclusive Report - A Thanksgiving special Day in Upstate New York

This report is off-topic, but I have an exclusive on it and it needs to be told. It is Thanksgiving Day and The Father's Heart Ministries in Syracuse NY (quarterbacked by Pastor James Gebhardt) has done an amazing thing. He opened his ministry to the feeding of hundreds of the less fortunate and poor. And right there in the midst of those doing the yeoman's work of serving the destitute were members from the Syracuse Police Department. May I share some of my photos from this incredible event? Click on the photos to see them larger.

Syracuse Police Officer Al Thompson serving the poor.

Some of the hundreds receiving a full Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings and dessert.

Pastor James Gebhardt, the man behind The Father's Heart Ministries.

Musical message: Tracey Dubuc (left), Minji Cho, and Patty Mondore (right).

Syracuse Police mixing with the crowd.

Giving thanks on Thanksgiving.

Paul Sofranko (right) hard at work helping the less fortunate. His wife, Linda (not shown), was a major organizer for this event.

Volunteer Joe Pfohl with Pastor James Gebhardt.

More of Syracuse's finest, volunteering to help the poor.

Servants of the less fortunate.

James Pannafino, also on the front lines of helping.

Medical Student, Minji Cho, sharing her musical talents with the less fortunate.

Peace Warrior. Officer Al Thompson. This is such a great shot!

There were many others too, non-police as well as police, serving others on this Thanksgiving Day. This was a wonderful thing that these folks have done. So I am happy to give you this exclusive report so you can be aware of this awesome event in this area.

St.Lawrence Gallery - Salmon Run Mall, Watertown. Open now through the New Year.

We made a special trip up to the new opening of the St. Lawrence Gallery in Watertown, NY 13601 at the Salmon Run Mall. Kevin and Marsha Topa have again put together a wonderful museum-quality shop featuring Michael Ringer's famous artwork, as well as many other great gift items (you will want them for yourselves).

And now a short word from our sponser. ;-) (That would be me). Yes, they are also stocked with our Singer Castle documentary DVD called "Dark Island's Castle of Mysteries" and the new book that is a hit in the Islands: Singer Castle Revisited. Other Gold-Mountain inspirational Thousand Islands items are also in stock, such as the River-Lations music video and Proclaim His Praise in the Islands (both on DVD), as well as the book: A Good Paddling by Patty Mondore.

Being just off from the easy access point of Route 81, Kevin says he expects to see many folks visit from Canada and Fort Drum as well as from all other points. It is only open now through shortly after Christmas. Pictured below is Kevin Topa manning the helm of the new shop. (Click on the pictures to see them larger).

Veterans Day - November 11, 2010

November 11 is Veterans Day, a U.S.A. legal holiday honoring all veterans of the armed forces. (Memorial Day honors those soldiers who perished in wars, Veterans Day honors all who served).

Below is a memorial located in Alexandria Bay, NY that honors Pfc. Jack T. Sweet (located across the St. Lawrence River from Boldt Castle). He gave his life on Feb. 8, 2008 in Iraq at the age of 19 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. His home was in Alexandria Bay and his home base was at Fort Drum, Watertown NY (10th Mountain Division). Click on the photo to see it larger. (Photo by Bob Mondore).

The well known phrase (author unknown) is apt: "The price of freedom is never free."  It reminds me of the ultimate sacrifice for freedom: Galatians 5:1.

Dark Island communique just in: End of the Season Final Report. Looking Good!

2010 A Very Good Year for Singer Castle

As Singer Castle staff members work to prepare for the coming of winter, it is an excellent time to reflect on the milestones and the accomplishments of the 2010 season.

•    There was a 16% increase in attendance over the previous season. Between the beginning of May and the end of October more than 22,000 visitors from all over the United States, Canada and several foreign countries came to the castle for guided tours, weddings, special events or overnight stays in the castle's Royal Suite.

•    The castle has become increasingly popular as a site for weddings ceremonies and receptions, surprise marriage proposals, birthday celebrations, special events and anniversary and honeymoon getaways. The castle staff works with our guests to help them plan the wedding, special events or overnight stay of their dreams. There were twenty weddings at the castle this year and our Royal Suite was occupied on more than one hundred evenings.

•    Castle staff members have continued to gather more of the history of this special building and of the people who built the castle, the families who lived on the island and those who worked there. We were fortunate to have another of Frederick Bourne's great granddaughters come to visit during August of this year and the caretaker from 1955 was kind enough to share his memories of visits when his grandfather was caretaker and of his own time on Dark Island.

•    The castle was featured in several newly published books including Bob and Patty Mondore's Singer Castle Revisited, Ian Corstine's The very best of Ian Corstine's 1000 Islands, Kathleen Quigley's The Summer Cottage: Retreats of the 1000 Islands, and Scott Ian Barry's The Castles of New York.


---Received direct from Dark Island's Jean Papke, Assistant to the Dark Island's President, Tom Weldon. Photo also by Jean Papke.

Reminiscing and Flash Drives. What?

With the arrival of colder weather, the major tourist season in the Thousand Islands comes to a close (although some really great shopping and other activities continue). So throughout these frigid days I will be posting pictures, videos, and stories from those warmer times. (Up to date stories will continue too). Feel free to email me any related stories or pictures, you may be rewarded with one of those random free 1 gigabyte flash drives that I'm known to give out! 

When I was filming for the popular Singer Castle DVD documentary (Dark Island's Castle of Mysteries ©), I was able to get a bird's eye view of Singer Castle and the close-by Sisters Island Lighthouse. Click on the photos below to see them larger. I was very high up, so the pictures are cropped down so you won't see as much water and more of the subjects. The airplane was from the Maxson Airfield Airport, Alexandria Bay NY.

Above: Robert J. Mondore, Producer, ready for filming Dark Island from above.

Singer Castle on Dark Island from my bird's eye view.

Sisters Island Lighthouse, just upriver from Dark Island.

Sisters Island was actually three islands, but now connected as seen above. Click here to see a close up of the lighthouse.

100 Year Old Visits Castle - Was alive when F.B. Bourne frequented Dark Island in the Golden Age.

Singer Castle on Dark Island

Communique just received directly from Dark Island...

CELEBRATING A MARRIAGE AND A 100^TH BIRTHDAY

AT A 105 YEAR OLD CASTLE

On Saturday, September 4^th over 100 members of the Eastman and Nelson families came to Singer Castle on Dark Island to celebrate the marriage of Deborah Eastman and Aaron Nelson. Making Deborah and Aaron’s day even more special was the celebration of her Grandmother Alice Eastman’s 100^th birthday.  Mrs. Eastman, a resident of Ellisburg, NY, is the oldest visitor to have ever come to the castle.  At the time of her birth in September of 1910, Frederick Bourne and his family regularly visited Dark Island and he was having workmen add 50’ in length and a second story with living quarters to the North Boathouse.  The 1000 Islands area was in its Golden Age.

Following a beautiful but windswept ceremony in the Rose Garden, Deborah and Aaron’s guests were treated to a delicious dinner and dancing in a large tent that had been erected on the Castle Green.  Any adversity or delays caused by the weather on their special day were met with grace and good humor and when the celebrations concluded all of the guests were safely returned to shore having had a most memorable experience.

Communique by Jean Papke, Administrative to the President of Singer Castle on Dark Island. Photo by Tom Weldon, President. Click on the photo to see it larger.

Vintage and Classic Street Meet - today in Clayton NY

The 13th annual Classic Car Meet took place today in Clayton, NY. Here are a few photos from this very popular event (growing every year). There appears to be hundreds of cars, running the entire length of the main business street and beyond.

International Clean Up Weekend - in Clayton NY

Did you know this weekend is International Clean Up The World Weekend?

Clayton, NY was awash today in divers dredging up junk from the bottom of the St. Lawrence River. Found were shopping carts, tires, and many other items including a park bench! There were at least 14 divers in the area and more located in Alexandria Bay. Below find yours truly, Bob Mondore, with Clayton's Mayor, Norma J. Zimmer, along with some of the amazing array of junk being pulled up. Note all of the attached zebra mussels to the items. Click on the photos to see them larger.

Landmark Society Visits Landmark...Singer Castle on Dark Island

On a recent breezy August morning, twenty-three intrepid members of the Thousand Island Park Landmark Society boarded two classic craft from the Antique Boat Museum (Clayton, NY) for a cruise from the town dock in Thousand Island Park down river to Singer Castle on Dark Island.

Seventeen passengers were aboard the “Zipper” a 1930s style 41’ Commuter that was captained by Frank Beadle and six were aboard the “Gadfly” an original 1931 Hutchinson Boat Works 33’ Sedan captained by David Dodge. The group’s arrival at the castle appeared much like a scene from the early 1900s. (See photo above, taken by the Castle's own caretaker, Scott Garris. Click on the photo to see it larger.)

Once on Dark Island, the Landmark Society members enjoyed a picnic lunch in Singer Castle’s historic Rose Garden where they listened to a talk by Kathleen Murphy, an expert in historic plantings, who designed and replanted the castle’s Rose Garden in 2006. Following lunch Judy Keeler, Singer Castle Historian, escorted them on a tour of the castle. They then braved the increasing waves to return to their own historic homes in Thousand Island Park.

News directly received from Dark Island's Jean Papke, Administrative Assistant to the President, Tom Weldon.

New York State Fair, Syracuse NY

1. 

Singer Sewing Machines spotted at the New York State Fair today, in the Agriculture Building. (Click on the photos to see them larger).

Lady Sandals yacht docked at Frink Park in Clayton, NY

The Lady Sandals yacht from the Cayman Islands was docked today (8/28/10) in Clayton, NY on the St. Lawrence River at Frink Park (after having been at Toronto). Customs agents were there to examine the ship. The Mayor and the Chief of Police were on hand to greet the guests.

Seen together before the ship in the second photo above are (from right to left) Bob Mondore and the Mayor of Clayton: Norma J. Zimmer, and the Chief of Police: Kevin Patenaude.

Check out that radar array on the top of that thing! (Click on the photos to see them larger).

As always, for the latest information on St. Lawrence River ships passing through, be sure to check out Michael Folsom's blog: The Ship Watcher.

Singer Castle and Plein Air Painters

Alexandria Bay-(August 11, 2010), Singer Castle and Plein Air Painters Thousand Islands Region (PAPTIR) will conduct an “en plein air” painting (French for open air) event on Wednesday September 1, rain date September 2^nd.  The event is open to all artists. A broader definition of the term includes painting from life or sight without the use of photographs. With this in mind a limited number of artists may set up inside to do interiors.  It provides the opportunity to showcase details of the grounds and Singer Castle from an up close perspective as well as enjoy a day at one of the Regions beautiful attractions.

To register and get more details contact Robert P.  Hedden at PAPTIR@gmail.com or 315-482-9352. Parking and a boat shuttle is available from the Schermerhorn Harbor and there is a boat shuttle from Alexandria Bay. The Schermerhorn shuttle takes about twenty minutes and departs 10:30AM to 3:30PM every hour on the half hour. Returns are on the hour with the last at 5:00PM. The fee is $15 for the shuttle which includes the round trip. The Castle entrance fee is waived for participating artists and no formal tour will be provided. Artists must agree to a group photo and photos of their work for publicity.

PAPTIR was formed in 2009 to foster painting in the outdoors as opposed to studio painting from photographs. Plein air artists complete their paintings on site, sometimes using the work along with photos and sketches to complete larger studio works. The group has over twenty artists on its register and typically around eight attend a scheduled paintout every second Wednesday from Spring to Fall.  Some who are year round St. Lawrence River residents paint outdoors all year long, weather permitting. There are no dues, meetings, officers, or directors, just “birds of a feather get together”. In addition to Plein Air Contests supported by local ARTS Organizations for organization and publicity and business sponsors for prize money, PAPTIR holds group Art Shows. The most recent show was August 6-7 at the Macsherry library. Another day show is planned for Saturday September 18th at the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton NY. Interested artists can contact Robert P. Hedden at the above email address or phone number to be included on the event email distribution list.

(This dispatch and picture was received directly from Dark Island today. Be sure to click on the beautiful aerial picture of Singer Castle above to see it large).

Boats, Boats and More Boats at Singer Castle, Dark Island!

BOATS, BOATS AND MORE BOATS

On a warm summer evening the castle came alive with light and music. People could be seen moving about on the terrace and through the windows of the Drawing Room, Dining Room and Breakfast Room. Lights reflected off the waters of the St. Lawrence and boats rocked gently at all of the docks. Some were even moored to each other.

Island neighbors asked each other: Where had all the large boats come from? What was happening at the castle? Did you see all the lights? Isn’t it exciting! The island and castle must have looked much like this when the Bournes or the Thayers were in residence. Friends were invited to come over after a day of boat racing on the river and the voices of young people would echo over the surrounding water. Of course the boats were not the same.

The boats, most between 35’ and 50’ in length but as large as 65’, were at Singer Castle for Aquapalooza 2010 – A group cruise from Hurst Marina in Mantiock, Ontario near Ottawa with a stop at Singer Castle on Dark Island for the evening on their return trip to Ottawa. Twenty-two boats in all with 72 passengers tied up at the island’s docks so that they could experience the wonders of the Gilded Age Hunting Lodge built by Frederick Bourne, Commodore of the New York Yacht Club. The Singer Castle staff members greeted these guests much as the Bourne’s staff would have welcomed guests to Dark Island, assisted them in tying up, escorted them up the Bridle Path to the front doors and then through the Great Hall and up the broad staircase to the Drawing Room, Dining Room and Breakfast Room where dinner and entertainment awaited them.

This dispatch was received directly from Dark Island today. Photo and article by Jean Papke (Assistant to the President of Singer Castle, Tom Weldon). Photo was taken Aug. 1, 2010 (click on it to see it in large size).

We have a photo winner! The Ship Watcher blog has named the winner.

Mike Folsom's The Ship Watcher blog has announced his winner for the Singer Castle/Ship combination photo. The winner is Randall King of Avon, NY, and he will receive the all new book, Singer Castle Revisited, donated by yours truly at Gold-Mountain.com. Mike Folsom sponsored and hosted the contest on his stellar site aptly named TheShipWatcher.com. The contest, which ran all of last month, was for the best photo taken of a ship passing by Singer Castle on Dark Island. Be sure to click on the above photo to see it larger. It is a wonderful shot that looks very artistic. If you have any interest in ships, Mike's blog is the place to be! Congratulations to Randall King. Enjoy your prize! Singer Castle Revisited is published by Arcadia Publishing.

Clayton, NY's Antique Boat Museum ... a really great show!

As the boat above implies (click on it), the annual Antique Boat Show was real sweet this year!

Our new "Singer Castle Revisited" book, along with "Dark Island's Castle of Mysteries" DVD were among those featured at this year's local authors' table just inside the main entrance. Thanks to all of those who stopped by to chat and to those who supported the museum by purchasing our brand from them. Enjoy our works along with the many freebies that I unleased upon you. Thanks for coming and supporting your museum! (All photos taken on location by me while at the show today).

Clayton Antique Boat Museum show - Authors' table features Singer Castle Revisited

The gigantic antique boat show at the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, NY will have an authors' table on Saturday, August 1, 2010 (2 p.m. to 4 p.m. only) which will include Robert and Patty Mondore and their all new sensational book, Singer Castle Revisited. As is his custom, Bob Mondore (this blog's author) will be giving away many random freebies to those just showing up while we are there. And if you make any purchase from the Museum with the name Mondore (as authors) on it, you will receive a free new 1 GB flash drive (also known as a thumb drive, and that is one full gigabyte). These offers are only good if you receive them from me while I am there. Come and get your surprise! Remember, this is only valid from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. this coming Saturday. Drop in to say hello and get your goodie!

To those unfamiliar with the famous sites in the Thousand Islands, here is a link to Singer Castle, Dark Island on the St. Lawrence River in northern New York right near Canada.

Fascinating Transportation methods used to arrive at Singer Castle, Dark Island

MANY FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION USED TO REACH DARK ISLAND

(Be sure to click on the photos to see them larger.)

Many forms of transportation have been used to reach the rocky shores of Dark Island in the St. Lawrence River.  When they used the island as a summer hunting and fishing ground, Native Americans came in their birch bark canoes.  Traces of their occupation such a granite grindstone can still be seen.  During the construction of Frederick Bourne's "small hunting lodge" in the early 1900s, workmen arrived by skiff, by scow, by barge, and in winter by sleigh and by foot across the ice.

Commodore Bourne and his family, all of whom were boating enthusiasts, reached the island in motor launches such as the 60' "Dark Island" and over the years family members owned a variety of boats in all sizes and types including a series of boats for racing in the Frontenac Gold Cup [upon further investigation, it was not the Gold Cup that she won -rjm*] and other races that were held yearly in the 1000 Islands.   Daughter Marjorie won the 1909 Gold Cup Race [*it was not the Gold Cup] in the "Moike" a 36' racing boat she received for her 16th birthday.  The "Moike" is now in the collection of the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton.  Commodore Bourne even brought his larger yachts such as the 81' Artemis and later his 111' steam yacht named the "Sioux" to Dark Island.  The boats were stored in the island's two boathouses and skiff house.   The most unusual craft in the Bourne's collection was an electric gondola that was used to transport guests from the dock in Chippewa Bay to his castle.

In the present day, guests come to the island by boats large and small: canoes, personal watercraft, kayaks, motorboats, fishing boats, dive boats, antique boats, cigarette boats, cabin cruisers, shuttles, tour boats, cruise ships, and even tall ships come to the shores of  Dark Island.  Overnight guests to the castle have even arrived by helicopter and most recently a newlywed couple who had spent the night in the castle's Royal Suite departed from the island by seaplane.  The nine passenger single engine plane chartered from Carson Air in Toronto picked up the guests on the calm July morning and flew them to Ottawa, Canada for a flight to Los Angeles by private jet.  The conditions on the river were superb, no wind and total calm on the water allowed the plane to land and take off from Singer Castle's south dock with ease.

Singer Castle is open for guided tours daily through Labor Day and weekends and by appointment in the fall. Come to the island in whatever size boat you have available.  We will welcome you 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. or come and spend the evening in our Royal Suite.  Call 1-877-327-5475 (Singer Castle) for more information. (This news dispatch was submitted directly from Dark Island by Jean Papke, assistant to the president of Singer Castle, Tom Weldon.)

Napoleon Bonaparte poses for the Singer Castle Blog

Napoleon Bonaparte and mademoiselle give a special pose for the Singer Castle Blog & More before the French Festival parade in Cape Vincent, NY today. Photo by Robert J. Mondore. The festival runs from July 10th to July 11th (Saturday and Sunday) this year 2010.

The ship Algobay off Dark Island is free!

The ship Algobay that ran aground near Singer Castle on Dark Island in the St. Lawrence River near Chippewa Bay NY is free as of this morning! The photos above, taken by the President of Singer Castle, Tom Weldon, show the tug boats and the ship. Click on the photos to see them larger. The ship ran aground several days ago on July 4th, and now is on its way to a Canadian port at Prescott, Ontario. For more details, check out my previous blogs and Michael Folsom's blog, The Shipwatcher.

Stunning shot of the Algobay at Singer Castle

Just in seconds ago. A stunning photo of the ship Algobay that ran aground on July 4th and is still not under motion near Singer Castle on Dark Island. Photo by Paul and Lillian Cooledge of 1000 Island Images. Be sure to click on the picture to see it larger; it is a fantastic shot.

This calls attention to The Ship Watcher blog (theshipwatcher.blogspot.com) that is running a contest for one free giveaway of the hot new book out: Singer Castle Revisited (by Robert and Patty Mondore). Merely email to Michael Folsom on his blog a photo that includes the two elements of a ship and Singer Castle. (No "photo-shopped" pictures, it must be the real thing). Contest runs for this month of July 2010, so get your entry in early. See details by clicking on his blog above.

Breaking News near Dark Island - Ship ran aground!

a I got the breaking news tip of the day direct from the President (Tom Weldon) of Singer Castle on Dark Island that a large ship ran aground just down river at Chippewa Bay, NY. The ship (named the Algobay) was hauling corn to Canada on the St. Lawrence River. Click on the picture to see it larger. There appears to be no danger of oil leaks or injuries. It is also outside of the shipping lane, so all is clear to the castle. The above photo courtesy of Paul and Lillian Cooledge of 1000 Island Images taken at the scene. They were lowering a lifeboat to assess the damage. I drove up Route 12 with Patty to spot the ship ourselves from the road. (Not recommended to do that, as it is hard to spot through the tree line, and you need to know exactly where to look.) As a bit of coincidental trivia, Corn Island, a Canadian island once owned also by Commodore Frederick G. Bourne along with Dark Island, is not very far from this corn laden vessel headed for a Canadian port.

7/5/10 Update: For the latest news on ships in the 1000 Islands, check out our friend, Mike Folsom, at The Ship Watcher (theshipwatcher.blogspot.com). Unsurpassed reporting on the vessels going through the St. Lawrence River.

Singer Castle, Dark Island autograph fun

Today (July 3, 2010) was a fun day of autographing books and giving away prizes at Singer Castle. Bob and Patty Mondore (pictured on the right) were guests at Dark Island courtesy of its president, Tom Weldon (pictured on the left with the white shirt and shorts). This group shot includes the great crew that staffs the castle and tours. Our thanks for the many courtesies they extended to us.

I was glad to see all of the happy faces of those on tour who received our random gifts which included the United States Constitution booklet, stars and stripes pencils to celebrate Independence Day, and even flash drives for those supporting our brand. The photo on top is of the book table which shows the featured book, Singer Castle Revistited. More pictures of Singer Castle from this event to follow. Be sure to click on the photos to see them larger and with greater detail.