Murder in Winger Castle! Only a short time left to help solve this case!

Singer Castle on Dark Island will be hosting a murder mystery benefit where all proceeds will go to the River Hospital in Alexandria Bay, NY. Scripted by the River Hospital Auxiliary.

The theme: The owner of "Winger Castle" was murdered and guests will have the opportunity to discover who did it through evidence gathering as they explore the castle.

Event time: Wednesday, June 29, 2011, passengers will board an Uncle Sam tour boat for a dinner cruise to Dark Island. Retro into the 1920s (but there is no Prohibition), then hear the reading of the will at the castle and try out your own sleuthing. Be Sherlock for an evening.

You must call now as time is very short for this unique evening of fun and suspense. Tickets are limited.

Cost: $85 or $160 per couple (remember, all proceeds benefit the River Hospital).
For tickets: Call Judy Randall at (315) 482-4049 or River Hospital Foundation at (315) 482-4976.

Dressing for the period is encouraged and there will be prizes.
Click on the poster above to see it larger.

Cliff Yates’ Carvings Showcased at Singer Castle

A collection of Cliff Yates’ carvings and plaques will be on display and for sale in the Gift Shop at Singer Castle this season.  A self-taught woodcarver who specializes in birds, fish and wildlife, Cliff and his wife NeNe have spent their summers on Elm Tree Island in Chippewa Bay for the past fifty-six years.  He began carving in 1965 and over the years has refined his technique by carving hundreds of pieces, visiting craft shows and asking questions of other carvers. Cliff adds depth and dimension to his work with wood burning and acrylic paints.  Each piece takes many hours to complete.  Larger birds take 45-50 hours to complete: 15-20 hours to cut out, carve and sand with an additional 25 hours for wood burning and painting.  A smaller bird takes around 20-25 hours to complete.  

Retired from the Greece, NY Police Department in 1989, Cliff planned to spend his extra free time on his carving and fishing but in 1997 a serious stroke left Cliff partially paralyzed and unable to use his left hand.   Unwilling to give up carving, Cliff underwent extensive physical therapy and worked until he was able to walk, talk and carve again.  Cliff loves to share his art with others and is committed to passing on the art of woodcarving to a new generation of wood carvers.

Above news release direct from Dark Island.

Memorial Day

On Memorial Day, May 30, 2011 (the last Monday of every May), we remember those who gave up everything for us.

Above is a memorial located in Alexandria Bay, NY overlooking the St. Lawrence River and Boldt Castle on Heart Island. 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).

Photos by Bob Mondore

A Quick Taste: History of Singer Castle.

 Commodore Frederick G. Bourne and his wife Emma are the couple in the center of the gathering. Click on the photo to see it larger.

Singer Castle – A Family Place

The five-story red roofed castle on Dark Island was built in the early 1900s as a "small hunting lodge" for Frederick Bourne who was the President of the Singer Sewing Machine Company from 1889-1905. Bourne and his family loved spending time at "The Towers" in the 1000 Islands and enjoyed the many activities that were available to residents and visitors alike. Boating, sailing, racing, tennis and golf were popular with the family in the summer and in the fall Bourne and his friends came for the duck hunting. After Bourne’s death in 1919 his youngest daughter Marjorie and her sister, May Bourne Strassburger purchased the castle from the estate. Marjorie Bourne and her husband Alexander Thayer continued to use and enjoy the castle with friends and family until the early 1960s.

From the mid-1960s to 2001 the castle, then called Jorstadt Castle was owned by the Dr. Harold Martin Evangelical Association and used for religious retreats and services. During those years families came to the castle for Sunday worship during the summer months.

In 2002 Dark Island was purchased by a group of island and castle enthusiasts who opened the castle for guided tours, overnight stays and weddings and special events. Now called Singer Castle after the source of much of Frederick Bourne’s fortune, it is once again a family place. Visitors of all ages enjoy coming to tour the fully furnished building and hearing about time gone by in the 1000 Islands. Overnight guests can pretend that they are the Kings and Queens or Princes and Princesses of the castle and Brides and Grooms can have their own Royal Wedding.

After visiting friends and "family," you can now keep track of the castle by visiting us on facebook, or by checking out the following websites:
singercastle.blogspot.com, www.singercastle.com, and www.thousandislandslife.com.

The castle is also featured in several recently published books and magazines including Bob and Patty Mondore’s Singer Castle Revisited, Patty Mondore’s River-Lations: Inspirational Stories and Photos of the 1000 Islands, Ian Corstine’s The very best of Ian Corstine’s 1000 Islands, Kathleen Quigley’s The Summer Cottage: Retreats of the 1000 Islands, Scott Ian Barry’s The Castles of New York, Mike Harwood’s The St. Lawrence River Rats and The Mystery of Singer Castle, Island Life Magazine published by Kim Lunman. Wealth TV has produced a feature on Singer Castle as part of a series entitled "Palatial Passport" and PBS continues to air its feature on Singer Castle.

Call 1-877-327-5475 for more information on Singer Castle.

The above dispatch and photo were received this day directly from Dark Island's president, Tom Weldon.

 

Singer Castle opens this Saturday! Boldt Castle already open. Welcome to the Islands!

Picture: President of Singer Castle Tom Weldon on the left side in the light shirt, Bob and Patty Mondore on the right side as guests of the castle, the friendly castle staff in maroon shirts. Click on the photo to see it larger.

The long awaited reopening of Singer Castle on Dark Island and Boldt Castle on Heart Island in the 1000 Islands after the long winter seige is upon us. Here are the schedules...

Singer Castle will open for the 2011 season on May 21 and will be open Saturdays and Sundays thru June 18.Open daily June 18 - Labor Day
Open Saturdays and Sundays Labor Day - October 9

 -------------------------------------------------

2011 Boldt Castle Hours of Operation:

May 7 - June 24: 10:00am - 6:30pm

June 25 - Sept 4: 10:00am - 7:30pm

Sept 5 - Oct 2: 10:00am - 6:30pm

Oct 3 - Oct 10: 10:00am - 5:30pm

Oct 15 - Oct 16: 11:00am - 5:30pm
-------------------------------------------------

This information provided by original sources at the time of blogging for your convenience. Always check ahead with them before making any plans or trips for any notices or changes.

Not your usual Tour of the 1000 Islands - Wild Cat!

There is something new in the Thousand Islands, and it is a wild, high speed adventure cruise! It is like taking a tour and a circus ride at the same time. It is the Wild Cat ride/boat that takes you on a tour of the Thousand Islands in the St. Lawrence River. The 1000 Islands & Seaway Cruises (in Brockville, Canada) has put together an awesome 3 minute tour on video that is a must see. See fantastic shots of Singer Castle on Dark Island (at 1:00) as well as Boldt Castle on Heart Island (at 1:43), exotic looking wildlife, light houses (including Sister Island Lighthouse near Dark Island), huge ships...and the spectular ride itself with 1,400 horsepower! The tour covers 38 nautical miles in less than 2 hours at speeds up to 40 knots (on the water, that is really moving). Not your typical boat tour! Get a taste of the exciting ride now by seeing the video below.

Powerful Picture of Singer Castle on Dark Island

Above is a powerfully beautiful shot of Singer Castle enveloped in fog with a large ship passing by. Photo taken by Jean Papke who is the Administrative Assistant to the castle's President Tom Weldon. Click on the photo to see it larger.

Happy Easter/Passover. Services at Dark Island - History remembered.

Pictured above is the Rev. Harvey Jones giving the Sunday Service at Singer Castle (then known as Jorstadt Castle) on Dark Island in what is now called the Breakfast Room. All boaters were welcomed without charge (free-will donations only) and a free tour of the castle always followed. It seems appropriate during this time of the year to show this picture of services in the castle. You can barely see the top of Patty Mondore's head at the piano. She was the castle's musician for many years. Be sure to click on the picture above to see it enlarged (photographer: Bob Mondore).

Click on the hyperlinks to see outstanding, more recent photos of this same room...

During summer, this large room with huge glass windows (with a view of the river on three sides) often had overflowing crowds. Click here for a more recent picture of the wall above: as it now looks. Click here for a spectacular view of this multi-windowed room: from the outside.

The Saint Lawrence River Rats - Mystery at Singer Castle

There is a new book out with Singer Castle on Dark Island (St. Lawrence River) as its backdrop. Titled: The Saint Lawrence River Rats and the Mystery at Singer Castle, it is for kids and the young at heart. (I have not had the opportunity to read it, but with the subject matter involved I'm sure it must be captivating). The author, Michael Harwood of Brewerton NY, says it will be part of a series that will be uplifting to the Thousand Islands region. Further information may be found as follows. Mail: Choose Liberty Ventures, 5750 Mud Mill Rd, Brewerton NY 13029, Phone: 315-440-4032, Email: SLRrats@gmail.com

Post Author Extravaganza in Liverpool NY

We had an enjoyable time repping the Gold-Mountain line at the Liverpool Public Library celebrating National Library Week with an offering of our books and DVDs. At the same time we informed many about the wonderful 1000 Islands region and Singer Castle on Dark Island tours. We donated our hot-off-the-press book (River-Lations) to the library and had many enjoyable conversations with those who stopped by. We were particularly happy to have been able to give special encouragement to some who visited. Our thanks to the library staff for their hospitality. You can "Like" us on Facebook.

Central New York State - Local Author Extravaganza!

More than a dozen local authors from Upstate New York will converge in Liverpool NY (near Syracuse) on Sunday, April 10, 2011 (from Noon to 2:00 p.m.). Occasion: National Library Week. Location: Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool NY 13088 (315.457.0310). See map. Books will be available for purchase and autographs.

Robert and Patty Mondore will be there with multiple works, including the new River-Lations book, Singer Castle Revisited (book) and the DVD documentary featuring Singer Castle: "Dark Island's Castle of Mysteries". Other Gold-Mountain works will be available too. As usual from Bob, many prizes will abound, so be sure to visit our booth. Click on the following image to see it larger:

Authors scheduled to be at this event:

Robert & Patty Mondore

James Bruno

Holly Gaskin

Susan Peterson Gately 

Mike Langan

Markus J. Mastin

Sean Leahy

Bill McGee

Ronnie Richardson

David Rosenberg

Joseph Sweet

Victoria Underwood

Beverly Ann Wernet

Stan Wilczek

Strange anomalies documented on video from Dark Island?

Unusual anomalies Log date 4/1/11

First Ship of the season passing Singer Castle

Scott Garris took this photo of the first ship (the Algoeast) passing by Singer Castle on Dark Island in the St. Lawrence River, 1000 Islands. As reported by Singer Castle President Tom Weldon. A sign of better weather to come soon! Click on the photo to see it larger.

Ian Coristine and PrairieCORE - 1000 Islands video collaboration

The following two movies are a powerful presentation of the Thousand Islands region. This is thanks to a collaboration with the 1000 Islands Photo Art giant: Ian Coristine and a company called PrairieCORE. See a glimpse of Singer Castle on Dark Island at 34 seconds into the first video and at 50 seconds into the second.

The first video is called 1000 Islands VOICES, and the second is called 1000 Islands PASSION. These are wonderfully produced and, of course, the photos by Ian Coristine are exquisitely stunning.

Stunning >>> 1000 Islands by George and Sean Fischer

This short video has some of the most colorful and brilliant photos you will see of the Thousand Islands. Photos include several of Boldt Castle throughout and also one of Singer Castle (at 1:20), plus more. Pleasent musical background.

George Fisher is the photographer and Sean Fischer is the talented jazz musician.

Alert! - Last Chance to vote Clayton NY as Coolest Town in America!

This is your last chance to vote for one of our own small towns, Clayton NY, to be declared America's Coolest Small Town.

Click on the following link to vote (you can vote from anywhere in the world): VOTE.

Voting closes on Feb. 11, 2011, so you can make a difference today only. Clayton has moved way up to within the top 3, so if we keep it there it will create a lot of good buzz for the area. Just click on the aforementioned vote link, then click on the blue dot in the Northern New York State area and click on Add to Ballot. Then click on Cast Your Ballot. There is no need for filling in any name or email boxes, no fuss - no muss!

Clayton NY 13624 is like a living Norman Rockwell painting, so let's help them out; our entire area will benefit!

Captain Jack Spotted at Boat Show - Big Winner: Come on down!

Picture above and story received directly from Dark Island's Jean Papke, Administrative Assistant to the President of Singer Castle (Tom Weldon). Click on the photo to see it larger.

CAPTAIN JACK SPOTTED AT BOAT SHOW

Over 72,000 visitors from all over Canada, the U.S. and several foreign countries braved wintry weather to attend the 2011 Toronto International Boat Show.  Representatives of 1000 Islands International Tourism Council and Singer Castle joined over 500 other vendors in Toronto’s Direct Energy Center to share information about the 1000 Islands Region.  Among those spotted at the Singer Castle Booth was Captain Jack Sparrow who is pictured above talking to Sir Frederick.

More than 850 of the visitors to the Singer Castle booth registered to win an evening in the castle’s Royal Suite. At the close of the show an entry from Nelly, one of the Canadian visitors to the castle’s booth, was chosen.   Castle staff is awaiting a reply to the e-mail that notified Nelly of her lucky entry.

1000 Islands video tour from Rockport Boat Lines.

Kick back and take this easy tour of the Thousand Islands with a focus on Boldt Castle and a sampling of "Millionaires' Row" (stately summer homes, each on its own island). An interesting 10 minutes and 22 seconds, enjoy the free tour on this part of the St. Lawrence River! Courtesy of the Rockport Boat Line, Ontario.

Harrowing tale of man & car crashing through ice on way to Singer Castle in winter!

The Thousand Islands Life (.com) just published a harrowing true story of a man & car crashing through the St. Lawrence River ice on the way over the river to Singer Castle in the winter time!

Amazingly still alive, this story is told by the driver himself  in incredible dramatic fashion. You will definitely want to read this story! Dan Denney, the author of the story (and the driver of the car) actually broke through the the frozen river with the car plunging to the bottom while he was trapped under the ice. Dan Denney once worked with WPBS-TV (Watertown, NY), as well as with the famous artist Michael Ringer, and has a long list of other wonderful credits to his name.

I won't give away the details of the story (it is too fascinating for that), so just go ahead and click on the direct link to the story: Through the Ice - A Tale of Survival.

Below is a picture of Singer Castle in the wintertime, sent to me by the castle's caretaker, Scott Garris. Click on it to see it larger.

New Year gifts for you! And the Walleye Drop for New Year's Eve (Midnight).

Happy New Year to you! I am accepting any interesting stories or photos regarding the Thousand Islands area or the St. Lawrence River that will help us get through this winter. If I choose your story or photos to run here, you will instantly win a brand-new 1GB USB Flash Drive (also known as a Thumb or Jump Drive). It is a full gigabyte in capacity! Great for transferring data from computer to computer, or for storage. This blog concentrates on the area's two famous castles (Singer Castle and Boldt Castle), but the whole area is tied in together and therefore relevant. Please email to: mailbox [at] gold-mountain [dot] com (remember the dash), or send to P.O. Box 123, Jamesville NY 13078.

For our diehard fishing crowd (and for anybody looking for something very unique), have you ever watched the live walleye fish drop in Port Clinton, OH at midnight on the web? ("Live" meaning you can see it in real-time through their webcams on the web). If you are watching the New Year's Eve ball drop down in New York City on your TV anyway, you can have this on your computer going at the same time. Yes, a very exciting life indeed!

Cool News from Boldt Castle!

Boldt Castle across the River from this blogger.

The Watertown Daily Times reported today that Boldt Castle is working on having an online ticket sales system with Gateway Ticketing Systems Inc. that will go live before the next operating season. You will be able to buy tickets to Boldt Castle at anytime from your computer. The new system will cost the owners (the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority) $171,000. 

Boldt Castle, located on Heart Island (St. Lawrence River in the Thousand Islands, Alexandria Bay NY), is also making major dock repairs (at a cost of $16,600), as well as building a new movie room, all to be completed before the next tourist season. This is all great news for such a popular destination spot.

Merry Christmas!

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

Beaver sets up winter home at Singer Castle, Dark Island

Scott Garris, the caretaker of Singer Castle (and therefore the king of the castle for the winter) has a new subject. A beaver has set up shop in Singer Castle's South Boat House which also houses Dark Island's Gift Shop. The beaver photo above is courtesy of Wikipedia. The report and actual pictures of the beaver's new home below are from the scene by Scott Garris.

"The south boat house had part of it decked over to make room for a gift shop. The boat bay is under the decking. I have noticed that a beaver has been taking small trees and branches for a few weeks  now, but have not seen him. There is snow on the ground now and I have not seen any tracks. I thought he was gone.

On December 18, 2010 I was letting the boat warm up. The sun was shining and I could see a pile of branches in the boat slip under the gift shop. I know that the wind has been blowing down stream so I wondered how long the branches had been there. As I looked further in I could see a small beaver home in the back on the right. I have also been seeing short branches (8 to 12 inches long) with no bark and sharp on both ends, floating in the boat house for the last week. I guess I have a  guest for the winter." 

---Scott Garris, Singer Castle on Dark Island

Below is a picture of the South Boat House with Singer Castle looming in the background.

Castle photo by Robert J. Mondore. Click on the photos to see them larger.

Paradise Market - Dewitt/Syracuse NY & Gold-Mountain

Do you live in central New York State and are looking for an interesting and inspiring gift related to the Thousand Islands? Gold-Mountain's inspirational multimedia (DVDs, CDs and books) which features documentaries and music videos with the lovely St. Lawrence River's region as the backdrop. We are well represented in the Islands and Watertown, but now are represented in the Syracuse area at the Paradise Market with an enormous parking area. 


[Update 1/2/11: The holidays are over and our rep is no longer available at Paradise. But I still recommend the wonderful Paradise Market, and you can still order at Gold-Mountain.com with our renowned service and free surprises.]

Paradise Market is located at 3179 Erie Blvd. in Syracuse/DeWitt NY 13214 in what used to be the Hechinger Plaza. Billed as "fun for all", it is an 80,000 square feet shopping bazaar with over 200 shops and restaurants under one roof, and is well heated. The market is only open every Friday (12 p.m. through 8 p.m.), Saturday and Sunday (10 a.m through 6 p.m.).

Where can our multimedia be found in this enormous bazaar?

We are located right in front of King David's Restaurant stand near the enormous "rest rooms" sign. 

Below is the floor plan where we easily can be found.

The red dot below is where Photos by "K" (owned by Karen) can be found and prominently displayed there is a boat with our unique gift DVDs, CDs, and books. The green dots are at the main entrance of the building. Also featured in this (red) spot are photos by Linda Long Photography. (Click on any of these pictures to see them larger).

Note the boat-shaped display below which contains the special booty.

Visit us at www.Gold-Mountain.com online to get a taste of Bob and Patty Mondore's works.

Items on the boat at this time include:

"Dark Island's Castle of Mysteries" - the renown Singer Castle on Dark Island documentary DVD; 

Singer Castle Revisited - book; 

River-Lations - music video DVD; 

A Good Paddling - book; 

Heaven & Nature Sing - music video DVD (music CD also available); 

Proclaim His Praise in the Islands - music video DVD (music CD also available); 

Wondrous Love - music CD; 

Treasure of Your Love - music CD.

Please email  me with any questions. Let me know how your experience is at the Paradise Market.

[1/2/11 UPDATE:   The holidays are over and our rep is no longer available at Paradise. But I still recommend the wonderful Paradise Market, and you can still order at Gold-Mountain.com with our renowned service and free surprises.]

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.