A Night at Singer - Special Guest Post
This week, we asked a friend of the marina about their recent stay at Singer Castle. This is what they had to say:
Just a short trip from Carnegie Bay Marina. The original summer home of Fredrick Bourne. Singer Castle does daily tours and is available to spend an evening as a private party. Our party of 7 had a wonderful time this past weekend. For about $165 per person we had a nice dinner, dessert and a continental breakfast. We brought our own snacks and drinks.
We were free to roam the castle at will, access the secret passages of the servants and check out the historical library. The ladies enjoyed participating in 1900 era spa activities. We played cards and games well into the night.
You may arrive on your own boat or they will arrange a ferry for you.
We had a ton of fun, lots of laughs and stories to tell. Well worth doing while in the 1000 Islands.
-Dave Shafer
Singer Castle is located on Dark Island, on the St. Lawrence River in Chippewa Bay, NY. Accessible only by boat, you can tour the castle from 10 am to 3 pm daily. In addition, as our guest blogger above did, you can reserve The Royal Suite for your own private stay. The entire castle is yours for a night! In addition, many events are able to be held on the island, including wedding ceremonies.
Some interesting facts about this castle (from the website www.singercastle.com - and knowledge from touring):
Singer castle is the only remaining/existing castle on the St. Lawrence River to be completed, fully furnished and resided in.
Frederick Bourne was the fifth President of Signer Sewing Machine Company. Originally, it was called “The Towers”, then referred to as “Jorstadt Castle” before becoming “Dark Island Castle” until recently being renamed “Singer Castle”.
Mr. Bourne purchased the island in 1902 for a family retreat. The original cost of construction was $500,000.
Over 2,000 loads of topsoil were brought from Canada to cover the acres of rock on the island.
Granite was quarried from Oak Island, was transported over ice and water between 1903-1905 to construct the castle.
Oak Island employees were saved from layoff, as construction of nearby Boldt Castle had halted, and they were able to continue work at “The Towers”.
Mr. Bourne’s daughter, Marjorie, inherited the castle after his death in 1919, then made large additions to the castle in 1928. She retained the island until her death in 1962. The home passed through several owners, mostly being used for religious purposes. After more than 30 years, the original contents of the castle were largely gone, and the castle was not being well maintained. It was listed for sale until Dark Island Tours, Inc. (owned by German investors) purchased it and began restoration. Tours began in 2003.
If you are visiting the Thousand Islands and looking for a day trip, Singer Castle should be high on the list. Beautiful architecture, gorgeous gardens, views and more - this is something not to miss.
Where should we adventure next?
