A reader called me a couple of years
ago to invite my bride and myself to a complimentary cruise with the Uncle Sam
boat lines. His name is Captain Hartman and we share a similar interest in the
great outdoors. He told me how much he enjoys my articles in the Thousand
Island Sun and felt compelled to meet me and talk further. We played phone tag
a few times and were unable to secure a mutual time. The River does that to a
person, so much to do and so little time.
In late June of this year, I heard
from the captain again: “Mr. Thompson and I would like to invite you and some
guests on a complimentary cruise to Singer Castle. He and I both are both avid
readers of your column. You are welcome to choose a date on a Saturday in July;
just give me a weeks notice.” I was taken aback and thrilled by his generous
offer. It just so happened that our Angel-baby and her parents were returning
to the River on July 20th. “Captain, I
will take you and Mr. Thompson up on your offer, I’ll see you on Saturday the 21st
at 10:00 AM, Thank you so much!
Our Angel-baby has taken on a new
title as she is now four years of age and no longer a baby. She is now a
princess, everything in her world is princess related. I’ll tell you up front;
she is the only princess. Do not make the mistake of referring to anyone else
with her title. She will tell you: “I am THE princess you can’t have two!” What
better treat could Ma and Pa-Due give that obsessed little girl, than a trip to
a real castle? Her parents told her that she was going to a castle and she lit
up with a beaming face. “A real Castle… there is a real Castle up on the River
by Ma and Pa-Due’s? They had to endure the inquisition from their four year old
‘princess’ for nearly three weeks. I’ll wager that they wished that they had
waited to surprise her.
Saturday morning proved to be a chore
for the princess’s mother. That child had no interest in eating, she wanted to
put on her best dress and get to that ‘Castle’. “I don’t want to eat, I’m not
hungry.” The struggle evolved into tears, folded arms and swollen red cheeks.
Her mom had to utilize some bribery to achieve a modest gain; “You won’t be
much of a princess if you can’t walk through the whole castle. A princess needs
lots of energy to climb stairs and peak into secret spots. ‘Secret spots’
unlocked both that girls jaw and her imagination. The princess kept with the
questions all the way to the Castle and I finally got to meet the ‘Captain’.
My family waited to board the Sam-7
while the other tourists hustled past. Captain Hartman recognized me, greeting
me with a broad smile and a hardy handshake. “Hello Mike, I think I may have
told you that Mr. Thompson and I read your column every week. Why I even have
my daughters reading it now. I think that you reach a good many more people than
you can imagine.” I thanked him for his kind words and told him that my
imagination was on par with our princess, concerning the trip. “I have admired
Dark Island since my Pap brought me to Krings Point fishing. The island was
just that, dark and mysterious with a looming stone walls and tall overbearing
trees. I can’t tell you how fantastic it is to have the opportunity to see it
up close with our princess.”
I soon learned that the Captain is
known as ‘Bear-paw’. He told me that he did not think that any of the tour
guides on the Uncle Sam line even knew his real name. This nick name has
followed him through out life, derived from his early trapping. “I used to trap
along the River, traveling across the ice on a set of snow shoes… bear paw snow
shoes. Back then it was the only way to get around on the River. There were no
motorized vehicles, only foot power and determination.” I felt like a kid in a
candy shop with a free pass. This man and I gabbed during the journey up to
Singer castle, and it was like hanging with my Pap once again. A great day just kept getting better.
Captain Bear-paw has more knowledge
of this section of the river than anyone else whom I have encountered. Every
rock, shoal, island and rift. He told me that he purchased a shoal when he was
in the 7th or 8th grade for the back taxes. “I liked to
duck hunt on the River and each time I went out someone either beat me to the
good spots or owned the shoal.” He pointed to a small island where a series of
duck blinds dot its edges. “That’s Mr. Thompson’s duck blind.” This is the
commonality that I share with these gentlemen who read my ramblings… waterfowl.
The blind looked like one that could have been built in the late 1900’s. It was
a beauty, island stone had been mortared to blend in with the surrounding
Island. I could imagine a stiff north wind blowing in flocks of black brant to
eager retrieving dogs.
It was not only the River that lured
Mr. Frederick Bourne to the area. He too was an avid water fowler who spent
years enjoying the Rivers bounty. His idea of a duck blind became a bit more
grandiose than Bear-paws shoal or Mr. Thompson’s water fowling island. (Now we
have four kindred spirits traveling on the same trip). He was a man of both
fortune and fortunate circumstances. He purchased an island and informed his
Bride that he was building a ‘stone box’ for a duck hunting camp.
He commissioned designer Ernest Flagg
to build his ‘stone box’. It was inspired by the novel ‘Woodstock’ penned by
Sir Walter Scott. The novel provided exact details for the construction of the
Castle Woodstock, in Scotland. Being a man of immense wealth and raising 7
children he took into consideration his family. He was one of the rare few who
could bring dreams and fantasy to life with holding no expense.
I could now see the looming Island
that I recall as Dark Island, known to Mr. Bourne and his Family as the Towers.
I turned my attention to the princess who was perched on her mother’s lap. Her
gaze was fixed on the red terracotta roof and tall stone castle that will be in
her dreams for years to come. Her mom kept teasing her: “Where’s the princess I
don’t see a princess.” “I’m right her… I am the princess!” Singer Castle looks
much more welcoming when experiencing it up close. It is finely defined with
flower gardens gracing the flowing lines of expert masonry that looks as sound
as the day it was completed.
I stepped onto an immaculately kept
parcel of River lore, dropping my feet on the same dock and stones that an
exuberant Bourne family first saw, almost a century ago. Captain even set us up
with our own tour guide who recognized the princess immediately. “Look we have
a princess to see the castle, oh what a fine day this will be. Follow me and I
will give you a tour”. Judy Keeler made our little princess feel as welcome as
family. Judy amazed me with her extensive knowledge of the Castle, its various
inhabitants and architecture. I have to wonder where she stores it all. I must
admit that I only heard a portion of her oration as I was being a busy shutterbug.
Singer Castle is a living accurate
example of the last century for a privileged few. It houses (or Castles in this
case) 28 rooms of crafted furniture. My eyes wondered across ornate carvings in
tables and cabinets in the dinning room. There our princess was seated briefly
at the head of the table and she looked regal! Each room is a unique functional
space that is very homey for its grand size. This summer home had indoor
plumbing, electricity and telephones years before the general population. The
phone service was limited to the island and I deem it was necessary for the
inhabitants to keep track of each other. Judy explained that the servants lead
a much better life on the Island than anyone on the mainland.
Marjorie Bourne was the last of her family
to occupy the Castle. It has changed hands a number of times since then and
that history is a story in its self. As you may be able to tell I was
overwhelmed by the grandeur, hospitality and information. If you have a little
princess of your own (don’t tell ours) consider giving her a treat that she
will never forget. You cannot beat a day on the River taking a journey into
history to what I consider a rare gem in our Islands. Singer Castle also hosts
weddings and offers an overnight stay. Now that would be one night to remember,
a Canadian sunset Heck, if I was told that I could either hook a fifty pound
musky or see the castle, I would have still chosen the Castle. Yes, really… you
only have a little princess for a short while.
