Dark Island
Encyclopedia
Dark Island, a prominent feature of the St. Lawrence Seaway, is located in the lower (eastern) Thousand Islands
region, near Chippewa Bay. A historic landmark here, "The Towers" was long known as Dark Island Castle until recently renamed "Singer Castle". The island itself sits only a few yards south of the Canadian-United States border that runs along the river. Because of its proximity to Canada, it was used for rum-running
during prohibition
in the United States.
The south side of the island is only about one-hundred feet from the shipping channel, and cargo ships frequently pass the island. Because of the depth of the channel on one side, and the relative shallowness on the other, it is very good for sport fishing of Largemouth Bass
and Northern Pike
.
. His client was Frederick Gilbert Bourne
, president of the Singer Manufacturing Company (now the Singer Corporation
), producer of the Singer Sewing Machine. His daughter, Majorie Bourne Thayer, made additions in 1928. Flagg also designed the skyscraper headquarters for the company in New York City—the tallest building in the world at the time. Flagg is known for many major American projects, such as the United States Naval Academy
at Annapolis.
Dark Island Castle was the last of several "castles" built at the Thousand Islands during a brief interval (1888–1905). Bourne undertook the project while larger Boldt Castle
was nearing completion nearby. The architect modeled the stone structure, planned in 1903, on Scottish
models described in novels of Sir Walter Scott
.
Following the 1919 death of Frederick Bourne, daughter Marjorie (Mrs. Alexander D. Thayer) took title to the property. Her ownership was contested by a brother, but she retained title. On her death, the Roman Catholic order Brothers of the Christian Schools, or Christian Brothers
acquired Dark Island along with the large Bourne country house, Indian Neck Hall
at Oakdale
on Long Island, which thereafter became La Salle Military Academy
. Having little use for the remote island in the St. Lawrence River, the Christian Brothers in 1965 sold Dark Island for approximately US $30,000, to be used thereafter by charitable organization of religious character, the Harold Martin Evangelistic Association.
Previous tax-exempt status was contested by neighbors after occupancy by the new owner. They contended that Dr. Harold Martin, director of the charity, maintained the tax-exempt property for his own private use as a summer residence. Martin prevailed in court, on the basis that he and his wife, Eloise, offered a religious service on the island every Sunday morning, open to all. During this Martin interval, the property was called "Jorstadt Castle," from Dr. Harold Martin's family surname before immigrating from Norway. The castle's name has since been changed to Singer Castle. After more than thirty years of Martin tenure, removal, sometimes due to theft, depleted the original contents. Due to the high cost of maintenance, a number of original fixtures and artifacts fell into disrepair. Rumors about the true use of the property (its new name not identifying any religious or charitable ownership), together with gradual deterioration of the property and stories about a complex maze of dimly lit secret passageways, complete with a dungeon, all increased the romantic mystique of Dark Island.
During later decades of the Martin period, the late 1980s and early 1990s, Dark Island was listed for sale. Advertisements appeared in high-end real estate magazines such as Unique Homes with suggestions that it be a "private residence, corporate retreat or hunting lodge." Interest came from as far as Japan, but the property remained unsold until acquired in 2001 from the Harold Martin Evangelistic Association by Dark Island Tours, Inc., a venture of German businessman Farhad Vladi and two American business partners. Vladi also operates Vladi Private Islands GmbH, a Hamburg, Germany based real estate company that specializes in selling islands.
Dark Island Tours, Inc. undertook an extensive campaign of restoration and adaptation in order to open Dark Island to the visiting public. Tours were initiated in 2003. Despite losses over the years, the interiors of Dark Island Castle retain original character, with most of the Bourne-Thayer furnishings. Unlike nearby Boldt Castle, Dark Island always served as a private residence, until opened to the public for tours.
In 2008, Dark Island had been listed for sale through Sothebys International Realty for $24.5 million. Additional images of the island can be seen here.
The Canadian
folk rock band Great Lake Swimmers
recorded part of their 2009 album Lost Channels
at Singer Castle. The album includes an interlude consisting of 48 seconds of the castle bells
chiming.
Thousand Islands
The Thousand Islands is the name of an archipelago of islands that straddle the Canada-U.S. border in the Saint Lawrence River as it emerges from the northeast corner of Lake Ontario. They stretch for about downstream from Kingston, Ontario. The Canadian islands are in the province of Ontario, the...
region, near Chippewa Bay. A historic landmark here, "The Towers" was long known as Dark Island Castle until recently renamed "Singer Castle". The island itself sits only a few yards south of the Canadian-United States border that runs along the river. Because of its proximity to Canada, it was used for rum-running
Rum-running
Rum-running, also known as bootlegging, is the illegal business of transporting alcoholic beverages where such transportation is forbidden by law...
during prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
in the United States.
The south side of the island is only about one-hundred feet from the shipping channel, and cargo ships frequently pass the island. Because of the depth of the channel on one side, and the relative shallowness on the other, it is very good for sport fishing of Largemouth Bass
Largemouth bass
The largemouth bass is a species of black bass in the sunfish family native to North America . It is also known as widemouth bass, bigmouth, black bass, bucketmouth, Potter's fish, Florida bass, Florida largemouth, green bass, green trout, linesides, Oswego bass, southern largemouth...
and Northern Pike
Northern Pike
The northern pike , is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...
.
Dark Island Castle (Singer Castle)
Most of the architectural work at Dark Island is attributed to the prominent American architect Ernest FlaggErnest Flagg
Ernest Flagg was a noted American architect in the Beaux-Arts style. He was also an advocate for urban reform and architecture's social responsibility.-Biography:...
. His client was Frederick Gilbert Bourne
Frederick Gilbert Bourne
Frederick Gilbert "Commodore" Bourne was President of the Singer Manufacturing Company between 1889 and 1905. He made the business "perhaps the first modern multinational industrial enterprise of any nationality." Bourne greatly expanded global production as well as international sales of the...
, president of the Singer Manufacturing Company (now the Singer Corporation
Singer Corporation
Singer Corporation is a manufacturer of sewing machines, first established as I.M. Singer & Co. in 1851 by Isaac Merritt Singer with New York lawyer Edward Clark. Best known for its sewing machines, it was renamed Singer Manufacturing Company in 1865, then The Singer Company in 1963. It is...
), producer of the Singer Sewing Machine. His daughter, Majorie Bourne Thayer, made additions in 1928. Flagg also designed the skyscraper headquarters for the company in New York City—the tallest building in the world at the time. Flagg is known for many major American projects, such as the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
at Annapolis.
Dark Island Castle was the last of several "castles" built at the Thousand Islands during a brief interval (1888–1905). Bourne undertook the project while larger Boldt Castle
Boldt Castle
Boldt Castle, located on Heart Island in the Thousand Islands of the Saint Lawrence River, along the northern border of New York State, is a major landmark and tourist attraction in its region.-History:...
was nearing completion nearby. The architect modeled the stone structure, planned in 1903, on Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
models described in novels of Sir Walter Scott
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time....
.
Following the 1919 death of Frederick Bourne, daughter Marjorie (Mrs. Alexander D. Thayer) took title to the property. Her ownership was contested by a brother, but she retained title. On her death, the Roman Catholic order Brothers of the Christian Schools, or Christian Brothers
Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools
The Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools is a Roman Catholic religious teaching congregation, founded in France by Saint Jean-Baptiste de la Salle and now based in Rome...
acquired Dark Island along with the large Bourne country house, Indian Neck Hall
Indian Neck Hall
Indian Neck Hall was a country residence of Frederick Gilbert Bourne, president of the Singer Sewing Machine Company. Located on the Great South Bay in Oakdale, New York, it was reputed to have been the largest estate on Long Island when it was built in 1897. The Georgian-style home was designed...
at Oakdale
Oakdale, New York
Oakdale is a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 8,075 at the 2000 census. Oakdale is in the Town of Islip.- History :...
on Long Island, which thereafter became La Salle Military Academy
La Salle Military Academy
La Salle Military Academy was a Catholic school with middle school/junior high school and high school divisions located in Oakdale, New York. It closed in 2001, and the school's extensive campus is now owned by St...
. Having little use for the remote island in the St. Lawrence River, the Christian Brothers in 1965 sold Dark Island for approximately US $30,000, to be used thereafter by charitable organization of religious character, the Harold Martin Evangelistic Association.
Previous tax-exempt status was contested by neighbors after occupancy by the new owner. They contended that Dr. Harold Martin, director of the charity, maintained the tax-exempt property for his own private use as a summer residence. Martin prevailed in court, on the basis that he and his wife, Eloise, offered a religious service on the island every Sunday morning, open to all. During this Martin interval, the property was called "Jorstadt Castle," from Dr. Harold Martin's family surname before immigrating from Norway. The castle's name has since been changed to Singer Castle. After more than thirty years of Martin tenure, removal, sometimes due to theft, depleted the original contents. Due to the high cost of maintenance, a number of original fixtures and artifacts fell into disrepair. Rumors about the true use of the property (its new name not identifying any religious or charitable ownership), together with gradual deterioration of the property and stories about a complex maze of dimly lit secret passageways, complete with a dungeon, all increased the romantic mystique of Dark Island.
During later decades of the Martin period, the late 1980s and early 1990s, Dark Island was listed for sale. Advertisements appeared in high-end real estate magazines such as Unique Homes with suggestions that it be a "private residence, corporate retreat or hunting lodge." Interest came from as far as Japan, but the property remained unsold until acquired in 2001 from the Harold Martin Evangelistic Association by Dark Island Tours, Inc., a venture of German businessman Farhad Vladi and two American business partners. Vladi also operates Vladi Private Islands GmbH, a Hamburg, Germany based real estate company that specializes in selling islands.
Dark Island Tours, Inc. undertook an extensive campaign of restoration and adaptation in order to open Dark Island to the visiting public. Tours were initiated in 2003. Despite losses over the years, the interiors of Dark Island Castle retain original character, with most of the Bourne-Thayer furnishings. Unlike nearby Boldt Castle, Dark Island always served as a private residence, until opened to the public for tours.
In 2008, Dark Island had been listed for sale through Sothebys International Realty for $24.5 million. Additional images of the island can be seen here.
Popular culture
The castle was featured in the 2000 movie, The Skulls.The Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
folk rock band Great Lake Swimmers
Great Lake Swimmers
Great Lake Swimmers is a Canadian band built around the melodic folk rock songs of singer-songwriter Tony Dekker. Originally from Wainfleet, Ontario, the band is currently based in Toronto....
recorded part of their 2009 album Lost Channels
Lost Channels
Lost Channels is the fourth studio album by Canadian folk rock band Great Lake Swimmers, released on March 31, 2009. It was recorded in the Thousand Islands area near the New York–Ontario border and features several guest appearances by other artists, including Serena Ryder, Bob Egan , Erin Aurich ...
at Singer Castle. The album includes an interlude consisting of 48 seconds of the castle bells
Bell (instrument)
A bell is a simple sound-making device. The bell is a percussion instrument and an idiophone. Its form is usually a hollow, cup-shaped object, which resonates upon being struck...
chiming.