Dark Island Castle - Thousand Islands

House Museum

Feb 25

Frederick Gilbert Bourne was a self-made millionaire who resided at the Dakota Apartments in Manhattan and had a 1,000-acre estate in Oakdale, Long Island, called Indian Hall. Bourne became the fifth president of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, which is where the current name “Singer Castle” comes from. While the Bourne’s summered here, they called the castle, “The Towers” and the island, “Dark Island”. American beaux-arts architect Ernest Flagg designed the castle that took between 1903 and 1905 to build, at a price of $500,000.00. Bourne wanted to surprise his wife and children with an island hunting retreat. Bourne was able to hire the laid off employees after Mr. Boldt had stopped building on Heart Island.

Frederick Bourne died in 1919 and the castle passed to his daughter, Marjorie. The four-story, twenty-eight-room castle remained in the possession of the original owners, the Bourne family, from its construction in 1905 until 1961. The house contains underground passageways and a dungeon. One of the paintings in the Drawing Room actually tilts in, so someone can spy on their guests.

The Roman Catholic Order, Brothers of the Christian Schools, acquired Dark Island along with the large Long Island estate. The Brothers sold Dark Island in 1965, because they had no real use for a remote island in the St. Lawrence Seaway. It was sold to Dr. Harold G. Martin and he owned it until 2002, when Dark Island Tours, Inc., a group of European investors, acquired the island and castle and after extensive stabilization, restoration and cleaning, started tours in 2003.

Here is what caught my eye. I hope you enjoy!

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As the boat approaches Dark Island, we see the castle with its huge boathouse.

Rising up behind the southern boathouse stands the Clock Tower with four 6’ clock faces. The functioning clock has Westminster Chimes, that chime every 15 minutes.

The fairytale architectural details include turret, tower and underground passageways.

The massive medieval entrance contains a suit of armor in the Great Hall with stairs leading to the Breakfast Room.

Pictured here is the Great Hall with medieval artifacts and the doorway into the Library.

The Breakfast Room has many large windows which frame the breathtaking panoramic views of the St. Lawrence Seaway. You could see the American sunrise and Canadian sunset from this room.

From the terrace one can look through the arched Breakfast Room window.

This formal dining room has a table with call bell buttons built in and a wrought-iron chandelier above. The fireplace is one of two Italian marble fireplaces.

A chess game in progress in the Drawing Room

Drawing Room features elks, caribou, deer and moose mounted on the walls.

The Loggia

A look down the staircase shows off the antique light fixture.

Every window should have a chair nearby to take in the view of the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Pictured here is a telephone and a framed family photograph taken at Indian Neck Hall in Oakdale, Long Island.

These twin beds have a noticeable difference between them. Notice the headboard of the bed on the right is intentionally slightly higher to show Mr. Bourne was head of the household.

Looking out the primary bedroom window

The circular primary bathroom in the turret

The Sport Therapy Room, with massage table, was staffed 24/7 by a physician and masseuse.

This is the Electric Light Bath Cabinet in the Sports Therapy Room. Light therapy, John Harvey Kellogg said, was a treatment for many ailments including obesity, scurvy, chronic gastritis, constipation and diabetes.

Marjorie’s bedroom was on the quieter side of the house.

This was one of the bedrooms used as a guest bedroom.

Many rooms have a water view.

Shown here are the many beds in 4th floor female staff dormitory. The male staff had their rooms in another building.

The female staff dormitory had built-in storage and a water view.

Dormitory bathroom in the turret

A quiet window seat invites one to read in the walnut paneled Library.

The intercom system had a list of house extensions.

The relaxing Adirondack chairs are ready for sitting and watching the world go by.

This is the entrance to the former two-story ice house. Ice was essential for fine entertaining at the turn of the century.

Another view of Mr. Bourne’s castle

Over 2,000 loads of topsoil was brought over from Canada to cover the seven acres of rock.

The elaborate boathouse, one of three, housed a workshop and powerhouse and one of Bourne’s boats.

The massive boathouse stands with the castle rising up behind it.

You can read about Mr. Bourne’s neighbor on Heart Island.

What you should know:

Reservations for the boat tours can be made at USBoatTours. Check the website as schedules are subject to change.
The tours of the castle are 45 minutes long.
Comfortable shoes are recommended.
Walking and climbing stairs are required to view the interior of the castle.