385 people like this. After purchasing 115 acres, first seen by William Gillette from the Connecticut River, he started constructi ... Read More. Work on the home was done primarily by a team of 20 men. Auction House: Guyette & Deeter. On the grounds, one also will find a covered bridge, a tunnel, several wooden bridges and Gillette’s goldfish pond. The railroad included two engines (one steam, one electric), several passenger cars, and three miles of track complete with bridges, turnarounds and a tunnel. Luckily, William H. Gillette (1853-1937), one of the great actors and playwrights of pre-World War I America, happened to be a close friend of Mark Twain, and as a sideline he used to do impersonations of Twain and other popular figures. Design of the Castle and all the quirks and eccentricities therein was done by William Gillette. Gillette died having no children, and his will precluded the possession of his home by any "blithering sap-head who has no conception of where he is or with what surrounded". This characterization of Holmes by William Gillette is what gave us his iconic look of curved pipe, hat, and robe. But, he was brought to life by William Gillette. But William Gillette's 1899 play made a crucial change. Atop the most southerly hill of a chain of hills known as the Seven Sisters sits the retirement estate of noted actor, director, and playwright William Hooker Gillette. William Gillette had a flair for the dramatic, and so had several features built in to entertain (and sometimes scare) his guests. There’s a small hidden door right off the main entrance that allowed him to suddenly appear in the entrance hall, for example, and a series of mirrors in his bedroom that allowed him to spy on his guests. Community See All. William Gillette's Castle is actually a built replica of a Norman fortress. The castle on the banks of the Connecticut stands as a testament to the man who brought to life a character who was bigger than life itself. William Hooker Gillette wurde 24. His father, Francis, was a Yale-educated lawyer, farmer and prominent politician who served a term in the U.S. Senate. Lot 109: William B. Gillette (New York / Nova Scotia, 1864-1937) Forest Scene Watercolor Painting FRAMED. Central heating originated from a coal-fired boiler in the basement and provided steam to fill the cast-iron radiators spread around the home. A series of mirrors above the great hall allowing him to view visitors from his bedroom. The Gillettes remodeled the original Imlay farmhouse. About See All. "The story goes that he's able to deliver his lines while still smoking. learn more >> | contact us >> Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created Sherlock Holmes. Estimate: $0 - $0. With the permission of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the fictional detective's creator, Gillette wrote the first authorized play adaptations of the novels. From his bedroom position he could also see reflections of guests trying to open his mysterious liquor cabinet. "The story goes that he's able to deliver his lines while still smoking. (Low Resolution), Connecticut River as seen from the overlook behind the Castle, U.S. National Register of Historic Places, National Register of Historic Places listings in New London County, Connecticut, National Register of Historic Places listings in Middlesex County, Connecticut, "A Castle Restored, Including the Quirks", "Gillette Castle, Once Home of 'Sherlock Holmes', Opens Season of Tours", "Gillette Castle State Park, a Connecticut park located near Clinton, Colchester and Cromwell", https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/3f1d424e-684f-4eaf-b04e-6b2537a53eb1, "Aunt Polly and Its Preservation | ConnecticutHistory.org", "Holmes at Home: The Life of William Gillette | ConnecticutHistory.org", "William Gillette's Ghost Revived At His Castle", "Gillette Castle – Gillette Castle State Park East Haddam Connecticut Photos William Gillette's Sherlock Holmes", Washington–Rochambeau Revolutionary Route, Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Fairfield, Joshua's Tract Conservation and Historic Trust, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, History of the National Register of Historic Places, National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gillette_Castle_State_Park&oldid=1015884275, Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Connecticut, National Register of Historic Places in Middlesex County, Connecticut, National Register of Historic Places in New London County, Connecticut, Articles using NRISref without a reference number, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Informally, it was the “Hadlyme stone heap” or simply “the pile of rocks.” Design of the Castle and all the … Gillette lived at this estate from 1919–1937. The 144-foot steamship, built in the late 1880s in Brooklyn, New York, was Gillette’s second houseboat. A grand wooden staircase to the upper floors. It is December 1936, and Broadway star William Gillette, admired the world over for his leading role in the play Sherlock Holmes, has invited his fellow cast members to his Connecticut castle for a weekend of revelry. William was a famous actor who also played Sherlock Holmes. History of Gillette Castle Gillette was born in Hartford in 1853 and was descended from the city's founder, Thomas Hooker, who is … But William Gillette's 1899 play made a crucial change. Mar 13, 2013 - Explore Paula Still's board "William Gillette & Gillette's Castle" on Pinterest. Create New Account. William Gillette had a love of trains since childhood and always wanted to drive one. Beginning in 1899, Gillette went on to star as Sherlock Holmes more than 1,300 times over the course of 33 years. [3][4][6][11], Gillette designed the home and personally overlooked every phase of the construction. He is best remembered today for portraying Sherlock Holmes on stage and in a now lost 1916 silent film. The Castle was meant as a retirement home. 396 people follow this. [13] The railroad was complete with steam engine and an electric engine, and were later purchased by Lake Compounce in Bristol, Connecticut. [3] It took 20 workers from 1914–1919 (5 years) to complete the construction[4][7] totaling a cost of over $1 million at the time. It is December 1936, and Broadway star William Gillette, admired the world over for his leading role in the play Sherlock Holmes, has invited his fellow cast members to his Connecticut castle for a weekend of revelry. 385 likes. They tried to sell the Castle at auction in 1938. or. The house had several bathrooms, each with a modern toilet, sink and bathtub, and hot and cold water. The castle was originally a private residence commissioned and designed by William Gillette, an American actor who is most famous for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes on stage. Within the castle is a museum that preserves the history of William Gillette as he progressed through his life as a senator's son and into the great Sherlock Holmes on the world stage. [13] It has been noted it was "a wonder the building didn't collapse" before the castle's multimillion-dollar restoration. The Francis Gillette House is a historic house at 545 Bloomfield Ave. in Bloomfield, Connecticut.Built in 1833, it is locally unusual as a stone house, but is most significant for its association with Francis Gillette, one of the state's leading abolitionists in the years before the American Civil War.It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Juli 1853 in Hartford, Connecticut; † 29. William Gillette had a flair for the dramatic, and so had several features built in to entertain (and sometimes scare) his guests. William Gillette. The former castle home of actor William Gillette enchants visitors to Gillette Castle, which is now one of Connecticut's most popular state parks. Gillette Castle State Park straddles the towns of East Haddam and Lyme, Connecticut in the United States, sitting high above the Connecticut River. William Gillette died in 1937 at the age of 83 and nine months. William Gillette Photography, Saint Cloud, Florida. William Gillette. His mother, Elisabeth, was a descendant of Thomas Hooker, the founder of Connecticut. He is best remembered today for portraying Sherlock Holmes on stage and in a now lost 1916 silent film. The actor intended to live on the Aunt Polly while he built a house in Long Island, but a trip up the Connecticut River in 1911 changed his plans. Estimate: $0 - $0. East Haddam Connecticut. Informally, it was the “Hadlyme stone heap” or simply “the pile of rocks.” Design of the Castle and all the … There is a railroad station (called “Grand Central”) with a spectacular view of the Connecticut River that used to house Gillette’s railway cars, and the modern walking trails follow much of the old railroad bed. We found 186 records in 41 states for William Gillette in the US. It was first developed in 1927 and named after the actor William Gillette, who previously owned the entire 700 acre area. Gillette Castle State Park first opened to the public on October 7, 1944, as a museum and state park. This design is thought to have helped Gillette spy on guests and make dramatic entrances. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. Secret doors, passageway, and room. The castle on the banks of the Connecticut stands as a testament to the man who brought to life a character who was bigger than life itself. Diese Gleichsetzung von… The estate was left to his cousin and brother-in-law. See William R Gillette's age, phone number, house address, email address, social media accounts, public records, and check for criminal records on Spokeo. The winning bid was $35,000 from a real estate broker; however, the relatives rejected it. The railroad included two engines (one steam, one electric), several passenger cars, and three miles of track complete with bridges, turnarounds and a tunnel. William Hooker Gillette was an American actor-manager, playwright, and stage-manager in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Within the castle is a museum that preserves the history of William Gillette as he progressed through his life as a senator's son and into the great Sherlock Holmes on the world stage. Francis Gillette (December 14, 1807 – September 30, 1879) was a politician from Connecticut, USA.He was the father of actor and playwright William Gillette and politician and editor Edward H. Gillette.. Gillette was born in Old Windsor, Connecticut (today part of the town of Bloomfield), Gillette moved with his parents, Rev. However much of the rest of the story isn't necessarily what we would associate with… Review by Marion Fox ★★★ Its beautiful seeing something (thought to be lost ) from 1916 that set the style marker for so many films to come with regards to sherlock. Auction Date: Feb 27, 2019. [10] A number of oddities exist inside the home that were personally designed by Gillette and said to be examples of his "creative genius". Log in or Create account to view price data. After purchasing 115 acres, first seen by William Gillette from the Connecticut River, he started constructi ... Read More. Page Transparency See More. Helen Nichols was the wife of actor/playwright William Gillette, one of the most important dramatists and actors of the last quarter of the nineteenth century. 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