A Connecticut Castle
Posted on August 16, 2008
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Posted by Sierra
Atop one of the “Seven Sisters,” the seven hills in East Haddam, Connecticut, sits Gillette Castle. Completed in 1919, the “Castle,” also called the “Seventh Sister” took 5 men 20 years to build. The estate was personally designed by actor/director/playwright William Gillette, who is best known for his role as Sherlock Holmes on the stage.
After Gillette’s death in 1937, the Seventh Sister was auctioned off. Several real estate agencies bid for it, but Gillette’s will specifically stated that the castle was not to fall into the hands of any “blithering sapheads,” so instead the State of Connecticut purchased it in 1943. It has been open to the public since then, except during restoration from 1999-2002.
After entering the castle, one thing you will see is the secret passageway door. Gillette used this to avoid unwanted guests as well as to make dramatic entrances at the foot of the stairs. You climb up the stairs and into the Great Hall, which has doors into the Conservatory, the study (the other end of the secret passageway), and the lounge, among other rooms. Outside of the Great Hall sits a window with colored glass between two panes.
Continue up a staircase in the Great Hall to the second floor, which mainly consists of the bedrooms. By standing at the balcony, you will notice that mirrors over the doors allow a person in the balcony to see the actions of people standing in the Great Hall.
After ascending the stairs to the third floor, you will enter the library/gallery. Here there are many authentic books, as well as some reproduced paintings. Off of this are a few rooms which contain pictures and letters of Gillette’s. Then there are some stairs down and the “tour” is over.
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