TRANSCRIPTION 🔗
WEBVTT
00:00:05.887 --> 00:00:14.288
No one ever said life is easy, but I believe by giving yourself permission you will find you have more control over your life than you realize.
00:00:14.288 --> 00:00:15.711
I'm Julie.
00:00:15.711 --> 00:00:25.109
I hope you will join me by taking responsibility for yourself, by only controlling the things you can and letting go of the things that you can't.
00:00:25.109 --> 00:00:34.795
By doing this you will have discovered the secret to having happy, healthy and more fulfilling relationships.
00:00:34.795 --> 00:00:38.869
This is Nearest and Dearest Podcast.
00:00:38.869 --> 00:00:49.094
I'm Julie Rogers and you are listening to Season 2, Episode 12, C arleton Island Past And Present - The Wyckoff Villa.
00:00:49.094 --> 00:00:59.168
This is the second episode in my special series about Carleton Island, l ocated in N orthern New York, surrounded by the mighty St Lawrence River.
00:00:59.168 --> 00:01:10.376
T his almost three-square-mile island has quite a bit of mystery that has been a huge part of New York State's history.
00:01:10.376 --> 00:01:19.394
William Ozum Wyckoff was born in Lansing, N ew York, on February 16, 1835.
00:01:19.394 --> 00:01:21.641
His parents were farmers.
00:01:22.981 --> 00:01:31.067
His earlier ancestors came to the US around 1675 from Holland, settling on Long Island, N ew York.
00:01:31.067 --> 00:01:42.816
During the Civil War, W illiam served two years in the 32nd New York Infantry, going in as a private and rising to the rank of captain.
00:01:42.816 --> 00:01:49.621
He was always interested in law.
00:01:49.621 --> 00:01:52.066
He received a diploma from Ames Business College in Syracuse.
00:01:52.066 --> 00:02:08.354
By 1866, he became an official court stenographer of the Supreme Court for the 6th Judicial District of the state and remained in that position for 16 years.
00:02:08.354 --> 00:02:15.693
The Remington T ypewriting M achine in 1875 got his attention.
00:02:15.693 --> 00:02:23.490
He started with them as a salesman for the Remington Standard Typewriter Company out of Italy and New York.
00:02:23.490 --> 00:02:44.834
Due to the prosperous venture, around 1882, he established the firm Wyckoff, Seamans and Benedict with around $20,000 of capital along with a signed contract with E Remington And Sons taking over their sales department.
00:02:44.834 --> 00:02:54.930
So successful in their sales that by 1886, they bought the whole plant and patent rights.
00:02:54.930 --> 00:03:05.193
Wyckoff was president of this company, which now manufactured and sold the Remington typewriter machine.
00:03:05.193 --> 00:03:12.394
He married Francis Ives on October 20, 1863.
00:03:12.394 --> 00:03:22.055
They had two sons, E dward, who was born in 1867, and Clarence, who was born in 1876.
00:03:22.055 --> 00:03:35.294
The Thousand Island region was starting to become a summertime paradise for the wealthy by the end of the 19th century, known as the Gilded Age.
00:03:35.294 -->
Load full transcript
00:03:48.915
The Industrial Revolution that was erupting in the US created the desire for the well-to-do families looking for a peaceful and serene vacation spa.
00:03:48.915 --> 00:04:02.393
Plenty of wealthy businessmen and politicians flocked to this natural, scenic and mesmerizing backdrop of the Thousand Islands.
00:04:13.100 --> 00:04:17.004
In May of 1893, W illiam bought land from Henry M Folger for $11,440, o n the head of Carleton Island.
00:04:17.004 --> 00:04:30.826
H he constructed a $6,000 boathouse known as the finest on the river and was getting ready to build a cottage designed by famed architect William Henry Miller.
00:04:30.826 --> 00:04:42.086
The beginning cost was said to be $25,000, but later changed to well over $100,000.
00:04:42.086 --> 00:04:48.475
That would be like spending almost 3.4 million dollars today.
00:04:48.475 --> 00:05:04.355
The villa would be the first of such splendor among the Thousand Islands and be included amongst other landmarks such as Boldt Castle and Emery Castle.
00:05:04.355 --> 00:05:18.091
It has been said that Wyckoff enjoyed being on the island and overseeing all the construction, spending most of his time there during the process.
00:05:18.091 --> 00:05:51.761
Sadly, five weeks prior to its completion in 1895, W illiam's wife, F rancis, passed away back home in Brooklyn.
00:05:51.761 --> 00:05:54.987
Just five weeks later, on July 11th, W illiam passed away after only spending one night in his new villa.
00:05:54.987 --> 00:05:55.468
He was 60 years old.
00:05:55.468 --> 00:05:56.709
Reportedly, both Francis and William died from heart failure.
00:05:56.709 --> 00:06:01.641
Here's an excerpt from the Cape Vincent Eagle newspaper - Mr.
00:06:01.641 --> 00:06:18.862
Wyckoff had been in poor health for the past year, being afflicted with heart trouble, a bout five weeks since his wife died at the family residence in Brooklyn, and immediately after the sad event, Mr.
00:06:18.862 --> 00:06:23.627
Wyckoff with his two sons arrived at Carleton Island.
00:06:23.627 --> 00:06:34.689
It was hoped that the refreshing air of the river would improve and better his condition, but he gradually failed.
00:06:34.689 --> 00:06:45.144
Medical aid was summoned from Brooklyn, but every effort put forth to save his life proved futile.
00:06:46.165 --> 00:06:54.841
T the Wyckoff family would retain ownership of the villa for nearly three decades.
00:06:54.841 --> 00:07:10.718
Before 1910, the Carleton Villa would start appearing for summer rentals in publications such as Country Life in America, along with thousands of high-end rentals across the United States.
00:07:10.718 --> 00:07:16.958
It was described as fully furnished and made of Gouverneur M arble.
00:07:16.958 --> 00:07:25.310
Gouverneur, N ew York, by 1902, was ranked third in marble production in the US.
00:07:25.310 --> 00:07:39.382
The marble was especially desirable because it was of a higher quality and popular due to its durability, brilliance
and uniformity of color.
00:07:39.382 --> 00:07:48.199
In the 1920s, W illiam's son Edward began selling some of the land associated with the estate.
00:07:48.199 --> 00:07:51.834
Soon after the property was put up for sale.
00:07:51.834 --> 00:08:07.413
The Great Depression undoubtedly was a factor in both the decision to sell the villa and the fact that there were no buyers interested in purchasing it, with no offers over the span of several years.
00:08:07.413 --> 00:08:15.867
By 1928, the villa would be put up for auction along with a large amount of personal property.
00:08:15.867 --> 00:08:18.127
Listen to this list.
00:08:18.127 --> 00:08:47.553
It included livestock, 70 tons of hay, wagons, sleighs, over 2,000 books, rugs, guns, game trophies, a skiff and an ice scow, which is a large flat-bottomed boat with broad square ends used for transporting bulk materials like huge blocks of ice.
00:08:47.553 --> 00:09:18.796
When the villa was sold in the auction for $15,000 in 1928 to a bank out of Ithaca, N ew York, C arlton Island itself was discussed as being turned into a historical site for tourism on one end of the spectrum, while on the opposite end there was a lot of talk in the New York State Senate amongst some members to build a federal prison for habitual criminals.
00:09:18.796 --> 00:09:36.855
This idea, proposed by Senator Love of Brooklyn, would be greatly defeated due to the bitter responses from wealthy property owners in the Thousand Islands and N orthern New York in general.
00:09:36.855 --> 00:09:52.841
Personally I'm glad that a prison was never established, but always thought perhaps a historical site for tourism would be a better option for such a beautiful island.
00:09:52.841 --> 00:10:07.514
By 1930, G eneral Electric was showing some interest in purchasing the majority of the island for creating a new summer recreation camp for their employees.
00:10:07.514 --> 00:10:18.455
According to the Watertown Daily Times newspaper, the General Electric Company is also understood to have bought the Wyckoff estate.
00:10:18.455 --> 00:10:28.394
Later that summer, GE began their buying spree of land from property owners on Carleton Island.
00:10:28.394 --> 00:10:52.360
They had plans including three golf courses, an elaborately illuminated camp, an assembly room and theater that would seat 500, a large mess hall, 38 cottages, tennis courts, a baseball diamond, sewer systems, docks and canals.
00:10:52.360 --> 00:11:06.307
Due to the Great Depression that was happening by 1934, GE completely abandoned their grand ideas for Carleton Island.
00:11:06.307 --> 00:11:28.860
Their attention was focused more on Association Island, a 65-acre island located at the northern tip of Stony Point, a peninsula on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario, which is part of Henderson, N new York.
00:11:28.860 --> 00:11:46.514
Perhaps due to National Electric Lamp Association's ownership and establishment of a summer camp for their employees back in 1906, according to an article by Jonathan Croyle from NewYorkUp.
00:11:46.514 --> 00:11:54.375
com, GE decided to put their money and efforts on the smaller island.
00:11:54.375 --> 00:12:03.921
The makings of retreat was already started when GE took over the National Electric Lamp Association in 1912.
00:12:03.921 --> 00:12:14.600
So by 1927, GE developed the island into a full-scale company retreat and conference center.
00:12:14.600 --> 00:12:19.172
In 1943, W.
00:12:19.172 --> 00:12:19.292
E.
00:12:19.172 --> 00:12:48.854
Dodge bought the property from General Electric and due to his salvaging some of the other properties on Carleton Island, including wanting to salvage the Wyckoff Villa, according to the Watertown Daily Times, it was reported on August 12, 1943, that the intention was to take down the villa in order to save on property taxes.
00:12:48.854 --> 00:13:05.437
However, that never happened and over the years both the interior and exterior have been picked over, with major signs of decay and disrepair.
00:13:05.437 --> 00:13:07.884
MemoryLn.
00:13:07.884 --> 00:13:14.625
net was a great source of information for me when I was researching the villa.
00:13:14.625 --> 00:13:22.744
The spelling is m-e-m-o-r-y-l-n dot net.
00:13:22.744 --> 00:13:34.941
Thank you to Jim for sharing his knowledge about not only the Wyckoff Villa but all the wonderful history surrounding Northern New York.
00:13:34.941 --> 00:13:46.841
I'll share a link in my show notes for you to check out the interesting facts and photos, MemoryLn has created.
00:13:46.841 --> 00:13:56.028
The future of the Carleton Villa lies in the hands of Ron Clapp and Janaina Leite.
00:13:56.028 --> 00:14:04.248
In the summer of 2022, they felt compelled to rescue this magnificent piece of American history.
00:14:04.248 --> 00:14:11.539
They knew, by purchasing this crumbling landmark, that it would not be an easy road ahead.
00:14:11.539 --> 00:14:28.775
In the fall of 2022, R on and Janaina, along with some friends, started the huge undertaking of cleaning the basement and first floor of this four-story 15,000-square-foot villa.
00:14:28.775 --> 00:14:36.451
Ron shared on his Facebook page, C arleton Villa, a virtual walkthrough.
00:14:36.451 --> 00:14:57.261
The original architectural drawing of the villa no longer exists, so they used technology by using a 3D drone to scan the exterior and used a special 360 camera for the interior.
00:14:57.261 --> 00:15:11.240
This allowed them to create a 3D model, a floor plan and an elevation drawing which included a 360 walkthrough.
00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:27.298
I'll share the Carleton Villa links in my show notes on my N earest A nd D earest P odcast website and you will also have access to the links from wherever you listen to podcasts.
00:15:27.298 --> 00:15:35.029
I'm excited to meet Ron and Janaina in person very soon.
00:15:35.029 --> 00:15:36.793
We have been staying in touch.
00:15:36.793 --> 00:15:41.826
I want to interview them for my
next episode in this series.
00:15:41.826 --> 00:16:00.279
I'm hoping to take our boat over and get a chance to walk around the property and learn more about their plans, which have included restoring the villa with a possible bed and breakfast inn and restaurant.
00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:15.432
When I first met Woody back in the summer of 2012, I remember going out on his boat named Kn ot For Sail, there's a play on words with the spelling K-N-O-T-S-A-I-L.
00:16:15.432 --> 00:16:26.932
It's a 1974 Thompson 21-foot fishing boat that he modified by himself into a pleasure boat.
00:16:26.932 --> 00:16:30.138
His Aunt J ulia left the boat to him.
00:16:30.138 --> 00:16:37.095
She knew he would take great care and keep it at camp to use for family and friends.
00:16:37.095 --> 00:16:44.250
So that summer I'm out on the boat and we are cruising around Carleton Island.
00:16:44.250 --> 00:16:50.419
It's my first time experiencing both the boat and the island up close.
00:16:50.419 --> 00:17:03.331
You can see the villa from our riverfront property, but seeing it from the advantage point by boat, strolling by, was fascinating.
00:17:03.331 --> 00:17:08.420
I remember thinking it looks like a haunted castle.
00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:22.000
I felt sad for the villa that was deteriorating and wondered if anyone was going to try and save this historical landmark.
00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:32.279
Woody shared with me some of the history he heard from coming up to camp with his family about the villa and the O ld F ort.
00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:43.339
He has memories of seeing the last of the old chimney stacks that once stood where the O ld F ort was built near North Bay.
00:17:43.339 --> 00:18:01.400
Part of our boating on the St Lawrence River includes taking the boat around Carleton Island and, if the wind conditions are right, we will ride into North Bay just around the bend, at the head of the island.
00:18:01.400 --> 00:18:11.545
Sometimes our friends will join us and we tie the boats together and enjoy the shallow water for swimming and relaxing.
00:18:11.545 --> 00:18:17.877
It's absolutely one of my favorite boating outings to do.
00:18:17.877 --> 00:18:27.298
It's nostalgic for me because I always look forward to seeing Carleton Island so close.
00:18:32.386 --> 00:18:34.269
It's like visiting an old friend who is welcoming me back every year.
00:18:34.269 --> 00:18:40.038
The summers go by so very fast every year, faster and faster.
00:18:40.038 --> 00:19:10.936
It's a chance to slow down, put all your worries away and truly enjoy the natural surroundings the river offers, the massive ships that come and go around the island, sailboats that glide by with their sails fluttering in the wind, children enjoying being dragged on tubes, hearing their laughter and just being in the moment.
00:19:10.936 --> 00:19:25.278
The views and opinions expressed by Nearest A nd Dearest Podcast are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Nearest A nd Dearest Podcast.
00:19:25.278 --> 00:19:32.256
Any content provided by Julie Rogers or any other authors are of their opinion.
00:19:32.256 --> 00:19:42.675
They are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything.
00:19:42.675 --> 00:19:43.746
Thank you.