| The origin of 1000 Island
Dressing is related to George Boldt, one-time owner of the
Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York and of the Bellevue-Stratford
in Philadelphia.
Legend has it that while cruising aboard
his yacht amongst the 1000 Islands on the St. Lawrence River, as
his steward prepared luncheon, he discovered that some of the
ingredients normally used in his dressings were not available.
He prepared a dressing using a variety
of ingredients which George Boldt found so pleasing that he
decided to have it served in his hotels. It was called 1000
Island Dressing in honour of the beautiful area where it was
first prepared. The steward was promoted to work at the Waldorf
Astoria and subsequently rose to international fame as Oscar of
the Waldorf.
The story of 1000 Island Dressing is
inextricably associated with the romance of Boldt
Castle the palatial Rhenish structure perched atop Heart
Island in the 1000 Islands.
Boldt Castle
Brief
History. . .
At the turn-of-the-century,
George C. Boldt, millionaire proprietor of the world famous
Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, set out to build a full
size rhineland castle in Alexandria Bay, on picturesque Heart
Island. The grandiose structure was to be a display of his love
for his wife, Louise.
Beginning in 1900, Boldt's
family shared four glorious summers on the island in the Alster
Tower while 300 workers including stonemasons, carpenters, and
artists fashioned the six story, 120 room castle, complete with
tunnels, a powerhouse, Italian gardens, a drawbridge, and a dove
cote. Not a single detail or expense was spared.
In 1904, tragedy struck. Boldt
telegraphed the island and commanded the workers to immediately
"stop all construction." Louise had died suddenly. A broken
hearted Boldt could not imagine his dream castle without his
beloved. Boldt never returned to the island, leaving behind the
structure as a monument of his love.
For 73 years, the castle and
various stone structures were left to the mercy of the wind,
rain, ice, snow and vandals. When the Thousand Islands Bridge
Authority acquired the property in 1977, it was decided that
through the use of all net revenues from the castle operation it
would be preserved for the enjoyment of future generations.
Since 1977, several million
dollars have been applied to rehabilitating, restoring and
improving the Heart Island structures.
George Boldt
George Boldt was born April 25, 1851, in Prussia. When
George was 13, he left Germany for the New World.
He first worked in restaurants and hotels in New York City, but
later left to take up farming in Texas. Farming didn't work
for him, in 1871 he moved to NY.
After working in New York for a while, he moved to Philadelphia
where he met Louise Kehrer. They married on June 14,
1877. Two children were born, George Charles Jr. born 1879
and Louise "Clover", born 1883.
George became more successful in the hotel business, eventually
managing several hotels, including the Waldorf-Astoria in New
York City and the Bellevue-Stratford in Philadelphia.
George Boldt died December 5, 1916, in New York City. |
