Carcassonne Castle facts for kids
Carcassonne Castle is a large and impressive house located in Marblehead, Massachusetts, United States. It was built in 1935 by Lydia Pinkham Gove, who was the granddaughter of a famous businesswoman named Lydia Pinkham. This amazing house has three stories and 23 rooms, and it's made of strong granite. Later, in the 1970s and 80s, it was owned by George A. Butler, who was known for hosting many exciting parties there.
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Building Carcassonne Castle
How the Castle Was Built
Building Carcassonne Castle happened during a tough time in history called The Great Depression. This was a period when many people didn't have jobs. Lydia Pinkham Gove decided to build the castle, and by doing so, she helped many skilled workers find employment.
The materials used to build the castle came from all over the world!
- Strong granite stones were brought from the South Shore of Massachusetts.
- Wood for the castle came from far-off places like Australia, Mexico, Venezuela, and Africa.
- Beautiful marble was also imported from different countries around the world.
The castle cost about $500,000 to build, which was a huge amount of money back then. President Franklin D. Roosevelt even praised Lydia Pinkham Gove for helping so many unemployed craftsmen get work. The Gourdeau Construction Co. from Hamilton, Massachusetts was in charge of building this grand castle.
Inside Carcassonne Castle
What the Castle Looks Like Inside
Carcassonne Castle has a special design with three levels that are balanced around a central round tower. It has a total of 23 rooms and 11 bathrooms! Almost every room in the castle has a wonderful view of the ocean.
The castle also features:
- Seven cozy fireplaces.
- A cool salt-water swimming pool.
The entire property covers about 2.5 acres of land, which includes 307 feet of private ocean beachfront. Imagine having your own beach!
Who Owned Carcassonne Castle?
Guido Rugo's Time at the Castle
On August 15, 1949, a man named Guido Rugo bought Carcassonne Castle from Lydia Pinkham Gove's family for $50,000. The Rugo family enjoyed hosting events there. For example, in 1954, they welcomed 500 guests to celebrate Archbishop Richard J. Cushing's 59th birthday.
The Rugos sold the house in 1964. After that, it changed hands a couple more times before George A. Butler bought it in 1973.
George A. Butler's Ownership
In 1972, George A. Butler, who was famous for distributing Toyota cars in New England, became the owner of Carcassonne Castle. He filled the castle with many unique and interesting items. Imagine seeing:
- A jewelry box made from an ostrich egg!
- An impala skeleton.
- A painting of the famous boxer Muhammad Ali, signed by Ali himself.
Butler also added some cool features to the castle, like a private helipad (for helicopters), a small movie theater, and four levels of beautiful gardens.
Parties and Charity Events
George A. Butler loved to host parties at Carcassonne Castle, especially for good causes. He held many benefit parties to raise money for charities like the Boston Children's Hospital.
One of the most famous events was the annual "Pique-Nique au Bord de Mer" (which means "picnic by the sea"). This event raised money for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston. Many famous people attended these picnics, including:
- Joan Bennett Kennedy
- Basketball star John Havlicek
- Olympic hockey hero Mike Eruzione
- And many other well-known figures from sports and news.
In 1980, the famous musician Peter Duchin even performed at the event. Butler also hosted fundraisers for political parties.
Butler sold Carcassonne Castle in 1982. He said he sold it because the dampness in the house made his asthma worse, and the small windows didn't give him a good view of the ocean. He and his wife then moved to a smaller house just a few doors down the street.
Later Owners of the Castle
After Butler, a developer named William Lilly bought Carcassonne Castle for $1 million. Later, in 1991, the property faced financial difficulties and was taken over by a bank. It was then sold by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation at a special auction. At that time, the castle was valued at $3.4 million.
In 1992, the Gianatasio family became the new owners of Carcassonne Castle. They gave the grand mansion a big makeover, making sure it continued to be a beautiful and impressive home.
42°29′57.4″N 70°50′5.9″W / 42.499278°N 70.834972°W
