Hammond Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Hammond Castle
|
|
 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 80 Hesperus Ave., Gloucester, Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Built | 1926-1929 |
| Architect | John Hays Hammond Jr. |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000298 |
| Added to NRHP | May 08, 1973 |
Hammond Castle is a unique building located right on the Atlantic coast. You can find it in the Magnolia area of Gloucester, Massachusetts. This amazing castle was built between 1926 and 1929. It was the home, laboratory, and museum of a brilliant inventor named John Hays Hammond Jr.. He was a pioneer in the study of remote control and held more than 400 patents!
The castle itself is a mix of old and new styles. It has parts that look like they are from the 15th, 16th, and 18th centuries. It sits high up on a rocky cliff, looking out over Gloucester Harbor. Today, the castle is open to visitors as the Hammond Castle Museum. Here, you can see Hammond's collection of ancient Roman, medieval, and Renaissance artifacts. There are also exhibits that tell the story of his life and his many inventions.
The Great Hall inside the castle has a very large pipe organ. This organ was used for concerts and recordings by famous organists. These included Richard Ellsasser and Virgil Fox, along with many other well-known artists. Hammond himself started building this instrument in the early 1920s, even before the castle was finished. Once the castle was ready, the organ was moved there. It was changed and improved many times over the years, especially in the 1940s, 1950s, 1970s, and 1980s. Sadly, the organ stopped working in 2004.
Contents
Building Hammond Castle
Designing a Dream Home
John Hays Hammond Jr. had a dream of living in a medieval-style castle. In 1923, he hired an architectural firm from Boston, Massachusetts, called Allen & Collens. They were tasked with designing his special home. The first idea was to build a tower house on his father's property, Lookout Hill.
Hammond's good friend, Leslie Buswell, was also building his own home nearby. Buswell told Hammond he was trying to make his house look like Chartres Cathedral. This cathedral has a very tall main section, about 121 feet high.
Changes to the Castle Plan
In 1924, Hammond decided he wanted a smaller castle. He asked for a new design that would reduce the height from 120 feet to 87 feet. The base of the castle would also be smaller, about 43 feet by 30 feet. However, he still wanted it to look like a tower house.
After his parents asked him to move from Lookout Hill, Hammond bought a new piece of land. This new spot was about a mile south, close to Norman's Woe Reef. A completely new design for the castle was then created. This final plan resulted in a castle that was a bit shorter, at 81 feet. But it had a much larger base, measuring 142 feet by 70 feet.
Castle Images
-
The front of the castle, showing its unique design.
-
The back of the castle, overlooking the water.
-
The impressive Great Hall inside Hammond Castle.
-
A survey map from 1926 with blueprints of the castle's first floor and laboratory.
-
A view of Hammond Castle from the southeast.
More Information
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Gloucester, Massachusetts
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Essex County, Massachusetts
See also
In Spanish: Castillo Hammond para niños
