Kimball Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Kimball Castle
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The castle in 2018
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | Locke's Hill Rd., Gilford, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 13 acres (5.3 ha) |
| Built | 1894 |
| Architectural style | Shingle Style, Medieval Castle |
| NRHP reference No. | 82001666 |
| Added to NRHP | August 16, 1982 |
Kimball Castle is an old, fancy house that looks like a medieval castle. It is located on a tall hill in Gilford, New Hampshire, United States. From the castle, you can see beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee. A rich man named Benjamin Ames Kimball built it as his summer home.
Benjamin Kimball was a very important person in the railroad business. He started building the castle and other buildings in 1894. He used it as his summer getaway until he passed away in 1920. The castle was built by skilled Italian stonemasons. They used strong granite from the local area. They also brought in special materials from Europe. Building the castle cost about $50,000 back then.
Contents
The Castle's History
Benjamin Kimball's Summer Home
Benjamin Ames Kimball was a director for many railroad companies. These companies operated in the area around New Hampshire. He wanted a special place for his summers. So, he decided to build a grand estate. The castle was designed to look like old medieval castles.
The original estate was very large, about 300 acres. That's like 225 football fields! Today, some of this land has been divided. But a lot of it is still protected as conservation land. This means it's kept natural for wildlife and people to enjoy.
A Special Gift for Nature
In 1960, Charlotte Kimball passed away. She was Benjamin Kimball's daughter-in-law. She was the last family member to own the estate. In her will, Charlotte made a very kind gift. She gave the land to the Mary Mitchell Humane Foundation. Her wish was for the property to be a safe place for wildlife. It was meant to be a preserve and sanctuary for animals.
However, after Charlotte's death, some problems happened. The money meant to care for the property went missing. The foundation tried to sell the entire estate. During this time, the castle and buildings were not cared for. They became damaged by people breaking in and causing harm.
Protecting Charlotte's Wishes
A group of people from the community became very worried. They were led by a person named Sandra McGonagle. They asked the New Hampshire Attorney General's office for help. An investigation started to find out what happened to the missing money.
As a result of this, a court ordered a solution. The town of Gilford was asked to take over. They became the new managers of Charlotte's estate. Their job was to make sure her wishes were followed. This meant protecting the land for wildlife.
Kimball Castle Today
Conservation Land and Private Property
The town of Gilford took over in 1981. They studied how best to follow Charlotte's wishes. They decided to divide the land. A part of the land, including the castle, was sold to a private owner. The money from this sale helped replace the missing funds. It also helped the town manage the remaining land.
The rest of the land, about 280 acres, became a conservation area. This area has many hiking trails. These trails are open to the public. You can find the parking lot and trailhead on New Hampshire Route 11. This is a great place to explore nature.
The Castle's Current Status
The castle and its other buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This means they are important historical sites. However, the 20.1 acres where the castle stands is now private property. There are "No Trespassing" signs, and it is not open to the public.
Sadly, the castle is not safe anymore. The town of Gilford has said it is unsafe. They have told the owners to keep it fenced off. This is to make sure no one gets hurt. The owners are required to keep it fenced until they take the castle down.
