Wilson Castle facts for kids
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The Dutch neo-renaissance gable and Romanesque Revival porte-cochere in front of Wilson Castle
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| Location | 2708 West Street Proctor, Vermont |
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| Type | Historic house museum |
Wilson Castle is an amazing old mansion in Proctor, Vermont. It was built way back in 1885. This castle looks unique because it mixes many cool building styles from the 1800s. You can see parts that look like Dutch, Scottish, and Roman buildings. Today, it is a house museum. You can visit it from late May until late October. There is a small fee to get in.
Contents
History of Wilson Castle
Building a Dream Home
The castle was built by a doctor named John Johnson. He was from Vermont. His wife was from England. They spent almost eight years planning and building this huge house. It cost a lot of money, about $1,300,000 back then! Dr. Johnson met his wife while he was studying medicine in England. He even hired English architects to help design the castle. They also built 18 other buildings on the property.
Sadly, the Johnsons did not live in the castle for very long. After Mrs. Johnson passed away, Dr. Johnson could not afford the taxes or the upkeep. The castle was taken back by the bank. Many of the valuable antiques and items were sold off. Some were even taken by people who had not been paid for their work. Locals started calling the castle "Johnson's Folly." This meant it was a big, expensive mistake.
New Owners and a Radio Station
From the 1880s until 1939, the castle changed owners 16 times! That's a lot of different families. In 1939, a man named Herbert Lee Wilson bought the estate. He was a pioneer in early AM radio. Mr. Wilson even started a radio station, WHWB (AM), right in the castle's stable!
During World War II, Wilson joined the United States Army Signal Corps. He retired in the 1950s as a colonel. Colonel Wilson passed away in 1981. He left the castle to his daughter. She passed away in 2009. Five generations of the Wilson family have lived in the castle since 1939. The castle has been open for tours since 1962, letting visitors explore its history.
What's Inside Wilson Castle?
Exploring the Castle's Design
Wilson Castle sits on a huge property of about 115 acres. The house itself has 32 rooms spread across three floors. The outside walls are made of English brick and French marble. It has a very fancy design. You can see 19 special arches, 84 stained glass windows, and two tall towers. There are also cool battlements and a balcony.
Inside, the castle has 13 fireplaces. These fireplaces are decorated with beautiful tiles from other countries and bronze. The furniture includes old items from Asia and Europe. You can also see statues, Chinese scrolls, and fancy oriental rugs. The property also has a large greenhouse, called an orangery, and a place for birds, called an aviary.
See also
In Spanish: Palacio Wilson para niños
