A Millionaire’s Farm Cottage?

George Boldt's Wellesley House stood as a reminder of the grandeur and ambition of the Gilded Age. While often overshadowed by the more renowned Boldt Castle on Heart Island, Wellesley House offered a fascinating glimpse into the life and legacy of the hotel magnate George C. Boldt.

In the late 19th century, George C. Boldt, the proprietor of New York City's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel and Philadelphia's Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, began acquiring land on Wellesley Island. His vision was to create a summer retreat that mirrored the opulence and sophistication of his urban establishments as well as provide for his hotels. 

By 1899, Boldt had purchased several hundred acres of farmland from the Cornwall brothers, laying the foundation for what would become the Wellesley House estate. Though Mrs. Boldt called it their “summer cottage,” it was no ordinary dwelling. During the building of Boldt Castle, George and Louise stayed in the Wellesley House, making it a centerpiece for Madison’s Mission. 

Wellesley House had over fifty rooms, the mansion featured intricate architectural details and was strategically positioned along a man-made canal between Wellesley Island and Tennis Island. This canal, a remarkable feat of engineering, was approximately two miles long, seventy feet wide, and ten feet deep, facilitating direct access to Lake Waterloo. The canal's construction involved extensive dredging and blasting through solid rock, reflecting Boldt's commitment to creating a seamless and luxurious environment.  

The Wellesley House estate was also a hub of agricultural innovation and social activity. Boldt established modern stables and raised high-quality stock, supplying his hotels with fresh produce and dairy products directly from his Wellesley Island farms. The estate eventually featured a golf course, tennis courts, and meticulously landscaped gardens, offering guests a plethora of recreational activities. 

Nearby the Wellesley House was the Boldt Yacht House on the northeastern shore of Wellesley Island. Completed in 1903, this shingle-style structure housed the Boldt family's fleet of yachts and boats. The yacht house is a beauty in itself with towering bay doors, a workshop for building racing launches, and accommodations for crew and staff. Today, it stands as the only remaining wooden yacht house of its kind and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Following the untimely death of Louise Boldt in 1904, construction on Boldt Castle ceased, and George Boldt's focus shifted to his Wellesley Island properties. The Wellesley House continued to serve as a cherished family retreat and a place for entertaining distinguished guests. Over the years, the estate changed hands but remained a symbol of the lavish lifestyle and visionary pursuits of George C. Boldt.  

ABOUT MADISON’S MISSION:

Step into the captivating world of Boldt Castle in 1903, where dreams are forged in the fires of adversity and love. Madison Murray, maid to Louise Boldt, harbors a singular mission—to care for her ailing mistress while hiding her own painful past. She meets Emmett O’Connor, but just as their relationship grows, tragedy shatters their world, and Madison is ensnared in a dangerous coverup. When Mrs. Boldt passes away, Madison is left reeling, can she move forward? Will Emmett forge a future alongside the woman who has captured his heart?

ABOUT SUSAN:

Susan G Mathis is an international award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands in upstate NY. Susan has been published more than thirty times in full-length novels, novellas, and non-fiction books. She has fourteen in her fiction line. Susan is also a published author of two premarital books, stories in a dozen compilations, and hundreds of published articles. Susan lives in Colorado Springs and enjoys traveling the world. Visit www.SusanGMathis.com/fiction for more.