Boldt Castle: The Ongoing Restoration of an Abandoned Labor of Love

Hayles and Howe, Inc. have been contracted by the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority for the third time to replicate and install decorative plasterwork in Boldt Castle, located on Heart Island in the St. Lawrence River near Alexandria Bay, NY. Because work can only be in progress when there is no ice on the river, the plaster restoration in this historic castle happens in yearly warm-season phases. The plasterers at Hayles and Howe have replicated and installed plaster cornices in Mr. Boldt’s Suite as phase one; in Mrs. Boldt’s Suite and Bathroom as phase two; and in early June as phase three, they installed replicated cornices in Miss Boldt’s Suite, Miss Boldt’s Reception Room and the large corridor into which the aforementioned rooms open. Building of the 6-story, 120-room edifice was begun in the early 1900’s by George Boldt for his wife Louise, who died suddenly during its construction. Upon Mrs. Boldt’s death, construction was halted, and the castle stood vacant until 1977 when it was acquired by the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority. The castle was opened to the public and the revenues from the castle operations have provided for the building’s restoration.
George Boldt was the proprietor of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. His castle, meant to be a display of love for his wife, stands among the Thousand Islands as a monument to architectural grandeur and as a gift of beauty to its many visitors. More information about the castle can be found on the website at http://www.boldtcastle.com/. Hayles and Howe is pleased and proud to be a part of this generous project.

Westminster Abbey Boss

Above is an image of a plaster cast boss from Westminster Abbey. The photograph was taken by Henry Bedford Lemere. The original albumen print is in the A. D. White Architectural Photographs colection at the Cornell University Library.

Below is an image of one of our ceiling rose centers. A smaller and less intricate version of the boss above, it still holds the same ideas in design and technique.

They’re extinct. We’re not!!

It seems many persons believe that traditional plasterers no longer exist. They seem to think plastering is a lost trade. I can’t tell you the number of times that when I tell someone I work for an ornamental plastering company, they say to me in reply “There aren’t any people that do that intricate detailed work any more.” Well, we here at Hayles and Howe do just that and can help anyone with finishes for homes or commercial buildings. We can make old plaster look new, or we can design for new construction “from scratch.”

Here is a list and some images of the kinds of work “no one does anymore,” but is still done right here at Hayles and Howe, Inc.

Architectural & Ornamental Plaster
Cornice Moldings
Ceiling Medallions
Wall Friezes and Ceiling Plates
Corbels and Brackets
Decorative Panels
Jacobean Strapwork Ceilings
Domes
Fire Surrounds
Columns
Enrichments
Scagliola

Flat work:
3-coat plaster on wood, rock or metal lath
2- coat veneer plaster
Venetian plaster and other Italian plasters
Clay plaster for LEED projects
Any specialty troweled finish
Acoustical plaster

Hayles and Howe Inc. Sponsors Preservation Events

In late May and early June, Hayles and Howe, Inc. have sponsored two significant events for local historic preservation organizations. On May 20th and 21st, Preservation Maryland held its annual Preservation and Revitalization Conference in Easton, Maryland. The yearly conference features notable speakers, workshops, classes and exhibitions related to all aspects of historic preservation. This year, Hayles and Howe, Inc. supported this useful and informative event as bronze level sponsors. On June 11, Baltimore Heritage celebrated 50 years of preserving Baltimore’s beautiful historically significant architecture and noteworthy sites with a gala held at the Garrett-Jacobs House on Mount Vernon Place in Baltimore City. Hayles and Howe were pleased and proud to sponsor the gala and to celebrate this organization. As plaster and scagliola restoration and conservation specialists, Hayles and Howe welcome opportunities to promote and thank non-profit organizations such as Preservation Maryland and Baltimore Heritage for their devotion to restoring and preserving beloved Maryland and Baltimore landmarks and for their recognition and appreciation of the skills of the artisans at Hayles and Howe, Inc. who have had a part in restoring many of the venerable interiors within those landmarks.

Expanding our Brand

With its solidly-established foundation of gypsum plasterwork experience throughout the United States, Hayles and Howe, Inc. is always open to new and modern ways to utilize the skills of its master craftspersons. The company is a certified installer of two “green” plaster systems in response to the demand for more environmentally-friendly building materials which can contribute LEED points to building projects. American Clay Plaster us a non-toxic plaster finish utilizing local clays, earth pigments and re-cycled aggregates. It is shipped in re-usable bags, and comes in a wide array of beautiful colors. It can be applied in commercial or residential settings, and helps to regulate heating, cooling, and air quality by means of its moisture retention and release. BaswaPhon is a mineral-based sound-absorbing panel and plaster system which is effective in large public spaces. It can be implemented in historic buildings as well as newly constructed ones.

Image of BASWAphon vaulted ceiling installed by Hayles and Howe

Hayles and Howe, Inc. is proud of its beginnings in England, equally proud of its establishment and development in the United States, and looks forward to further expansion in the American market.