The
College of New Rochelle Receives Gift of
Leland Related Materials
In 2008, Coordinator of General Services at The College of New
Rochelle, Amy Hagerty, and a local history buff, found an
interesting lot of papers for sale on E-Bay. The items were
contracts and papers related to the construction of
Leland Castle dating from the mid-1850’s.
Amy recently donated these rare papers to the
Gill Library Archives. The 45 + items include bills by the
carpenter, Peter J. Shearwood, of New Rochelle (and first fire
chief of New Rochelle), and Andrew J. Garvey, the “Prince of
Plasterers.” Shearwood’s careful accounts note items like 172
pounds of nails for $7.74 and 10 1/2 days of work for $19.69;
$3.00 for a day and a half for use of a horse and mill. Garvey
charged $18 for the plaster pendants in the entrance hall going
up the stairs. Most of Garvey’s work has disappeared; decorative
plaster easily falls off water damaged ceiling. Fire damage in
1897 necessitated extensive repairs and painting.
Shearwood’s papers reveal that the paneling and wood work within
Leland Castle (such as the fire pieces, shutters, mantels, and
ornate cornices in the Gothic Revival Library and Renaissance
Revival Dining room and elsewhere) were done by other craftsmen.
We can see his drawings for the door frames still extant. Also
of interest are the drawings of the exterior cornices, gables,
turret, and other wooden “devices” which still exist. Some of
the deteriorating wooden exterior decorations were replaced in
the 1940’s by galvanized iron replicas.
Look at the illustration from an 1865 article from
Frank
Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper seen here:
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and compare the illustrations with photographs of the Castle
taken as long ago as a century or more recently.
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The first floor rooms remain essentially unchanged. The “long
parlor” extension dates to 1899; the north wing which now houses
the Castle Gallery and faculty offices was added in 1901.
When renovation work began in the 1970’s the Leslie illustration
was invaluable for selecting wallpapers and window treatments. A
great surprise was the discovery of an original “fresco” when
the wall paper was removed in the Library. Fresco painter, Henry
Youngling’s faux wall painting was then restored.
From the time Leland Castle was purchased by the Ursulines in
1897 to the present, the story of Simeon Leland’s home continues
to unfold. The Iselin family gave the nuns photographs of the
era when it was used as a hunt club and inn for elegant dinner
parties. It was then rented briefly as a public school and then
served as two private schools. The College purchased the Castle
from the Ursulines in 1972.
_______________________________________________________
The College of New Rochelle Archives is grateful for this
generous donation from Amy Hagerty.
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1856. Letter from Peter J. Shearwood to
Simeon Leland agreeing to carpentry work on the interior
and exterior of “your building in New Rochelle” for the sum of
$2,200.
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1856.
Drawings of octagonal front tower, battlements, and cornices
– still visible on the Castle.
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1856. Carpenter’s Specifications.
This contract, signed by Shearwood, Leland, and the architect,
William T. Beers details the work agreed upon.
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Details are given to the size and measurements of the cornices,
battlements, and blocking on the exterior of the Castle. A
mystery as to the original use of the present red-tiled passage
room at the front is solved; it was a smoking room.
1858. List of items purchased by Shearwood:
cement, boards, timber.
Click to Enlarge
Different varieties of wood were used for different purposes.
Large pieces like cornices, frames, and brackets were to be
made, according to the Specifications of “clear seasoned white
pine.” From the dates of Shearwood’s papers, one can see that
construction of Leland Castle in deed took several years.
1859. Bill from Andrew J. Garvey
“Plain and Ornamental Plasterer,” to Simeon Leland for
$462.50 for interior plaster work.
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Library Bay window exterior.
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Notice the galvanized iron replacement crenellation above the
window. Inside, the windows still have original glazed, colored
sidelights and interior shutters.
Octagonal wood tower cap made by
Shearwood.
Click to Enlarge
This tower has often appeared on CNR promotional items. While
Leland was wealthy, he could not afford to have more expensive
stone carving (seen on ‘real’ castles) for the decorative
devices on his home. The painted items were a more economical
substitute.
October 21, 1865. “The Residence and Grounds of Simeon Leland,
Esq. At New Rochelle, N.Y.” article in Frank Leslie’s
Illustrated Newspaper. Both the images and article
have been invaluable in tracing the changes in the Castle’s
history. Compare similar restored rooms with those in the
illustration.
1897 Leland Castle when bought by Ursulines.
Notice that the original porte cochere , roof over the
front Music Room porch, and greenhouse are missing. About 1890,
Adrian Iselin developed the Leland estate into
Residence Park with
streets and houses on the original 40 acres.
1881.
Queens County Hounds and the New Rochelle Coach “Talley Ho” at
Castle Inn.
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In 1881 Adrian Iselin, Jr. and his wealthy friends leased the
Castle for an inn. The men built a polo field where Brescia is
located and went fox hunting in northern New Rochelle. The local
farmers were annoyed, and the inn and club gave up their lease
in 1882. Adrian Iselin, Jr. bought the property in 1884.
1881. “Talley Ho” Coach at Castle Inn.
Elegant dinners were held in the Castle for New York’s
elite who drove to New Rochelle and other estates in DeLancey
Kane’s (brother-in-law of Iselin) coach.
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This cartoon shows Andrew J. Garvey
appearing as a surprise witness at the 1877 trial of corrupt
Tammany Party leader.
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William
“Boss” Tweed. Garvey had billed the city of NY over $133,000 for
two days’ work on the Tweed courthouse.
Peter J. Shearwood, carpenter and first New Rochelle fire chief.
Click to Enlarge
Postcard, ca. 1906 shows the 1899
addition to Leland Castle. This was joined to the new Chapel in
1923.
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Postcard, ca. 1915 shows the back
of the Castle and its 1901 wing. The rear tower was struck by
lightning in 1926 and the wooden turret was destroyed.
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Portrait of Simeon Leland (Center) and his brothers who were
successful hotel executives in the mid-nineteenth century.
Simeon (1816-1872).
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“ Castle View” was built c.
1855-1859 and was lavishly furnished.
Sadly, Leland died bankrupt;
the Civil War had temporarily devastated the hotel industry in
Manhattan
