Wilson Castle is a nineteenth century estate located at Proctor

Proctor, Vermont

-Notable people:* Bernard Joseph Flanagan, bishop* F. Ray Keyser, governor of Vermont* Frank Charles Partridge, senator* Fletcher Dutton Proctor, governor of Vermont* Mortimer Robinson Proctor, governor of Vermont...

 in the U.S. state of Vermont

Vermont

Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...

. The house was built in 1867 in a mix of nineteenth century architectural styles including Dutch neo-renaissance, Scottish baronial

Scottish baronial style

The Scottish Baronial style is part of the Gothic Revival architecture style, using stylistic elements and forms from castles, tower houses and mansions of the Gothic architecture period in Scotland, such as Craigievar Castle and Newark Castle, Port Glasgow. The revival style was popular from the...

, Queen Anne, and Romanesque Revival. It is now operated as a house museum and is open late May until late October for an admission fee.

History

The house was built by Vermont-born John Johnson, a physician, and his English wife. Planning and construction of the house lasted for nearly eight years, and cost $1,300,000. Johnson met his wife in England while studying medicine, and he employed at least two English architects in the design of the house and its eighteen outbuildings. The Johnsons remained in the house only briefly. The castle was repossessed when Mrs. Johnson died, and Dr. Johnson was unable to afford taxes or maintenance. Antiques and valuables were auctioned off or taken by unpaid employees and locals began to call the castle "Johnson's Folly."

From the 1880s until 1939, the property changed hands four times. In 1939, Herbert Lee Wilson, a pioneer in the AM radio

AM broadcasting

AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...

 field, purchased the estate and created radio station WHWB-AM in its stable. Wilson joined the United States Army Signal Corps

United States Army Signal Corps

The United States Army Signal Corps develops, tests, provides, and manages communications and information systems support for the command and control of combined arms forces. It was established in 1860, the brainchild of United States Army Major Albert J. Myer, and has had an important role from...

 during the Second World War

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, and retired in the 1950s with the rank of Colonel

Colonel

Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...

. He died in 1981 and left the estate to his daughter, who lives in the old servants' quarters. Five generations of the Wilson family have lived at the house since 1939. The house has been open for tours since 1962. Part of the estate is owned by the Wilson Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.

Characteristics

Set on 115 acre (0.4653889 km²) of grounds, the house contains 32 rooms on 3 stories. Its facade

Facade

A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....

 is built of English brick and French marble in a fanciful architecture with 19 proscenium

Proscenium

A proscenium theatre is a theatre space whose primary feature is a large frame or arch , which is located at or near the front of the stage...

 arches, 84 stained glass

Stained glass

The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...

 windows, 2 turrets, parapet, and balcony. Its interior includes 13 fireplaces finished with imported tiles and bronze. Furnishings include Asian and European antiques, statuary

Statue

A statue is a sculpture in the round representing a person or persons, an animal, an idea or an event, normally full-length, as opposed to a bust, and at least close to life-size, or larger...

, Chinese scrolls, and oriental rug

Oriental rug

An authentic oriental rug is a handmade carpet that is either knotted with pile or woven without pile.By definition - Oriental rugs are rugs that come from the orient...

s. The property also has a large orangerie (glass house) and an aviary

Aviary

An aviary is a large enclosure for confining birds. Unlike cages, aviaries allow birds a larger living space where they can fly; hence, aviaries are also sometimes known as flight cages...

.

External links

• Wilson Castle