The Gillette Castle: A Salvager's Dream

I was in New Haven recently, conducting a modified version of the TRP 14-day training workshop, "An Introduction to Deconstruction." On the weekend I discovered the salvager's ultimate residential treasure trove -- the Gillette Castle, named for its creator, William Gillette (1853-1937), the famous American actor, director and producer who brought Sherlock Holmes to life on the world stages.

Completed in 1919, this magnificent, 24-room house sits on 184 wooded acres high on a bluff above the Connecticut River near the historic town of East Haddam. The castle's superstructure is of steel, and all exterior walls are made from local fieldstone. Twenty-five craftsmen spent four years building it.

In addition to a being a great actor, Gillette was an engineering genius. While still in high school he designed several undercarriages for the railroad. Later, while living in the castle, he designed two narrow gauge locomotives (one electric, the other steam). The engines (and the cars they pulled) ran on tracks over trestles and through tunnels designed by Gillette. The tracks are no longer there, but with a little imagination one can imagine the twists and turns along the old 3.2 mile roadbed over which he ran the trains at the breakneck speed of 20 miles per hour.

Gillette's creativity extended to the theater. He was the first person to design devises that simulated the sounds of falling rain and hoof beats.

Photos cannot do justice to the revolutionary details Gillette built into the castle, but I snapped a few. To see the slide show, click here. Generator-powered electricity flowed throughout the castle; it was connected to the local utility in later years. The home was protected from fire by a water suppression system -- gravity fed from a large cistern-like tank on the roof -- and heated by a hot water and boiler system that was monitored and automatically replenished. The windows are wood casement with wood opening/latching mechanisms. No two of the 40-plus doors (I lost count) are the same.

The woodwork, exquisitely carved and crafted, is made of southern white oak. Large fabric panels and natural fiber mats are built into the walls of every room, corridor and stairwell. Attractive art pieces in their own right, the mats serve to deaden the sound of footsteps and voices, which would otherwise resonate throughout the cavernous structure.

A set of mirrors in the great room allowed Gillette to preview visitors from the sanctuary of his upper-floor quarters before deciding whether to go down and greet them. A second set of mirrors enabled him to watch with amusement as visitors attempted to help themselves to his abundant stock of liquor, where a hidden lock mechanism regularly stymied their efforts to open the bar.

Gillette reportedly spent $1 million constructing the castle, including the railroad, out buildings, several miles of walking trails and a large pond. In 1943 his heirs sold the entire complex to the State of Connecticut, which refurbished the house to its original grandeur and opened it to the public. If you visit, take a picnic lunch and plan to spend three to four hours. You can get there by car via the East Haddam swing bridge, on the steam train running north from Essex, or by car from routes 9 and 148. Some methods require a final leg on the Chester ferry, which accommodates up to nine cars and 45 people.

Two-day Workshop Agenda

Day 1 (Classroom): Safety • Tools • Equipment • Layout of jobsite • Sequence of work • Deconstruction techniques • Layered materials • Debris handling • Maintaining salvage values• Handling & shipping • Successful bidding

Day 2 (Jobsite): Jobsite inspection and layout • Identifying materials to be salvaged • Removal and handling • Identifying materials for recycling • Location and use of local recycling centers • Bid preparation • Final wrap-up

2010 Reuse Contest
Our 2008 and 2009 reuse contests were so successful that we've decided to sponsor the competition annually. Every entrant receives a $25 gift certificate, and winners receive additional gift certificates worth up to $225 at TRP warehouses. Click here for more information and contest rules.

Special Events Reminder

• West Coast Green. October 1-3, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco. This is one of the big Northern California green shows. TRP has participated for several years and will be there again this year. www.westcoastgreen.com

	The Oakland warehouse has just received a new shipment of windows, plus a load of beautiful 30" and 36" vanities.	Great Lumber
	The Los Angeles (Pacoima) warehouse just received two great Subzero refrigerator/freezers. Come in and see them -- they won't last long!	Kitchen Appliances
	New inventory at our partnering warehouses:
	Rebuilding Exchange, Chicago: Brand new sconce lights, still in the box for $5; custom benches made from reclaimed lumber -- great for patio or backyard.
	The Away Station, Fairfax CA: 11 truckloads of assorted hardware and lumber from the closing of a major San Rafael lumber store, including lots of 2x6 Douglas fir, trims, moldings, ductwork and fittings, hardware in packages, and shelving systems. Habitat ReStores, Orange County CA: patio furniture and umbrellas; 8-foot Anderson entry doors; new sets of kitchen cabinets arriving weekly.

Specials of the Month

At the Oakland warehouse we are featuring cabinets. Receive 25% off the purchase of any cabinet in the store through August 10.

At the Los Angeles (Pacoima) warehouse we are featuring bathroom vanities. Through August 10 receive 50% off on the purchase of any vanity from our great selection, including many newer vanities in a variety of sizes from 30" to 84" -- some featuring Kohler sinks and granite, marble, or tile tops.

Specials at our partnering warehouses:

• Habitat ReStores, Orange County CA: 25% off on all doors with a copy of this e-letter
• Habitat ReStore, Kansas City: 30% off on bathroom vanities with a copy of this e-letter.