Kimball's Castle gone!

[Fargo]

We were just enjoying a nice lunch and I looked off in the distance, Kimball's Castle has been torn down. I'm going to miss seeing it.

[RailroadJoe]

Did any one get photos of the demolition?

[Fargo]

I just got the binoculars out. The castle is still standing! Must have been hiding in the shadows. So sorry to sound the alarm. Everyone back in their seats.

[Scott's Yott]

Need proof.....pic please

[Slickcraft]

There has been talk of demolition but I think just talk so far.

From the union leader in April:

GILFORD - The historic Kimball Castle, which was built at the end of the 19th century by the president of a large railroad company, is now a danger to the public and must be torn down or enclosed by fencing, town officials say.

"The walls are literally in danger of falling down," said Town Administrator Scott Dunn.

The castle, which was built on Lockes Hill on Belknap Point in 1895 by Concord and Montreal Railroad President Benjamin Ames Kimball, is not easily accessible to the public and was never a tourist site, town officials said.

It is listed in town records as a mansion with nearly 4,000 square feet of total living area and had a net assessed value of $311,600 in 2012.

Kimball family members hoped the castle would be preserved and not used for commercial purposes, according to the castle's website.

The town, which owned the castle for a period, created the Locke's Hill Nature Preserve on 260 acres and built hiking and skiing trails on it in the 1990s.

The castle and its remaining land were later sold, and it is now owned by Kimball Castle Properties, LLC of Nashua, according to town records.

Last week Dunn told the selectmen that the town's building inspector has determined that the structure is not safe, and said the owners must remedy the situation, as the castle has been vandalized and has frequent trespassers.

Selectmen agreed, and the owners are being notified of the decision. "It's been neglected, and it's not safe anymore for the people in the town of Gilford," he said.

According to the website, the castle and its property area has a spectacular view of Lake Winnipesaukee. It was built by 100 Italian stone masons with materials from England and Germany.

It took two years and $50,000 to complete the project, according to the site. "Along with incomparable views and acres of landscaped gardens, there are stone walls that weave around the property all the way to the water."

[Tagdot]

For sale $799,000 59 Lockes Hill Rd Gilford, NH 03249


http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...438?source=web

[BroadHopper]

Since the last heir died there have been a number of people that wanted to preserve the castle, but because of various restrictions on the property it could not happen.

Someone from Alvord Wildlife Sanctuary actually told my Dad that the granddaughter willed the castle 'to the birds'.

It is now too late and the current owner(s) is left holding the bag.

[Merrymeeting]

NHPR had a story on the castle today. It can be found/heard here,

http://www.nhpr.org/post/losing-land...e-be-torn-down

[dave603]

http://www.wmur.com/news/nh-news/his...f/-/index.html

[Lakesrider]

So why the weird stipulation to only be able to build a 40 room in or restaurant on that spot? Sounds strange. Why couldn't you just restore it and make it a home again?

[songkrai]

"No Kimball has lived in the castle since Benjamin Kimball's daughter-in-law died in 1960. She left the estate and about $400,000 to a charitable foundation, with the stipulation it create a nature preserve on the site and that the property not be used for commercial development."


Who got the $400,000 and what did they do with it?

[savethecastle]

I've started a campaign to raise funds to save the castle. There's power in numbers and small contributions by many can have a big impact. Let's do some castle saving!

Take a look at the campaign here:

http://http://igg.me/p/495186/x/779446

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by savethecastle

I've started a campaign to raise funds to save the castle. There's power in numbers and small contributions by many can have a big impact. Let's do some castle saving!

Take a look at the campaign here:

No offense, but why?

It's "unique", but is it really all that noteworthy?

Sorry, I just think too often people get hung up on old stuff just because it's old. The original owners basically crafted a sale that made it fundamentally impossible for anything practical to be done with it.

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by brk-lnt

No offense, but why?

It's "unique", but is it really all that noteworthy?

Sorry, I just think too often people get hung up on old stuff just because it's old. The original owners basically crafted a sale that made it fundamentally impossible for anything practical to be done with it.

Kind of like 60's era automobiles- not every "muscle car" is worth restoring/ keeping.

[HUH]

Wealthy folks building extravagant homes on hilltops with a view of the lake.
This concept intrigues me.