I’ve just started reading The Distant Hours by Kate Morton. It’s a mysterious, alluring, mystical book. It’s about a castle and all of the secrets the lie inside it’s grand front entrance. I’ve just gotten to the part where the main character is beginning to discover the castle’s grandiose secrets. It’s a captivating tale.
I’ve always had an odd fascination with everything old. Historic homes, graveyards, antique furniture, even vintage clothing. People, places and things that often have, or are believed to have, occult qualities. I could get lost for hours at places like Casa Loma located in Toronto or Hearst Castle of San Simeon. These places are a feast for my eyes. I like inspecting the artifacts. I love learning about the secret passageways, and other-worldliness of the architecture, finances and personal lives of the creators of such extravagant places these folks called home. I’m easily attracted to movies like Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. For the castle is just as mysterious and romantic as the true-life ones. So what if it’s a cartoon? It’s beautiful, grand, and extra-ordinary just the same.
When my husband and I became engaged, I desired nothing less than to be married in a historical and enigmatic locale. I scoured the internet and brochures from places like those listed above, Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in Akron, Ohio, even Squire’s Castle, which is nothing more than a small reminder of what could have been. There’s something alluring, wondrous and exciting about these wonderful historical landmarks.
To be quite honest, I think one of the most interesting piece of the puzzle of all these different, beautiful, historic, marvelous places, is the one fact that the families are not in control of these amazing estates. Scores of volunteers and donors are what keep these beauties alive today. The joy of creating such resplendent quarters, and then the subsequent confusion and grief upon watching their dreams and finances disintegrate and die right before their eyes must have been truly unfathomable. I’m sure not one of the original owners ever anticipated what their fate would bring. I suppose it’s of some importance to note that most of these wondrous structures were built around a time of great wealth and ultimate economic depression. But I also think that in many cases the spending was impetuous and hasty. A race to show the world who had the most, who could spend the most, and ultimately, who could lose the most. A hard lesson to learn. One that seems hopelessly lost upon their future generations.
But even so, I still cannot escape the longing and curiosity I feel when I’m near, or even thinking about, one of these now-ghostly structures. The castle of my interest does not even need to be a castle in the physical sense. A historic location will do just fine to pique my curiosity and keep me following a trail of cookie crumbs to my next clue.
I hope my book remains as enchanting as it has set itself up to be. I can’t wait to lose myself to the secrets and stories of a lost generation again.
beautybookcasa lomacastlehearst castlekate mortonmysteryreadingsan simeonsquire's castlestan hywetthe distant hours
