Day 17 July 6, 2022

Today was a fun day.  Weather started out chilly but ended sunny and low 70's.   We walked through town and headed to the Antique Boat Museum. Clayton is nice town with lots of little shops and restaurants. Last time we visited the museum was about 20 years ago.  

Made in Plattsburgh NY

Notice the name on the Elto sign  - Jerry Lacelle !!

New to us was a guided tour of the 106 foot houseboat, La Duchesse.  Not a very good photo, it is docked at the left side of the building.

Many amenities and luxuries for the time.  Two fireplaces, 7 bedrooms (2 for the maid and cook), 3 bathrooms, a kitchen, dining room, parlor, ballroom/patio and beautiful woodwork everywhere.

Canvas ceilings with gold leaf decoration.

Andrew McNally was known for his many pairs of hand painted pants.

Steinway piano was found abandoned and in disrepair in the Boldt boat house and restored.  Not originally on the boat the space was occupied by bands to entertain guests.

Tiffany glass ceiling in the band/piano area.

Originally built by George Boldt (owner and builder of Boldt Castle) it passed through 2 other owners, Edward Noble (of LifeSaver Candy fame) and Andrew McNally (of Rand McNally).  Boldt had built the boat as a guest house but abandoned it and the castle when his wife died.  The boat deteriorated and sunk inside the boat house.  Noble bought the boat, repaired and restored it with plans to make it an attraction and business.  Later it was sold to McNally who used it as a summer home for his family on the St. Lawrence river.  The McNally's maintained and renovated the houseboat using it for about 50 years.  Upon Andrew McNally's death it was bequeathed to the museum.

While on the tour we met our Tug Bussle friends Jan and Russ, also doing the Loop. Nice surprise.  They traveled from Sacket's Harbor today to Clayton.  Loopers make many friends along the way, often together for only a day, to meet again somewhere along the way.  We shared some snacks and beer together at the Wood Boat Brewery.

We will be staying another day in Clayton to take the Boldt Castle tour and try to make arrangements for picking up our repaired set of propellers.