The Casco Castle Years, Chapter 1, Introduction

From 1902 through 1911 John J. Turner was the superintendent of Casco Castle Park in South Freeport, Maine. He left behind quite an extensive collection of photographs and newspaper clippings so it will take some time to get this material posted.

Upon his resignation from Casco Castle Park in 1911, the following was reported in the Freeport Sentinel... On July 25th, 1902, while on a trip to Bar Harbor to lay out an estate there, he made the acquaintance of Mr. Amos F. Gerald, who engaged him to lay out Casco Castle Park where he has remained ever since.

Here is a flyer of the park as seen in its heyday.















Under entire new management
Casco Castle
(Fourteen miles east of Portland, Maine)
"It's Casco Castle, gem of the Coast and when you see it you'll say so yourself." This picturesque new hotel stands on a high bluff 120 feet above the sea and only 300 feet from the waters of beautiful Casco Bay, which surrounds it on three sides. The broken construction of the building with its battlements and towers, make cosey corners frequent. Wide verandas extend all the way around on the ground and second floors.

The rooms are all large, light and airy, high-studded and handsomely furnished, fitted with all modern conveniences, twenty with private baths, telephone and electric lights in every room. All windows are fitted with awnings and screens.

The grounds of this hotel contains 50 acres on the seashore, part of which is heavily wooded with fragrant pine trees. Where Nature has done so fine a job as at "Casco Castle," it can't be improved, but can be embellished, and this has been done by our landscape gardener, skillfully blending the natural with the artificial, producing results that are wholly pleasing. There is something interesting on every acre of the big garden. Greenhouses to visit, filled with rare and beautiful plants and flowers. Places to dream and read and through it all that tireless salty breeze from the sea just over the headland, mingled with the many spicy scents from the country side just beyond. The bridge, the castle, the tower, the ships and the sea, the garden and the flowers in the quiet nooks, so far from the bustle of work day life, make it seem like a page from some old history with a castle and its grounds indeed.

[Note: I believe the children pictured above are J.J. Turner's children, Arthur and Madeline. My family knew them as Uncle "Dirts" and Aunt "Bee." A third child, Albert Page Turner (my maternal grandfather), was not born until April 1907.]

A steel suspension bridge 306 feet long and 70 feet above the water connects the mainland with the castle grounds.

Recreation and Amusement
Billiard, pool, bowling.

Bathing, boating and fishing, electric launch and sailing yachts for trips to neighboring islands and the open sea. Fine fleet of row boats in connection with the house. Bathing beach pefectly safe for children with bath houses two minutes' walk from hotel.

The waters of the bay abound with fish of every kind. Here are the favorite grounds of the cod and haddock, the mackerel and cunner.

Deep sea fishing grounds distant only a half hour's sail, while close at hand are small fish in great variety.

Archery, lawn tennis court and croquet grounds, new this year. Golf on the links at Brunswick.

Beautiful trolley rides to Portland, Old Orchard Beach, Brunswick, Bath, Lewiston, Augusta and nearby towns of historic interest. Steamboat trips out amongst the 365 islands of beautiful Casco Bay twice daily. Many secluded walks and charming drives through this beautiful country. Unexcelled cuisine and orchestral music are two of the features of this house. The beautiful views from the dining room of the sea and country cannot be equalled by any hotel on the Atlantic Coast.

The table will be supplied with cream, eggs, butter, vegetables, etc. from our grounds, and fish, clams and lobsters from the waters of Casco Bay daily by our own fishermen; lambs, chickens and fowls from the nearby farms; and we use only the heaviest and choicest loins of Chicago Beef. The hotel is supplied with excellent water piped from a crystal spring two miles away. For location, beauty of scenery, sea on one side, country on other, looking inland to the White Mountains, and Mt. Washington in the distance, Casco Castle cannot be equalled by any hotel on the Maine Coast. Read what a guest says:

"I have visited all the principal resorts of the Country and the world, but this is the best of all. For once I have found a summer hotel prospectus that does not exaggerate, every word in this little book is true, and it doesn't tell it all - it can't be put on paper. I believe there is not spot on the Maine Coast where nature has done so much to make an ideal resort. It can't be described. You have to come and see it for yourself and breathe some of these fresh breezes, eat of the excellent food served and look at this magnificent country scenery - to know it all - and then it can't be adequately described in cold type."

Automobilists, come and enjoy a hot, cold or sea water bath to remove the dust of travel and rest yourself, while refreshing the inner-man on Broiled Live Lobsters just out of the sea, a planked steak, a fried chicken a la Maryland, a broiled chicken fresh killed or the best shore dinner in the world.

Mr. Charles Campbell with twelve years' experience in the leading hotels of this Country and Canada, whose record as caterer is well known has charge of the excellent cuisine.

How to Reach Casco Castle from New YorkBy train - via Worcester, Mass. and Rochester, N.H., through sleeping cars to Freeport, Maine, thence ten minutes by trolley to the Castle Grounds.

By boat - Maine Steamship Company from New Pier 32, East River to Portland, Maine, thence by Maine Central Railroad to Freeport and thence by trolley to Castle, or take Steamer Maquoit, of the Harpswell and Casco Bay Steamboat Line at Portland direct to Casco Castle, or else by trolley, electric cars leave Monument Square, head of Elm Street every half hour for Yarmouth connecting with cars for the Castle.
From BostonBy train - Boston & Maine and Maine Central, through express trains with parlor, dining and sleeping cars attached to Freeport, Maine, thence by trolley to the Castle, ten minutes ride.
By boat - Eastern Steamship Co., day or night, boat to Portland, thence either by steamer Maquoit, or trolley to Casco Castle.
From Toronto and MontrealCanadian Pacific or Grand Trunk Railroad or Yarmouth, Maine, thence by Maine Central, boat or trolley to the Castle. "It's Casco Castle, Gem of the Coast"
Come and see it for yourself.Rates, $2.50 to $4.00 per day    Weekly $17.50 upaccording to location of rooms, with or without private bath. Special rates for families or for long visit, also for months of June and September.

For terms, reservations and full particulars, address
L. W. COOK & CO., Lessees,
Casco Castle, South Freeport, Maine.
Charles Campbell, Manager.


Casco Castle today - Google Maps link


Other references:
The Story of Caso Castle - Freeport Historical Society
A Glimpse into Freeport's History - The Cryer Online