<i>La Duchesse</i>

From the Thousand Islands Sun, by the gracious permission of Jeanne Snow, editor, comes this description of La Duchesse:
Designed by Clinton Hoadley Crane, La Duchesse is one of the most unique vessels in the world. Built at the turn of the century, this 110-foot houseboat has such extraordinary features as an original stained glass skylight, gold leaf stenciling, bronze and marble fireplaces, and mahogany cabin accomodations.
La Duchesse is a 19th century-style houseboat that was built for George C. Boldt in 1903 or 1904. It was designed by Tams, LeMoine and Crane of New York City. Clinton Hoadley Crane was a partner in the firm. According to old newspaper articles, the original plan was to build the vessel in New York and have it towed to Alexandria Bay along the Barge Canal system. When it was discovered that the houseboat would be too large to be towed through the canals, this idea was abandoned and it was reportedly constructed in sections and shipped by rail to Alexandria Bay where it was assembled.
Mr. Boldt is reported to have lived on La Duchesse at the Yacht House while he was constructing his home on Wellesley Island. A slip was built for her on the east side of the Boldt Yacht House. The yacht, which has no propulsion, was often towed to various locations by the Queen, an 1897 50-foot steam tug that was built in Buffalo by J.B. Stouter.
After George Boldt died in1924, his river property was purchased by Edward John Noble and La Duchesse came under his care. It is reported to have served as the temporary headquarters of the Thousand Island Playhouse. In 1943, a pipe burst under one of the bathrooms and subsequently filled the hull with water faster than pumps chould expel it. The houseboat unceremoniously sank in the slip and came to rest on two sunken piers that added the indignity of piercing her hull.
According to the Oct. 7, 1943 article from the Thousand Islands Sun, "Perry Hazelwood, a Thousand Islands Park diver, was engaged in doing the underwater patching on the hull and plumbing system and Charles Garlock and Sons are in charge of the repair work.
"Mr. Hazelwood states that the first deck of the boat has sustained little damage considering the fact it has been under water for some time...The handsomely finished woodwork has been discolored by water and where veneer was used, the surface has been warped, the diver said."
Andrew McNally purchased the houseboat, which was successfully floated, and after repairs, eventually towed to Isle Royal. Andrew often told his children never to do what he did to his parents--and that is to have a 104-foot houseboat beached behind their summer home, where Betsy, Sandy and Teddy spent their summers as children.
In 1958 La Duchesse's mahogany hull was replaced by a steel hull designed by Glenn Furness of Hutchinson's Boat Works, and the houseboat's dimensions expanded to 110 feet in length, with a 26 -foot beam and a draft of 14 inches. According to a 2001 survey commissioned by the Antique Boat Museum, "the original house structure is intact and is of timber construction and is raised on a substantial steel welded combing to which it is securely bolted. The siding is Mahogany. The access doors are the original paneled doors with windows, and the Boldt insignia is on the brass hardware. The windows are of original installation and each one is fitted with an internal Plue Pullman blind with original hardware."
There are two decks. The aft end of the main deck has a large galley to starboard, two servants' cabins and one servant's bathroom to port. Ahead of the galley is a large dining-room, which spans the width of the houseboat. There is an exquisite working brass fireplace adorned with fire dogs, star fish and mythical dolphin motifs. The ceiling is white painted canvas and the paneling has been painted a plum color and provides a contrast to the maple deck. On aft, the port side of the dining room, there is an almost secret mahogany paneled stairway to the upper deck. Ahead of the dining room is a long hallway paneled with Philippine mahogany with a linen closet and six discrete but adjoining cabins on either side of the vessel. Each mahogany paneled cabin has the use of a shared bathroom and closets, and each cabin has a door to the hall and interior pocket [sliding panel] doors to create privacy between cabins.
At the end of the hallway are a covered area and a stairway that leads to the upper deck, where there is a large covered promenade deck, nearly half the length of the vessel. This is where many friends of the McNallys remember dancing late into the night. When not used for dancing, the screened in deck is furnished with wicker furniture and shaded with lovely white striped awnings.
Aft of the promenade deck is the grand salon which also spans the width of the vessel. The ceiling is white canvas with a gold leaf pattern, between white paneled beams and decorated [corning?] On the aft wall there is a working green marble fireplace with brass firedogs and fenders. There is a mahogany mantel. On the forward wall there is a pronounced bay, and centered in the bay's ceiling is a large, leaded, stained glass skylight. Beneath the skylight is a Steinway upright piano with a painting of Mozart in pursuit of ta partially naked nymph,
Aft of the grand salon is a Honduras mahogany hallway that leads to the master suite, which includes a private bath to starboard, a private office to port, and finally the master bedroom which spans the width of the vessel and has the same ceiling treatment as the grand salon. The bedroom is surrounded by windows on three sides, all with the original Pullman shades. Aft of the bedroom is a large second floor deck, which looks out over the St. Lawrence River. The yacht has a furnace and there are lovely antique ornamental coverings over the baseboard heat.
Final comments from Jonathan Watson, who surveyed the yacht in 2001, begin with, "The vessel is of exquisite original building and construction. There is little doubt that the best materials available were used and no expense was spared in attention to detail, decoration, and fine craftsmanship which has lasted for a century...the vessel presents a unique opportunity as a significant 1000 Islands exhibit.

If you have additional information, pictures, comments, or suggestions, please contact:
Nan Dixon

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� Nan Dixon, 2001