What Happened to John Hammond's Mansion?

[@LJB103]

Excellent video. A couple of notes: Hammond created a boat that sailed from the castle to Boston where he shocked people when they found out that there was no one on board: his experiment with remote control. Unfortunately, the US government forced the dismantling of his lab before the castle could be open to the public. He's buried on the property in a crypt that he had covered in poison ivy! I knew that both Hammond and Sleeper were gay and friends, but I never heard them described as lovers. Another good video would be to cross Gloucester harbor to Sleeper's incredible home: Beauport (Historic New England museum). Not sure if they still do this; but if you go, do not put a hand into the pool as it is highly dyed to get the green coloring. Just an fyi: Hammond built the organ in the castle, but he had nothing to do with the Hammond Organ Company.

[@mileshigh1321]

The lovers description, wouldn't boyfriend or partner be a bit more appropriate! Just my opinion. Thanks for your notes!

[@LJB103]

@@mileshigh1321 Not really sure that either of those two apply here. Wealthy local Congressman A. Piatt Andrew's name is usually mentioned along with Henry Sleeper. They were all part of the circle of the "boys" of Isabella Stewart Gardner.

[@prairiedoggy1]

@@mileshigh1321 Not really, I was young during the 1970’s, and even then your romantic-interest was referred to as a “lover”.

[@CharliRay]

Didn’t he demanded his bedroom stay locked forever after his death the tour guide never mentioned he lived with a man they said he had a wife who wouldn’t come out of her room for over a decade they did say he was very vain and had naked statues of himself and mirrors everywhere . It was hot as hell in there when I went but it was summer time awesome mansion though great view too

[@lesserknownadventures]

We were able to check out the Hammond Castle last summer while we were taking an east coast road trip. Such a cool stop that we made. Random, but definitely worth it! We also made a video while we were there, showing off the castle museum. If you have a chance to check this place out, do it!

[@ericamunoz8318]

My grandfather used to play the organ there. He was Ken Wilson and did many concerts there. I have been there many times. Love you Papa - Erica

[@talmadge1926]

A house of dreams. A remarkable achievement by a remarkable man. Wonderful that it still exists and is taken care of. Absolutely unique. Thankyou for posting.

[@StamperWendy]

I love Hammond Castle! We went in the 70's. Glouster, MA. Every brick was numbered as the castle was dismantled in Europe and then rebuilt in MA. He developed a concoction to pour into the pool so that you couldn't see how deep it was. Men used to jump into the pool, from the railings of the upper floors, on a dare. The tour guides told us these stories back then but when my brother went back recently, the stories had been forgotten and weren't told anymore. Thanks for picking a home in MA, Ken! I'm on Cape Cod.

[@beachbum333]

Wendy, I too was told the story of the pool dye.(some 30 years ago) There was also a guest room with no door knobs on the inside of the room. It's a very interesting place, and he was a very interesting man!

[@bethjeffwelin9220]

A doorway from France was numbered and rebuilt. The castle was made from scratch and used local stone.

[@christopherkraft1327]

What a magnificent mansion!!! I really like the views from the tower. It's very nice to know that this castle still exists today!!!! Thanks for sharing this exciting video!!! 👍👍🙂

[@caseyflorida]

An organist I knew back in the 1980s played a recital on the organ at Hammond's Castle.

[@ericamunoz8318]

Kenneth H. Wilson was my grandfather.

[@MaiMyTie]

This is the kind of home I’ve always dreamed of building, an eclectic mix of my favourite time periods from different regions. I hope to visit it someday!

[@Donald_Shaw]

Very impressive and very eclectic for sure. Thank you Ken for showing us around this castle.

[@1976mcfarlane]

The middle castle looks like it's been there for ages and ages. Looks like he built onto an existing structure.

[@shirleybalinski4535]

Holy cow!! One man's fantasy!! It works especially if you are into architecture.

[@lizlittle1641]

I love the library! It is an amazing castle/house!

[@KatWoman_]

I am very impressed, Ken. I grew up in this small village in Gloucester. Well done.

[@markwagner4909]

It’s touching he was able to live with his lover

[@racheldianeames3729]

Pls do more videos on historic newport gilded age mansions

[@kellingtonlink956]

If you look up ‘Eclectic’ in a dictionary… it wouldn’t surprise me to see his name… or at the very least… this house. I love it. Thanks for an insanely interesting video.

[@janedee6488]

Seems like a lot of house for just two people. Very beautiful estate.

[@curiousworld7912]

I think 'eclectic' sums it up, pretty well. :)

[@honestmom1958]

Another interesting house! Incorporating the different styles was certainly unique.

[@marissaweston1685]

Yay!, finally a "home" in all its glory!! Thank you for explaining the history!!

[@edgarsnake2857]

I've been there a few times and it is every bit as fantastic as it looks.

[@HermicraftAddict]

What an eccentric, brilliant man. This castle is stunning. I love it.

[@Ivehadenuff]

Hammond Castle does an amazing scary Halloween experience every year. I love Gloucester and taught here for many years. Wonderful beaches and great lobsta in Glosta as we might pronounce it.

[@tommywolfe2706]

I saw the thumbnail and thought "now they are doing European castles?" What a strange building, but pretty cool it was sealed right after his death so the integrity of his collection and his intentions with it are all intact. No greedy family coming and snatching everything up and all that.

[@StamperWendy]

Yes. It was dismantled in Europe, brought to MA and rebuilt in Glouster.

[@tommywolfe2706]

@@StamperWendy I thought the video said that it was designed and built in the states. I was merely talking about the thumbnail and title of the video.....I had no idea that there were any buildings that looked that way in the states at all.

[@TL-gb2oj]

Actually it wasn't. It was built from ground up right there in Gloucester.

[@terrancearndt1689]

Please always include the square footage.. thank you.

[@krcmaine]

Love this place! I've been a few times.

[@jamesholt7612]

Awesome video my friend.

[@rbrachmann]

We stopped at this place back in the 1980's, I think. They were telling us about the guys jumping into the pool from the 2nd floor and about John running a full-size motorboat by remote from one of the towers. There was some practicing on the organ that day. What I liked was from the pool (I think) where you could go to different rooms on that floor by entering one of several salvaged fronts of old French markets that make up the walls.

[@boston_octopus]

I loved seeing those old store fronts.

[@The_Smith]

the organ, and the library, are my two favourite rooms.

[@Vrindavan82]

Historically beautiful and amazing. You should do more videos like this

[@sylviamichaud4759]

I was there a while back and loved it.

[@virginiaeckley3047]

Absolutely Gorgeous

[@davidpalmer9334]

I’ve been to the castle…. As awesome as it is, Gloucester is soooo amazing as well

[@hendrikvanderwalt6960]

Stunning!

[@judyimel5697]

Wow he was a very smart man

[@avengerscap]

The Eastman mansion is lovely -- perhaps you could do a piece on it? It's certainly more interesting and entertaining watching your videos than simply visiting Wikipedia for these properties. If you ever think of doing a series where you show some great old fixer-uppers, I'll bet you'd get a lot of happy comments!

[@jeanfranklin7918]

Love the courtyard.

[@ropeburnsrussell]

The war room. Nicer than mine.

[@douglassnook1300]

Went there a couple of times on school field trips. We were told, and you didn't point it out so I don't know if it is true but there are many original European architectural elements in the house. Not uncommon for the wealthy to do this. If I remember correctly the building facades in the courtyard are supposed to be original, not created to look old. If that is true, your viewers may like to know that. Just a suggestion.

[@arthurthompson8676]

As I live in the area, I've visited Hammond Castle several times. I addition I've attended a number of elaborate receptions there as well.. It's rumored to be haunted!

[@jeremyglauert40]

Amazing house, I’d never heard of him or the castle

[@nikkidarkangelpnope8400]

The flying buttress was an incredible achievement in architecture.

[@michaelgibson1938]

I've visited Hammond's mansion, it's very nice! You failed to mention the life size sculpture of John Hammond, naked, he was very proud of himself in more ways then one. It's true, he has about 800 patients. I've always been curious how he was able to achieve this. Edison advised him to work in the patient office after graduation, a good way to see all the new innovation especially in the golden age electrical engineering. Seems like he had an inside edge to grab intellectual property, especially as many patients are rejected for simple technical reasons including improper filings... Anyway, just a hunch, maybe a good novel here. ps Glochester MA is a fun place to visit.

[@CharliRay]

Godsmack made the voodoo music video in the great room . I loved visiting this mansion I visited the Crane Estate too

[@stacyann825]

Where they filmed The Witches of Eastwick

[@Asdfhjkl998]

I am not a architecture but it’s my addiction soo I can make it better style any way now is museum giving as best Pleasure Thanks for video ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@stacyann825]

They don't mention that the courtyard was built with the ability to transform from daytime in the middle of the night, and nighttime and a storm with rain in the middle of the day! Also it's well known amongst locals that his wife's ghost is still there

[@bethjeffwelin9220]

Sleeper was not his lover and never lived in the castle. Sleeper had his own wonderful house across the harbor called Beauport. They were good friends, but Sleeper was older and died 4 years after Hammond finished the castle.

[@enriquei.moreno6268]

Ok, I like the idea of bringing a real castle from Europe--stone by stone. But once this is accomplished, the addition of the Lab section to the castle was certainly an aesthetically unfortunate patch, to say the least. Do you know where the lab should go? Why of course, in the dungeons of the castle--buried under the basements, where the secret inventions and experiments are supposed to happen.

[@TL-gb2oj]

It was not dismantled from anywhere. It was built from scratch right there in Gloucester.

[@dpb8780]

What happened to his lover? I would think that in this age would be normal as you always say what happened to the wives no?

[@brucebeamon5460]

Guess I’d HAVE TO see it in person…. From what I saw here , I was expecting a MORE GRAND interior !

[@TL-gb2oj]

The interior is rather grand and very beautiful. These photos do not do it justice. If ever in that area, definitely plan to visit it.

[@samanthab1923]

Josh Gates grew up in this town. They had his HS prom there. GH did an episode. 👻

[@bellakaldera3305]

I've been there, it's awesome, I was dissappointed by the cheap Indian repro weapons hung on the walls, but the rest of it was wonderlicious!

[@scottenos262]

John Hays Hammomf Jr. DOD NOT shade this castle wit his male loved. John was married to a woman named Irene and she lived there with him.

[@gregorymoore2877]

Oh. Different John Hammond. I thought this was going to be about the guy that bought that island and tried to open a dinosaur park. Spared no expense from what I heard. 😉

[@cliffthatcher4574]

What do you mean "What happened to John Hammond's mansion"? It's an operational museum. Years ago I played on the piano in the grand hall

[@michealsmith28]

What's the deliciousness for today take us away. 😁

[@asylumlover]

THIS ONE IS VERY STRANGE INDEED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@glennmcgee1729]

The cathedral entry must have wowed guests. This amazing owner ranks well among the other inventor giants you've featured. The eclectic design appears a bit smashed together or is that just me questioning a genius?

[@billthatcher4121]

Is this not the very same "Castle" that Virgil Fox, the world famous organist, purchased and owned for a rather brief period?? My memory tells me that this information was relayed to me, by one of Virgil's assistants.

[@crossarmkid42]

I would expect nothing less from the eccentric man who created Jurassic Park. 😛

[@troyclayton]

What happened? It's still the same cool place I played D&D in the early 80's.

[@JosephStJames2000]

The platypus comes to mind.

[@jerrycallender9927]

Hammond Castle once was the residence of Dr. Virgil Fox.

[@ronniedelahoussayechauvin6717]

Sounds more like a Website...Crimes!

[@ronniedelahoussayechauvin6717]

Sounds Fishy Too

[@rbrachmann]

Have you done Gillette Castle yet? Another great home to tour.

[@Squidgy55]

Is it Richard Hammond's house?

[@jordanwoerndle2986]

[@Squidgy55]

@@jordanwoerndle2986 😀

[@wincrasher2007]

You put a lovely spin on an architectural mess and eccentric craziness.

[@davidlowson100]

Surely it was overrun by dinosaurs?

[@drummersagainstitk]

"John lived out his life happily in this castle along with his lover Henry Davis Sleeper". A complete waste.

[@westminster860]

I remember passing this house quite often as I lived in Rockport and never went in. Beautiful on the inside but a bit ugly on the outside

[@claymccleery9451]

John Hay Hammond, Jr's gay lover was Leslie Buswell. Henry Davis Sleeper's lover was A Piatt Andrew.

[@bobolpatrick3789]

bonsoir ,pour moi l'architecte était très mauvais il, n'a pas su harmoniser les différents styles de construction et les marier ensemble il aurait du s'inspirer du Louvre donc la construction s'étend sur 800 ans

[@josephsf2452]

I knew he was gay just by looking at the pic of him in his early 20's. Good for him, having a lover and living his dream ❤❤‼‼❤❤‼‼

[@OrganNLou]

Unfortunately the organ is no longer playable as well.

[@Michaelengelmann]

I bet Edison stole some of his ideas too

[@GetReady4LiftOff]

freeze in winter

[@vickilindberg6336]

What better for a great hall than a giant pipe organ?

[@michaelfisher7170]

Is there such a thing as TOO eclectic? The styles are there own thing but do they work together? I look at it and thing...this is a mess. But..that's me. I prefer unification of style to cramming together differing modes to create...a monstrosity...again, that's just me.

[@purplebutterfly7257]

This house feels like ADHD.

[@jaynareynolds3684]

Very bizarre. Shows impulsive and odd confusion of taste. Not a fan, but we acknowledge people are entitled to endulge their delusions as long as they pay for it themselves.

[@Joy-TheLazyCatLady2]

Seems you may have taken some liberties with the facts about his personal life but whatever. I guess it all depends on what you read and choose to believe.

[@gymshoe8862]

There will be few facts on homosexuality--propaganda is popular. It is politicized.

[@ceasarandrepont1243]

It would have been nice if this guy would have had heirs to his fortune...

[@anthonyi6572]

Horrible. So, you have collections from different periods. They don’t need to be displayed in a building reflecting that period. It looks like a tag sale.

[@briansmith-l1q]

not bad for a gay man, lol

[@annelefevre9457]

You talk WAY TOO FAST!!!!!

[@fredrobinson6990]

On the outside it’s kinda ugly.

[@tonyonly2]

I think the place is ugly

[@davidward805]

Yes I do think that it is amazing. But for the first time among your many wonderful videos that I have seen, I think that this “castle” is a monument to excessive ego and monumental, lavish expenditure of money to satisfy his lavish, ahistorical tastes. Sorry, not impressed.

[@prairiedoggy1]

Based on all of his great inventions, and him being a self-made man, I think he was entitled to satisfy his ego by using the financial rewards he earned by creating this whimsical castle. Of all the houses reviewed on this site, I wonder why this is the one you disapprove of?

[@davidward805]

@@prairiedoggy1 In answer to you, I have several reasons for that: 1. The castle is a mishmash of architectural styles, based on things that he saw traveling in Europe. I have seen videos of quite a number of European castles and stately homes, and they are all based on one architectural style. 2. I thought that the castle was furnished in rather poor, gaudy taste. 3. He put in the largest organ in the country (or the world?) because some castles and stately homes have organs. And he doesn’t even play the organ, and had to invite people who were probably strangers to come and play it. That seems very excessive. I could go on, but you get the idea.

[@bscottb8]

The "castle" is less than the sum of its parts, I'm afraid. That box of a laboratory kills the Gothic mashup. I know its historic and all, but I would be very tempted to try some editing.