William Gillette I'm Literally Detecting & Expressing My Thoughts

WELL! - I’VE DONE IT AGAIN! - & - I CAN REALLY SPEAK - IN LOUD VOLUMES!

“THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE ‘HOLMES’” I’M MAKING NO MYSTERY ABOUT HIM!

- WILLIAM GILLETTE -

By Danny McCarthy
HERE ARE SOME ITEMS GATHERED ABOUT A TRUE PROFESSIONAL ACTOR - THAT ARE NOT IN Images of America Oysterponds East Marion and Orient by Amy Kasuga Folk who is the Town of Southold Historian! ~ WELL! … AND - ALSO – Pace University’s professor of history Marilyn E. Weigold who has a published book as well that just happens to be titled: PECONIC BAY Four Centuries of History on Long Island’s North and South Forks. - ALSO does not include ANY mention of WILLIAM GILLETTE! ~ DO YOUR RESEARCH FOLKS!
YOU SEE EVERYONE – ACTOR WILLIAM GILLETTE owned PROPERTY in Suffolk County {NY} in EAST MARION on PECONIC BAY {!!!} and also in the state of Connecticut. His boat was kept in Greenport, NY!
Going online to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle Archives website after entering “William Gillette” within the keyword section atop the website – I located 1041 matches for WILLIAM GILLETTE!
Just for the sake of it: Here is something not that far from a missing link carrying those 1041 matches for WILLIAM GILLETTE:
https://www.newspapers.com/search/#lnd=1&query=%22William+Gillette%22&t=1890
HE WAS SOMEONE WHO KNEW HOW TO CLEAN UP HIS “ACT!”
The Suffolk County news {stet} dated February 21, 1902 clarifies some things:
“ …The houseboat Aunt Polly, the property of the famous actor, William Gillette, is being lengthened by an addition of 35 feet amid ships. She is on the ways at Greenport and is one of the largest houseboats in Long Island waters. …”
The East Hampton Star dated February 21, 1902 had this column ~ William Gillette’s House Boat that stated: “The houseboat Aunt Polly, which has been undergoing extensive {NOTE READER: Alterations at the Greenport Basin and Construction Company’s yard, was launched last Thursday. The boat has been cut in two and lengthened amidships - YES – that is so definitely ‘so-to-speak’ amidships!} by the addition of thirty-five feet. By this addition the Aunt Polly has been made one of the largest houseboats that frequent these waters. The craft is the property of William Gillette, the actor, who is now in England.”
GREENPORT BASIN AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANY is another POST I designed as a write-up in my own fashion! :

- The Greenport Basin & Construction Company - | North Fork, NY Patch

The Port Jefferson Echo dated September 10, 1904 stated:
“-The Aunt Polly, the houseboat in which William Gillette, the actor, makes his summer home, was in the harbor the first of the week for a couple of days.”
The County Review August 11, 1905 had an article about a Shelter Island-er:
There was a column included in that August 11, 1905 The County Review titled PRETTY MEMORIAL WINDOWS where the column reads:
“Three of the prettiest memorial windows ever seen on the east end of Long Island are to be found in St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Shelter Island. The windows are made by W. Cole Brigham, of Shelter Island, and are styled Marine mosaic. They are composed of stones and shells picked up on the beach at Shelter Island. The first of these memorial windows was erected in memory of Samuel B. Nicholl, M.D., who was born in 1825 and died in 1899. This memorial window was presented {to} the church by the residents of the Island. The subject of {that} window is’ ‘I am the Vine.’
The Edson Memorial was placed in the church in 1905 as a memorial to Mormont B. and Margaret B. Edson and was presented by Mrs. Herman J. Aldrich, of 59th Street, New York. The subject of {that} window is the ‘Glory of the Cross.’
The third window was erected in memory of Richard Platt and Georgiana Nash Herrick, and was presented by their daughters, Mrs. Henry P. Hedges and Mrs. Lefferts, of New York. The subject of {that} window is ‘Green Pastures and Still Waters.’
Mr. Brigham’s first work to be sold was done for William Gillette the actor, for his famous house boat, ‘Aunt Polly.’ The only name on the Aunt Polly is on the pilot house window and is made from marine mosaic, the work being done by Mr. Brigham. The letters are made of jingle shells with …{deep- colored} stones framed with escallop shells. Since the work on the Aunt Polly, Mr. Brigham has done some very artistic work on the yachts Quissetta and a Hauoli. Greenport Times.” {That column was taken from the Suffolk Times!}
The Corrector dated June 10, 1911 included a column by E. J. Edwards titled NEW NEWS OF YESTERYEAR that has an item about the “Origin of a Best Seller” that includes the entry about “Charles Dudley Warner’s Explanation of How He Came to Write His Famous Book, ‘My Summer in a Garden.’”
That Warner book was a collection of a series of daily essays. Mr. Warner happened to write in that The Corrector article where he appears in that 1911 item in which he copyrighted – and being that he copyrighted the item, I went ahead and created his words in my own format!:
Residing in an area “in the heart of town,” he knew such extraordinary folks like his neighbors Harriet Beecher Stowe & Mark Twain. Francis Gillette was given the prized selection for we readers here about William Gillette as Mr. Warner and his professional associates met at the residence of Francis Gillette. Francis Gillette was a United States Senator. AND Francis Gillette was the father of William Gillette!
Francis Gillette’s associates and himself owned property and made themselves of places to grow things below ground-level.
The Corrector dated September 11, 1911:
Admiral Luigi Bertelli of Geno, Italy had a son named Ricarrdo Bertelli who was to marry Miss Ida Conquest. She was {born} “in the metropolis 30 years ago, the actress’ first important engagement was with John Drew in 1902. Later she played leading roles with such actors as William Gillette and the late Richard Mansfield and last season appeared with Mme. Nazimova. She has been reckoned as one of the particular favorites of American audiences, not only for her very evident ability as an actress, but because of a delightful personality. … … Mr. Bertelli, who has met with success as a landscape painter, came to this country about ten years ago to establish a bronze works of which he is president. …”
The East Hampton Star dated January 31, 1913 had the column titled Along Shore which included:
“ … Mr. William Gillette, the {well-known} actor and playwright, is spending some time aboard his houseboat Aunt Polly, which is winter quarters at Tuthill & Thorn’s, Greenport.”
Aha! – Maybe another POST to compose? {Tuthill & Thorn’s, Greenport?}
The East Hampton Star dated September 11, 1914:
“William Gillette, actor and playwright, has returened {stet} from abroad {NOTE READER: NOT aboard BUT abroad!} and is spending the end of the season in Greenport. He owns the house boat {stet} Aunt Polly, one of the most comfortable craft afloat.”
The County Review dated April 16, 1915 had an EAST MARION column stating among other things but here’s what’s ‘relative’:
“… William Gillette, the noted actor who has a bought a handsome short front {property} at our bay, is having trees planted and much other work done which will add to the beauty of the place. Mr. Gillette is expecting to build a fine residence there.” …”
In the Sag-Harbor express {stet} dated September 9, 1915, one gets reminded that William Gillette “starred at New-York’s {stet} Criterion theatre in 1908” in a production of Samson.”
The Suffolk County news {stet} definitely said “Thanksalatee!”:
“… William Gillette, the famous playwright and actor, has purchased a plot of {twenty-five} acres on Peconic Bay, East Marion, known as Chauncey Farm. The property was owned by Henry Evans, president of the Continental Fire Insurance Company of New York. Mr. Gillette will improve the property in the spring, and make it his permanent home. …”
The East Hampton Star dated January 21, 1916 had this to say: Uniform Made a Hit ~ “The first Confederate uniform ever worn in a southern theater after the war was the one used by a young actor, himself the son of a Confederate soldier, for the first performance of ‘Held by the Enemy,’ by William Gillette and his company in Richmond. That was in 1886. The appearance of the gray uniform, even when worn by the one who had no lines to speak, was the signal for deafening applause in the audience, much for the surprise of the actors, who had grown accustomed to it as to forget its significance – Chicago News. {The article was taken from an issue of Chicago
The East Hampton Star dated December 17, 1920 kept it classified by having an ad from the Edwards’ Theatre:
“ …‘Held by the Enemy’ With Jack Holt, Agnes Ayres, Wanda Hawley and Lewis Stone. From the story by William Gillette.”
The County Review dated April 15, 1921:
“Fred Harriman, who has been at Hadlyme, Conn., during the winter, working on William Gillette’s mansion, has returned to Greenport.”
The County Review dated October 20, 1921 shared:
“Frank Preston, spent the week-end {stet} with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Preston. Mr. Preston is superintendent of William Gillette’s estate at Hadlyme.”
The Suffolk County news {stet} dated September 19, 1924 talks about what it’s all-a-boat!:
“William Gillette, well-known actor and playwright, whose houseboat ‘Aunt Polly’ was a familiar sight along the water front {stet} of Greenport for years, says he is going to make the craft into a garden house. It has been moored {NOT mourned!} near Mr. Gillette’s estate on the Connecticut River for several years, and is no longer seaworthy. The craft will be hauled out on dry land, a foundation built, and a regular house built of her. …”
The County Review dated November 26, 1925 …
{At East Marion} “{the} property owned by William Gillette, the well-known actor, who now resides in Connecticut {contains} about 25 acres, with a frontage, on Gardiner’s Bay. The buyer is a New York party, who expects to improve the property for a country home. The price is reported at $1,000 per acre.”
The Long Island Traveler dated December 4, 1925 included an EAST MARION column:
“ … William Gillette, the noted actor, who has a summer home in Connecticut, has sold his property of about 25 acres, with frontage on Gardiners Bay, to a New York party, who expects to improve it for a country home. The reported price is $1,000 per acre.”
The County Review dated April 29, 1926 had such a shocking tale:
“Fire started on the land of William Gillette, East Marion, on Thursday afternoon and spread rapidly to the Gardiner’s Bay Estates. About one-half mile of beautiful woodlands was burned over. The fire was seen about 5 o’clock and some of the men rushed to it, but found the flames spreading so fast that an alarm was sent it. Through the strenuous efforts of the men, and boys too, who were on the job, the flames did not reach the bungalows.
For several hours the battle continued. The blaze was seen spreading to the tops of the trees by people in Orient late in the evening.
This is the first time that the new East Marion truck was called out and a good time was indeed made. The origin of the fire is not known.”
Northport Observer dated March 18, 1932 had a “picture for a thought!”:
“If you like thrills and mystery in your screen entertainment, you will want to see ‘Sherlock Holmes Fatal Hour,” the latest of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories to be filmed, which will be the feature attraction at the New Northport Theatre, for one day on Thursday, March 24th.
‘Sherlock Holmes’ Fatal Hour’ was adapted by Cyril Twyford from ‘The Final Problem’ and ‘The Empty House,’ two of the most popular Sherlock Holmes short stories. The picture was made entirely in England, the natural scene of the story. Arthur Wontmer, who is a well-known Broadway actor, having been starred in ‘The Captive,’ he is the latest star to essay the role of the greatest detective in all fiction.” {Arthur Wontner had the reputation of giving a characterization of Conan Doyle’s great detective almost equal to William Gillette who had that role in the stage play some years prior. SHERLOCK HOLMES is the greatest detective in all fiction! …
{Yes! “But Only The Shadow Knows!”}
The Long Island Traveler-Mattituck Watchman dated October 4, 1945 had a couple of paragraphs within the subhead Gillette Property Sold ~ “The former William Gillette property, consisting of twenty-six acres, has been recently sold to Edwin H. King of Orient. Mr. King intends to increase the farm acreage by clearing additional land this fall. A. Halsey Brown will be employed to develop the bay front, which will be know as “Gillette Estates, in memory of the noted actor, whom so many in this vicinity knew and respected.”
The Long Island Traveler Mattituck Watchman dated January 29, 1948 had the usual Twenty-five Years Ago column:
“… The Dramatic Society presented one of William Gillette’s plays, ‘A Successful Calamity.’ …”
The Patchogue advance {stet] dated August 18, 1960 happened to state about a family that consisted of:
Mr. and Mrs. Edwin F. Rappe and children, Eddie and Lynn, of Hawkins Lane, {who} returned recently from a two-week trip aboard their cruiser, CrossWinds, first stopped at Shelter Island before going to Mystic, Conn. They visited Gillette Castle at East Haddam, the famous place built by the late William Gillette, the famous actor.…”
The Long Island Traveler Mattituck Watchman dated August 5, 1965 Fifty Years Ago column:
“… The yacht, Minerva, owned by Judge Lynch and the houseboat {stet}, Aunt Polly, owned by William Gillette, the actor, were cruising in local waters. …”
Suffolk County News dated November 16, 1967 included the Historical Long Island column by Paul Bailey, edited by Carl A. Starace that included:
“Among the stage celebrities who vacationed {in Greenport} or in nearby communities a {half century} or more ago were: Lester Wallack, David Belasco, James A. Herne (whose summer home was at Sag Harbor), Gene Walters, Pat Rooney, Marion Bent, Wilton Lackaye, John Philip Sousa, ‘Herman the Great,’ James J. Crobett (of Great Neck){,} Henry E. Dixie, Mrs. Leslie Carter and Corse Payton of stock company fame. …”
DON’T FORGET FOLKS … I ALREADY HAVE POSTS ONLINE RE:
PAT ROONEY and MARION BENT.

"Can You Top This" Host Senator {Edward} Ford - | North Fork, NY Patch

HERE’S THE CONTINUING PORTION OF THAT November 16, 1967 Suffolk County News carrying that Historical Long Island column by Paul Bailey:
Some came in their own yachts and lived abroad, while others came by steamer or by train, Greenport being regularly serviced by both.
More than one future Broadway hit had its tryout in Greenport’s ‘opera house’ over the local post office.
One of these tryouts offered {was} ‘Quincy Adams Sawyer.’ Payton tried out his tear-jerker ‘Over The Hill To The Poorhouse’ {for which} Sousa, The March King, is said to have composed ‘The Free Lance’ while sojourning at Greenport.
William Gillette studied his famous role of Sherlock Holmes aboard his houseboat, the Aunt Polly, in Greenport harbor. …”
According to BEACON SHOPPER {NO – not The East End Beacon!} that is dated September 2, 2010 there was a column titled Bay Shore Historical Society:
“On Thurs., Sept. 16, 7:30 p.m. the Bay Shore Historical Society will hold a meeting. Ray DiMaria will present Out of the Past: Early Theater, Anita Stewart and William Gillette-Movie Program, in a {never-before} shown video. The meeting will be held at the Bay Shore Brightwaters Library, One South Country Rd. Brightwaters. The meeting {was} open to the public at no charge. Refreshments {were} served.”
Becky Terry wrote a STREET NAME NOSTALGIA article for an edition of The Peconic Bay Shopper. Here is something I’m so thrilled to share from that Becky Terry article:
“ … The famous actor William Gillette bought property on the bay in East Marion and had lumber there ready to build. But on a boat trip up the Connecticut River{,} he fell in love with a site near Hadlyme and decided to build his house there instead. The materials were taken by barge to the new property and today Gillette Castle is in a state park. Only the street Gillette Drive reminds us of the actor….”
"NOT-TO- BE-ABOUT- ME- AGAIN" - William Gillette was at the Greenport Clark House.

"I'M PAYING IT FORWARD: YET AGAIN & THIS TIME THE BELOW LINK RE:

GREENPORT CLARK HOUSE.:

re: Greenport Clark House | North Fork, NY Patch

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/391/william-gillette
HERE’S TRULY SOMETHING:
https://connecticuthistory.org/holmes-at-home-the-life-of-william-gillette/
BY THE WAY:
There is an A. Wallace Chauncey house in East Hampton {NY}.
EAST MARION {NY} RESIDENT RUTH ANN BRAMSON APPRECIATED THAT I EXCHANGED THIS POST WITH HER - AND SAID:
"I did make reference to Gillette in the historical overview required for the East Marion Main Road Historic District nomination."

https://suffolktimes.timesrevi...