We camped for a night recently at Fort Worden State Park near Port Townsend. Fort Worden is a compound of former military buildings that now house a conference center, education partnerships, vacation rentals, and eateries as well as campgrounds and beaches. And in the midst of it all is Alexander’s Castle, shown above.
In 1883 the rector at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Port Townsend, John B. Alexander, acquired 10 acres of land in this area and built what came to be known as Alexander’s Castle. He and his intended bride would live here after he fetched her from Scotland. Alas, she married another and he returned a bachelor. He used the building as a temporary residence. In 1897 the property was acquired by the federal government and the construction of Fort Worden began.
In the 1880s and 1890s Alexander held posts in the region as Honorary British Vice-Consul and Her Majesty’s Consul. In his later years he lived in England and died there in the 1930s. During military operations at the Fort, Alexander’s Castle was used for family living, as an observation post, and a tailor shop.
This is the smallest castle I have ever seen… but very impressive.
I like the look of it. It has a lot of character.
It looks rather like a mini-castle. Fascinating history. And I felt sad after reading about Father Alexander’s returning from Scotland without his true love, especially after going to the trouble of building a castle for her! Or maybe she wasn’t his true love; sometimes it’s hard to know for sure. Or so I’ve been told.
I guess you could call it Alexander’s folly Kay. Unrequited love is a sad thing but it sounds like he went on to live a full life and the castle used in many diverse ways.
What a cool castle. Too bad he failed in fetching his intended bride, I wonder if she knew of his plans and didn’t care for them.
What an interesting history, even though it is a bit sad.
Great story – I love to learn things about our area. Great photo too.
Camping? As in, sleeping in a smelly tent, with bugs and spider webs, and bumpy ground and nowhere to brush your teeth? Yikes.
Really? That’s camping to you, Jack? We’ve retired the tent (very well traveled but never smelly) for a micro trailer with soft beds, sink, stove, microwave, lights, and a heater. And I daresay I’ve not skipped brushing my teeth whilst camping.