George Boldt came to America in the 1860’s,
the son of impoverished Prussian parents.
Encouraged by his ezer kenegdo Louise,
Boldt became America’s most successful
hotel magnate. His empire included
New York’s Waldorf-Astoria and
Philadelphia’s Bellevue-Stratford.
At the pinnacle of his success,
Boldt purchased an island and began
building a 120-room stone castle to be
his gift to Louise on Valentine’s Day.
But in January, she died.
Heartbroken, her husband telegrammed
the construction crews to cease all work
immediately. Three hundred workmen
dropped their tools and walked away.
Boldt never returned to the island.