Just one of Stamford Connecticut’s most lovely historic luxury homes is Marion Castle designed in 1914 by Frank Marion, one of the initially early movement picture pioneers. This amazing waterfront Neo-French Renaissance chateau at A single Rogers Highway, Shippan Place exemplifies the era of Stamford’s emergence in the early 1900’s from a farming community to the year-round residences of wealthy New York households.
Marion Castle was developed by a single of the to start with correct movie moguls, Frank Marion, whose Kalem Firm made some of the earliest just one reelers proven at nickelodeons and silent film houses across the region. His initially significant strike was Ben Hur in 1907 that was fifteen minutes in duration focusing mainly on the chariot race. The film was shot at the beach front with firemen as actors using the horses that usually pulled the hearth wagons pulling the chariots.
Ben Hur was one of the most common novels of its working day and the film was an fast results. Frank Marion proved himself to be not only a excellent businessman but also acquiring a social acutely aware when he raised the day by day wage of actors to five pounds a working day – forcing the relaxation of the rising motion photo business to do the identical.
Even so Marion was on the cutting edge of what at the time was the emerging technological innovation of his day. The publisher and estate of the author of Ben Hur took the company all the way to the US Supreme Court and recognized the 1st copyright precedent that although the movie only targeted on the chariot race that was a extremely quick portion of the guide, motion photograph producers need to initially get hold of rights to printed operate just before they can produce a film based mostly upon that operate.
Undaunted, Marion’s Kalem Company next designed motion photo heritage by sending a crew to Ireland in 1910 to make what was the initial American movement picture to be shot on spot outside of the United States. Two yrs later, he sent a digicam crew to Palestine in which From the Manger To the Cross was filmed.
These movies ended up incredibly successful, he offered the business just after 10 yrs in the movement picture enterprise and developed Marion Castle as his retirement house for the satisfaction of his spouse, son and 4 daughters.
Marion Castle was developed in the type of a French Renaissance chateau by the famous New York City centered architectural firm of Hunt & Hunt who experienced built this model quite well-liked on Fifth Ave at the switch of the century. Marion Castle is a composite of several Loire Valley chateaus.
It features a steep slate roof with copper crestings growing high higher than the major entire body of the mansion. The front confront has massive dormer home windows with large pediments bordered by finials. A gabled wing that faces the seaward facet has a big triple window with mullions and transom bars and techniques foremost down to the quality.
On the north aspect of the property, a extended 50 %-timbered bay initiatives from the main wall foremost up to a round turret offering it its exclusive “castle” look. The inside features a balconied principal hall and almost 30 extra rooms of different sizes and employs.
Frank Marion developed and occupied Marion Castle right until his demise at 93 in 1963. The property was then sold to Martha and David Cogan, an inventor and chief in the improvement of radio and television who assisted establish the 1st coloration tv tube. Martha was commonly renown and highly regarded for saving numerous kids from Hitler for the duration of Entire world War Two.
In 1978, Jay Kobrin and Gordon Micunis obtained Marion Castle and were being really influential in acquiring it positioned on the National Sign up of Historic Destinations in 1982 – the only framework in Stamford’s Shippan Point outlined in the Sign up.
Since 1998 Marion Castle has been owned and occupied by Thomas L. Loaded, a very well acknowledged Stamford actual estate developer. Mr. Prosperous has permitted the property to be used thoroughly for non-profit activities such as the Shippan Place Association’s yearly neighborhood celebration.
These days, the gorgeous waterfront historic luxury dwelling of Frank Marion is a single of Stamford CT’s most distinctive landmarks. Having been owned by various ground breaking civic minded business people, Marion Castle carries on to be the middle stage of numerous of the town’s important neighborhood and social gatherings.