SOLD | Constructed in 1894 | 15,000 Sq. Ft. | 11 Bedrooms | 6.9 Acres
Carleton Island Lot 1, Cape Vincent, New York, 13618
After being vacant and unsold for over 70 years, Carleton Villa has found a new owner at a price of $300,000. This may be surprising as the buyer, Ronald Clapp, a real estate investor from Florida, intends to restore the historic mansion! According to NNY360, Clapp plans to convert the property into a Bed & Breakfast. The Villa, crafted by architect William Miller in 1894 for William O. Wyckoff, who became wealthy by advancing the Remington Arms Company’s typewriter market, was meant as a summer retreat and a venue for lavish gatherings. Located on Carleton Island at the junction of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, it was once the most splendid estate among the Thousand Islands. Tragically, Wyckoff’s wife passed away from a heart attack just before they were set to move in, and he himself suffered a fatal heart attack on his first night at the mansion. Following his death, Wyckoff’s youngest son, Clarence, took over the villa. After the family’s wealth dwindled during the Great Depression, they sold the property to General Electric, who initially intended to demolish the villa for a retreat and new factory, even offering to give away its salvaged materials.
Numerous windows, including stained glass varieties, were dismantled, and a complete floor was removed from the service wing. Additionally, the marble on the base of the tower was stripped away. Full demolition plans were halted due to World War II, leaving the site untouched. However, the large tower was eventually removed because it became a safety concern. For sale details: This Carleton Island Villa sits on 6.9 acres, featuring three waterfronts – 198′ facing the Villa, 287′ on North Bay, and 330′ on South Bay. The property has been unoccupied for more than 70 years, has a stone foundation, and the upper wood frame floors are in poor condition. Although there is electricity on the island and water is sourced from the River, the villa itself lacks any connected utilities. Built around 1895, use of the Villa dwindled around 1927, with contractors later allowed to strip the interior and remove the doors and windows, leaving the structure exposed to the elements. Initially listed at $375,000 by Barry Kukowski of Howard Hanna Clayton, delve deeper into the future of Carleton Villa here!
