This month: Gillette Castle features as a video location for a local chanteuse. Big changes at the board, and a member offers a reward for some detective work. A drawing of Gillette is featured on the new headstone for Frederic Dorr Steele. Plus, as always, our Test Your Trivia challenge and the Sherlock on the Shelf travelogue!
Accomplishments and Happenings
We are so pleased to share this beautiful video from Lara Herscovitch, a singer-songwriter in the new folk/Americana genre. This video is a release of the song "Angels" from her new album "Highway Philosophers". It was filmed in its entirety at our beautiful Castle!

According to the Boston Globe, "melodies burble and big-hearted lyrics embrace the sum of life, sour to sweet" in Lara's new album. Those of us at the Friends of Gillette Castle think the rich vocals and evocative lyrics from this former Connecticut State Troubador make our hearts go "thump, thump."

Lara and her team filmed the video at the Castle during that cold snap we had here in January, which meant they had beautiful snow cover and had the Castle all to themselves! Only the truly intrepid were out and about. But it was absolutely worth it! Enjoy.
If that whetted your appetite, check out her YouTube channel and sign up for her e-list! 
  • Changes at the board: According to our current bylaws, officers can serve only for three consecutive years at a time. So, Wendy Vincent and Paul Schiller (our president and vice president) will be stepping down in May. Don't worry, they won't disappear, but this does mean that change is afoot!

  • We are convening a nominating committee to identify individuals interested in taking on board roles! At the annual members meeting in May, members will vote to choose the 2021 officers for the Friends of Gillette Castle State Park. Members can drop us a line at info@gillettecastlefriends.org if you are interested in being part of the nominating committee or joining the board.

  • An illustration of William Gillette as Sherlock Holmes now graces the new headstone for the famed illustrator Frederic Dorr Steele in upstate New York. Steele's illustrations of Sherlock Holmes were based largely on the physical appearance of William Gillette, and the iconic images are cemented in the minds of Holmes fans everywhere. Read more about the project to install the headstone here or check out this YouTube video about Frederic Dorr Steele's prolific career. The video clearly demonstrates how powerful Steele's images were in shaping the public image of Holmes.

  • Finally, we close with a challenge from one of our members, and a reward! At some point in the late 1990s, a cat magazine (Cat Fancy, maybe?) published an article about Gillette and his cats. It was beautifully researched, and had anecdotes from someone who clearly knew Gillette very well. Have you seen this article? Can you share a copy? Submit your investigation to info@gillettecastlefriends.org. The reward for unearthing this treasure is a $159 donation to the Friends, plus recognition for the successful detective in these pages. Imagine: your name in print!
Test Your Trivia!
The February edition
A compilation of little-known facts about William Gillette and Sherlock Holmes

Feb. 4, 1933: William Gillette publishes a humorous note in the local press to defend himself against rumors that he was an arsonist intent on insurance fraud. What was it that burned, and how can we be certain he wasn't attempting insurance fraud?

Feb. 15, 1882: The birth of a widely regarded stage and screen performer who will play the title role in a movie version of Gillette's play "Sherlock Holmes." Who is this actor?

Feb. 27, 1907: The first publication of what will later become a famous caricature of William Gillette portraying Sherlock Holmes. In what periodical was this image first published?

Read the answers and more in this month's edition of "Test Your Trivia!"
caricature
Where's Sherlock?
What great weather we’ve had recently! Sherlock loves the winter! He’s quite the outdoorsman. He also enjoys the fresh air. We are pretty sure that, if he were stuck indoors, Sherlock would go nuts!

Check out his visits to Mohawk Mountain ski area and a local ski hill in the neighborhood. Read about it in this month's Sherlock on the Shelf travelogue!
Sherlock shout-out. Sherlock is thrilled to welcome new members James M., Maryann M., and Theresa G.!