The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-08-05
CASTLE RONALD ! L.
 TAXES ARE NOW
 LONG PAST DUE
Picturesque Newtown Struc- ture, Rich in Romance,
 May Be ForecIosed.
BUILDERS EXPECT
 TO PRESS CLAIMS
Remodeling of Great Home For Sanatorium Proves
 Losing Venture.
{ispeeiaI to the Farmer. )

Especial to the .Farmer)
 Newtown, Aug. 4-Newtow wn' fla nous Castle Ronald. one of the show places of Connecticut and the subject Of many a romantic tale, is likely to pass into the hands of contractors who haNesdone repair work on it At a recent meeting of the seIectmen it was decided to bring suit forsthe4 recovery of two years taxes due the town and this action is expected, to. precipftate foreclosure by the con tracting firms that have done work on the buildings.
 Castle Ronald is now the property of Miss Elizabeth Blake, who was the social secretary of the gay Lord Ron ald. The latter decided the castle and surrounding property to her just before his death six or seven years ago.
 An air of romance surrounds the beautiful estate of Ford. Ronald Sit uated on a. hill thatlis believed to be the highest point in Connecticut with ing 20 miles of the Sound, the castle stands against s the sky line, amid handsomely appointed grounds. Golf courses, tennis courts,ss swimming pools, sunken gardens Turkish bath arrangements, aoal1. rooms, billiard
 
 trio light plant and almost everyth ing connected with the richest and most modern of English noble estates are l there Prominent persons from many parts of Europe have been feted there in the heyday of Lord RonaId's career and visitors were entertained 1avishly at all times
 The history of the Feonalds is in teresting. Many years ago the son of the second son of Lord Ronald, who was then prominent in Scotland, came to .this country as an officer of the Royal Navy Of Great Britain. He was treated in a prfnceIy manner, feted in New York and all the other society centers Of the east and he became sen- .aInoured of fife in this country
 He met a daughter Of Pierre Lor- Hard, the m mil 1ionaire, who made his fortune irT tobacco. So pleased | was he that he married her and the wedding was one of the greatest events in American society shortly slbefore his death he slfccesseedd to the estate and title of his father in Scotland.
 The s<sss 6y EfIls,t ma. rIsaee was the l I1orNf RoE1aatl 1Eo sapsfsl ssa stIe: His mother received a large share of l the immense LoriIlard estate and she in turn left hiln weaa t He was always called I3ord Ronald, altlioug h it is not . vv11 ether or | was 1ulore tl1 ain six fset in height and l was a coInrnan anding figure: It is claim Ted for him that hedss the first. man that introduced the aagIisHn tally ho into this connt1y and fsas he was one of the most famous whips in American society. he made the tally-ho popular. He had driven all through Europe 1 with his wife, in a tally-ho.
 Lord Ronald married wealthy woman in England. who was lady in l whiting to Queen Victoria After liv- | ing here with him 5 or 20 years, she i tired and return ed tos England after procuring a divorce She was famed as the patroness of Arthur Sullivan ot EGilbert 6 Sullivan, who staged Pima fore.'' She was instruT1e entaa in hav- ing him knighted-
 Two sons, Pierre Ioril1ard Ronald and Reginald Ronald are living. Reg fnald was member of Roosevelt,s Rough Riders.
 Elizabeth Blake, 3 woman now ad- I social secretary. She perintende6 the great social events that were con. tinually in progress at the castle Hel I efficiency endeared her to Lord Ron
 ald~and before his death he deedet
 his estate to her.
 Miss Blake continued Ito entertain
 About four years ago she conceived
 the idea of making the castle sana, torium f r wealthy persons and tre
 mend ous equipment was installed. The
 sanatorium idea never reached frui E ton Several other ventures. proposed
 by unscrupulous persons. left a heav. debt on the place.
 A Milford contracting company a,nc other firms have mortgages on tn, castle. for about $40. .0oO- Taxes haven Fl been paid in two years and the Select men have decided to bring suit 70
 recovery and will ask for foreclosur of tax Hens. It is expected that tn
 contractors claim, which has beel
 held in abeyance to allow the owne the time to- hquidate her indebtness }: will result in foreclosure on their nor ..I Eages.