Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-12
THE SUNDAY STAR
Washington. D. C., July II, 1859
Toronto's Dream Castle
Has Secret Possoqewoys
BY JAMES MONTAGNES
Contributing Writer

contributing WTlter
TORONTO, Canada.-It is
not necessary to 60 to Europe
to see a fuedal castle. There is
one here in Canada's second
largest city. On a hill overlook
ing the city stands Casa Iona,
q turreted baronial castle with
everything but a moat and a
drawbridge.
For a nominal fee 1t is open
to visitors. During the sum-
mer months an average Of a
thousand a day from the
United States and Canada
climb its stairs to see inside q
real castle.
There are secret staircaseS.
passages between floors. and
an underground passage con-
Meeting 1t with its stables and
garages.
Casa Iona was built between
1911 and 1918 by d financier,
the late Sir Henry Pellatt. AS
q small boy he had dreamed Of
tuedal castles.
When he grew up and became
wealthy on the sale of West
ern Canadian land, he built
his dream castle. He lived in 1t
for a few years.
Since his death in 1889 it
has been opened by a Toronto
business mems service club for
charitable affairs, dances and
sightseeing. The proceeds,
after maintenance and taxes,
60 to charity.
Secret Staircase
There is no other castle like
Casa Iona on this continent.
1t has a secret staircase OPEN
ing from the owners bedroom.
By merely pushing a button. a
secret panel in the bedroom
wall opens, leading to the pri-
vate staircase which goes to
the ground floor.
Built to entertain royalty,
the castle has 100 rooms in all,
with quarters for a staff of so
servants.
When Sir Henry lived in the
castle, the 16 master bedrooms
had silverplated bathroom fix
lures. while in Lady Pellatt's
bathroom the fixtures were
gold. The bathrooms were all
of imported marble, the bed
room f1replaces from old Euro.
pean castles.
Sir Henry's bedroom, still on
view, is 40 by go feet in size,
larger than most single family
homes.
The visitor to Casa Iona is
shown the Great Hall, the main
living room, 80 feet square and
10 feet from floor to ceiling.
The drawing room is 10 by so
feet in size. !
The library is 80 feet long.
q feet wide. had room for a
million books. The dining room
could comfortably seat 100
guests. The kitchen" Sir
Henry once said, "is large
enough to feed a regiment"
Comforts of Home
In the basement is a tiled
swimming pool 40 feet wide and
SO feet long. There are a num-
Der of billiard rooms, bowling
alley and a 200-foot rife range.
An elevator runs to the top
moor. and the highest turret
luts 300 feet above the street.
On a clear day you can see
Niagara Falls, across Lake On
tario, from the topmost turret.
There is an eight-inch con-
crete floor beneath each hard
wood floor. Below that are
steel Orders. The ceiling of
the room below starts 80 feet
below the floor above and there
are trap doors so a man can
creep beneath each floor.
From the basement there is
4 tunnel under the street 600
feet long, connecting with the
red-tiled stables, garages and
There is a base
ment restaurant today with
television receiver, cool place
On warm days.
The castle occupies seven
acres in residential area of
the city and is one of Canada's
landmarks.