March 2024 A volunteer recruitment party at the Visitor Center on Sunday! Plus, we announce big news about the Osaki House and the Concession stand. The Selden III is 75 years old and we will celebrate that in April! PLUS - our annual membership drive is starting. Renew now so you don't forget!

December 2023 Two photo essays recap the 2023 holiday program. A big thank-you to our volunteers and sponsors. We invite you to enjoy our first day hikes and hot cider on January 1.

November 2023 Yukitaka Osaki is featured in an article on ConnecticutHistory.org. Gillette Castle will be open for the holidays! We describe loads of ways for you to get involved in bringing the holiday spirit to the Castle. You can check out the premiere of another video short featuring William and Helen Gillette.

September 2023 We celebrate William Gillette's 170th birthday, and review awesome pictures from the recent photography event. Plus, we share recent news features about Gillette Castle, and announce an October meeting for holiday program volunteers.

August 2023 A photo essay of our latest restoration project, the broken-glass lights. Volunteer Ron Kowalsky demonstrates our cool new train whistle. We announce a Victorian "who done it?" photography event, and more plans to spruce up the gardens. PLUS we're starting to prepare for the holidays and we would love your help.

June 2023 Pictures from the planting party to restore the gardens on the terrace, and loads of more recent pictures of the gardens in bloom! Announcements about train-trail hikes for this weekend and July 4, and we reveal some special new items at Seventh Sister Souvenirs.

May 2023 Pictures from the recently completed terrace restoration. We announce a planting party to make the terrace beautiful! A quick recap of the annual meeting, and announcements about coming events.

April 2023
The Friends benefit from a generous donation to install a hydration station at the Visitor Center. Pictures of Yukitaka Osaki's cherry trees and a photo essay about a fun and blustery ferry celebration.

March 2023
The annual ferry celebration is this weekend! Pictures from our active volunteers, who have been working on conservatory windows, membership mailings and getting close to finishing the broken-glass ceiling lights! Pictures from a great visit to Machimoodus-Sunrise State Park.

December 2022
Final weekend for the holiday program! A photo essay of an awesome photography event at the Castle. We also announce plans for January 1 First Day Hikes. Plus, Gillette and his Castle will be featured in a community radio show.

November 2022
All the details on the holiday program! Bonfires, hot cider and snacks, scavenger hunts, guided hikes, magic shows, William and Helen Gillette and loads of musical performances at the Visitor Center. Restoration work on the terrace has begun, but we will have a fun-filled festival despite the Castle closure.

October 2022
The annual report on the state of our state parks is gloomy again. A photo essay on the riverfront celebration of the life of Yukitaka Osaki. An emergency rescue of our perennial beds, and we freshen up the gravestones of William and Helen Gillette.

September 2022
Celebrations honoring Yukitaka Osaki, William Gillette's secretary, confidante and friend. We announce the start of preparations for the holiday program. A new water tank is coming, due to generous donations from the Japan Society of Greater Hartford and the FOGCSP Board.

August 2022
The terrace restoration will start soon, and the Castle will be closed from Labor Day until (fingers crossed) we start the holiday program on November 25. We provide a recap of the 2022 legislative session, and thank our local legislators. An invitation to join Friends from all over CT at the annual meeting of the Friends of CT State Parks. Plus, pics of the plantings at the Castle generously donated by Ballecks and planted by our volunteers!

July 2022
Yukitaka Osaki is featured in some beautiful articles by the East Haddam News. We have pics from the recent visit from the Governor's Foot Guard Dixieland Jazz band. Introducing our sales associates for 2022. Live theater at the Castle through August 8, and a book signing by local author James Walker.

June 2022
A feature article about our star maintenance staff, and a letter from a visitor thanking head maintainer Peter Wilson for his efforts. Many thanks to Ballek's for sponsoring the plantings around the Castle beds. Pictures from the Castle Paint & Sip. Another cool video from volunteer Jimmy Bennett.

May 2022
Pictures from our 1920s picnic. Invitations to our soft opening this weekend, and a "paint and sip" event in July. A new video about the Friends from member, author and volunteer Jimmy Bennett. And a reminder that we're still hiring and have great jobs!

April 2022
The Sherlock sign is installed! Pics from the 2022 First Ferry celebration, and repairs are made to a Castle clock. Job opportunities at Seventh Sister Souvenirs. A reminder about the 1920s picnic. Some members-only invitations in the emailed version of the newsletter.

March 2022
A 1920s-themed picnic in the park! More progress with the Sherlock sign, and a call for assistance from people with retail experience. Plus (for members only) an invitation to the general meeting this Thursday.

January/February 2022
Exciting progress with "the Sherlock sign"! Pictures of vegetation removal from the Osaki house. Recap of the "Foggy First Day Hike". Reminder that our annual "newsletter holiday" is coming up, so this is the January/February edition and we will see you again in March!

December 2021
Celebrating the conclusion of the holiday program. Announcing a new board member focused on volunteers. Details around First Day hikes. A preview of our 2022 plans and many thanks to our members for supporting us in 2021.

November 2021
Celebrating the Castle holiday program. Scott Jezek and family have loaned vintage Christmas cards for display at the Castle. Many thanks to our many volunteers and friends who helped make the holiday program happen.

October 2021
We announce our 2022 restoration priorities - the year of Yukitaka Osaki. Osaki's home is stabilized for the winter, thanks to new board member Gail Hanson. "Silent Cal" dropped by the Castle to chat with William and Helen Gillette.

September 2021
Restoration of the "porte cochere" is complete! The holiday program returns. Gillette's indoor garden is getting a lot of love right now, and a photo essay from the Celebration of East Haddam. Plus, our museum spotlight on some of Gillette's library holdings, and we introduce the ultra-hip production of "Sherlock's Secret Life" by boots on the ground theater.

August 2021
Stunning photos of models in period-appropriate costumes at the Castle. A photo essay about the Flute Loops performance. A plug for an excellent article to be in the September edition Estuary magazine, and a Museum Spotlight about William Gillette and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

July 2021
An August performance at the Castle: Introducing the Flute Loops! A short entertaining video about the Castle, and a brand-new homepage for our website. Paul is on the radio AGAIN! The video of the Gillettes and Sherlock Holmes. Plus a new feature: Museum Spotlight, which highlights artifacts from the collection. This month: William's brother Rob Gillette and his saber.

June 2021
Pictures from the soft opening of the Castle, a radio interview with Paul Schiller and a beautiful print article about Gillette and his Castle for subscribers to Sherlock Holmes magazine. We also release a sobering letter about the state of the state parks. Plus - a free public show at the Castle: William Gillette - the man meets his legend. Sherlock meets our enthusiastic and joyful new gift shop manager, and of course, our Test Your Trivia Challenge.

May 2021
The Castle is opening and members can participate in small-group tours this Saturday! Plus, a sidewalk sale at Seventh Sister Souvenirs, and pictures from a really beautiful morning celebrating the Chester-Hadlyme ferry. A FREE lecture about William Gillette. Sherlock meets the new board members, and the Test Your Trivia Challenge!

April 2021
Check out our seasonal job opportunities! The ferry celebration has been re-scheduled and revamped! Mobility-challenged visitors have a new way to plan their visit to the park. We report on our contribution to the defeat of a bill that would have gutted the successful "Passport to the Parks" program and devastated the state park system. A facelift for our donation box! Plus, of course, Test Your Trivia and the Sherlock on the Shelf travelogue.

March 2021
This edition includes your invitation to join us in celebrating the start-up of the Chester-Hadlyme ferry. Big changes at the gift shop as Janice Nowik retires. New website improvements we are proud to share, and alas, nobody won the reward for the cat article about Gillette. Sherlock visits the Hadlyme Country Market to admire a new mural featuring Gillette Castle! Plus, of course, this month's Test Your Trivia challenge!

February 2021
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!

January 2021
Friends gather to celebrate Sherlock Holmes's 167th birthday! Loads of news segments about the Castle, covering holiday decorations and the first day hikes. We report the loss of George Haag, a stalwart partner at the Castle and Devil's Hopyard. Sherlock visits Paul Schiller and, of course, Test Your Trivia!

December 2020
See our festive holiday decorations and volunteer pictures in our "Sherlock on the Shelf" travelogue. Celebrate the December accomplishments of our active volunteer teams, and a great big "thank you" from the Gillettes to everyone for your support!

November 2020
Cherry trees are planted in honor of Gillette and Yukitaka Osaki. We hold our first members-only train trail walk of the post-COVID era. We reveal results of a member survey about renovation projects. Sherlock visits the communications team. A request for volunteers. And, of course, the November trivia challenge!

October 2020
Cats in the Cat-sle!  Sherlock visits Two Wrasslin' Cats and feels right at home.  A big month for local press articles about the Castle, and our first feature article!

September 2020
Videos about the narrow-gauge train Gillette installed, including one from Gillette himself! Pictures covering the Gillette’s return to the Castle (in a COVID-safe space, of course). New membership benefits and more trivia! Sherlock visits new Treasurer Toni-Lynn Miles.

August 2020
Cool videos and pics on the completion of renovations to the retaining wall. See the opening of the gift shop. Visit the Castle online through YouTube. The inaugural edition of Test Your Trivia. Sherlock-on-the-shelf visits John C. Sherwood.