There are two copies of the 1930 ‘The Pageant of the Seasons at The Castle’ brag book by Clement B. Davis to my knowledge. The first copy is a “rough draft” located at the New York Historical Society. The second is the final copy that was housed at the castle and served additionally as a guest book and is currently in possession of a family member.
Below are photographs and transcriptions from both books marked ‘NYHS’ for the “rough draft” version at the New York Historical Society and “PC” for the Paterno Castle final version.
Before beginning, however, here is a diagram (which is not part of the brag book) of the Paterno Castle estate showing the orientation of the main house and the many greenhouses connected by the glass conservatory. If you’d like to see a beautiful and informative aerial photograph of the mature estate, click HERE. Construction of the castle began in 1907 and the castle was razed in 1938.
Page 1: “The Castle” with entrance gate illustration
Page 2: “Moonlight – we three and THE PERGOLA” Photo from left to right: Dr. Charles V. Paterno, Minnie Minton Middaugh Paterno, Carlo Middaugh Paterno
Page 3: “The PAGEANT OF THE SEASONS AT THE CASTLE Done into Pictures by Clement B. Davis for Dr. and Mrs. CHARLES V. PATERNO and CARLO • 1930 1931 • Heirloom Book N21”
Page 4: Photograph of the castle approaching from the north toward the porte-cochère
Page 5: “Our Castle”
Page 6: Illustration of fictitious castle and mounted knight
Page 7: PC (there were slight adjustments from the NYHS version): “Dreams and Dragons and Things – There is something about a castle that sets it apart from other types of home, no matter what their grandeur or magnificence. In the word itself is glamour ~ a lilt and a swing, as it were, that lays hold on thought, and fancy wanders, willy-nilly, to those ancient “once upon a times” of
Romance, enchantment, and
Prancing steeds,
To the days of derring-do:
Of elves and witches and
Valorous deeds,
Of ogres and vampires too.
Of the princess fair
In dire distress,
With tidings of which the
Fairies flew
To the far-away prince, most
Noble and best –
Of the dragons he boldly
slew ~ and ever
awaiting the valiant prince and his rescued princess fair
was their stronghold of safety –
their CASTLE.
Dreams? May be. But sometimes dreams come true – and where lives the little boy who…”
Page 8: “…has not thrilled to the accounts of those “valorous deeds” and seen himself doing greater things and attaining possession of his own more wonderful castle of dreams? To most of those little boys their thrill was but for a passing moment and soon, in the excitement of childish games – was gone. Among those myriads of little boys, however, there was one, in far-off, sunny Italy, to whom the desire for his castle was more than a passing whim. He really and truly wanted a “really and truly” castle – one that he and his princess could live in. Time passed. Boyhood went its way silently into “Yesterday’s sev’n thousand years” and in place of the boy was the man. Childish desire for his castle also went its way until, in man’s estate, desire had expanded into determination but the way was long and rugged and there was many dragons to be overcome ere the castle could be gained. Only the man knows what those dragons were and how fierce the fight to vanquish them but…One by one he laid them low and the little boy’s dream came true!”
Page 9: Castle gate with Paterno coat of arms. The inscription is not clear. It could be “VIVE DEO UT VIVAS” which means “Live for God that you may live” or “VIVE UT VIVAS” which means “Live that you may live.” It looks most like “VIVE DE UT VIVAS” which does not translate. Any Latin experts out there? If so, please contact me. [Note: Renato Cantore has in his book that the inscription is “Vive Deo ut vivas” meaning “true life is the one dedicated to God.”]
Page 10: PC: “THE INFINITE CYCLE – In Nature’s Infinite Round the light airiness of SUMMER deepens into the colorful richness that is AUTUMN in its turn sinking into the still, cold sleep of WINTER which, itself, ere many moons shall wax and wane will arouse into the soft awakening of SPRING and once again the Infinite Round is begun.”
Page 11: “In Nature’s infinite round, the light airiness of SUMMER deepens into”
Page 12: NYHS: “The Old Purple Beech – No one knows by whom it was planted ~ or when. Sphinx-like, it smiles but answers no questions though, some day it may tell its age.” PC: “The Old Purple Beach – No one knows who set it out or when.”
Page 13: Photo of tree
Page 14: NYHS: “With but half a sun above the distant Palisades, this is the faeryesque effect one gets of the massive Wall and Pergola towering high above the “Drive.”” PC: “With but half a sun above the distant Palisades one gets this faeryesque view of the massive WALL and Pergola towering high about “The Drive.””
Page 15: Photograph of the estate retaining wall, including pergola, from the north looking south overlooking Riverside Drive
Page 16: Photograph of the Paterno family on the estate. L to R: Dr. Charles V. Paterno, Carlo Middaugh Paterno, Minnie Minton Middaugh Paterno. PC: “Now, the Madonna Lily, for instance -“
Page 17: NYHS: “MADONNAS – Lilium candidum – Madonna Lilies”; PC: “MADONNAS”
Page 18: “Within the NORTH END OF THE PERGOLA looking out over the Hudson through the luminous haze of a summer afternoon.”
Page 19: A view within the pergola overlooking the Hudson River and the George Washington Bridge
Page 20: “From every point of THE LOFTY PERGOLA, as from some tall cliff, spreads the broad panorama of Drive and River and distant Palisades.”
Page 21: The Paterno family in the pergola above the retaining wall overlooking Riverside Drive and the Hudson River. Seated: Carlo Middaugh Paterno with his mother, Minnie Minton Middaugh Paterno, to the right and Dr. Charles V. Paterno leaning on the banister, cigar in hand.
Page 22: “The solemn silhouette of TOWER and PERGOLA when “Now has descended a serener hour” and day gives way to twinkling star-light.”
Page 23: Photograph from the driveway north of the main house looking towards the pergola and the George Washington Bridge
Page 24: NYHS: “The colorful richness that is AUTUMN in its turn fading into” PC: “The colorful richness that is AUTUMN – in its turn, sinking into”
Page 25: An early illustration of the Paterno Castle before the conical roof of the northwest turret was removed and before the retaining wall was installed (Drypoint etching by Clement B. Davis December 1930)
Page 26: NYHS: “A quiet Sunday Morning Respite from week-a-day activities.” PC: “A quiet Sunday morning respite from the regular week-a-day activities.” Seated left to right: Carlo Middaugh Paterno, Minnie Minton Middaugh Paterno, and Dr. Charles V. Paterno
Page 27: Seated left to right in the conservatory: Carlo Middaugh Paterno, Minnie Minton Middaugh Paterno, and Dr. Charles V. Paterno
Page 28: “What could be more cozily charming that this cheery BREAKFAST ROOM midst palm and blossom?”
Additional pages in the PC version: “Bo Chum and Mie Toy are not so sure as to what it’s all about but they seem much concerned over that queer looking thing under the black cloth.” Photo of Minnie Minton Middaugh Paterno with her two King Charles Spaniels Bo Chum & Mie Toy
Page 29: This is a rare photograph toward the interior of the main house. Most Paterno Castle photos were taken in the conservatory where light was optimal. Here the photographer is facing north from the conservatory corridor into the main house dining room beyond the ornate gate.
Page 30: “The Glory of AUTUMN SUNSHINE through The Grille”
Additional pages in the PC version: Left: Charles and Minnie Paterno sitting in the conservatory; Right: Minnie with her cockatoo.
Page 31: View from just inside the front door of Paterno Castle looking into the porte-cochère
Page 32: PC: “Let’s duplicate! We could use another one of those little cups, couldn’t we?”; NYHS: “Let’s duplicate! We could use another of those little old cups, couldn’t we?”
Page 33: Just outside the front door of Paterno Castle under the porte-cochère, Dr. Charles V. Paterno faces his son Carlo Middaugh Paterno. A third unidentified man stands behind.
Page 34: NYHS: “The beautiful effect and charming vista of Pergola and distant Palisades one gets Looking Westward in the Big Sun Room”; PC: “The beautiful effect and charming vista of Pergola and distant Palisades one gets looking Westward in the Sun Room.”
Page 35: Photo inside the conservatory facing west toward the river
Page 36: “A momentary appearing of the sun from behind gray clouds gave this bewitching glow of color on the MASSED PURPLE CHRYSANTHEMUMS beneath the dancing kiddies.”
Page 37: Photo in the conservatory of chrysanthemums with statue of children atop
Page 38: “The serene old Castle at peep-o-day guarding those within yet deep in slumber.”
Page 39: Photo taken from the pergola of the northwest corner of the Paterno Castle. Remember the illustration on page 25 which had the conical turret roof? It is no longer present.
Page 40: “The still cold sleep of WINTER which, itself, ere many moons shall wax and wane, will arouse into”
Page 41: “WHEN WINTER COMES” (photo of footprints in the snow)
Page 42: “SEEMINGLY ALOOF FROM THE WORLD the old castle rests serenely atop its icy slope but anon, midst din of dynamite and steel and steam -“; this page does not appear in the PC version
Page 43: “this charming woodsy setting will soon be gone forever”; this page does not appear in the PC version
Page 44: “WINTRY STILLNESS when, seemingly, not a creature is stirring – “not even a mouse.”” (image of gate at the entrance of the driveway situated north of the main house)
Page 45: “SNOW – soft and light as thistle-down, yet one of the mightiest of geological forces, silently at work.”
Page 46: PC: “Through the veil of falling snow-flakes There appears the shadowy form of “A goodly building, bravely garnished, The house of a mighty Prince, it seems to be. Faery Queene“
Page 47: “The ice-encrusted old gate pillars, glinting and glittering in the waning light.” (Image of the closed gates from same vantage point on page 45)
Page 48: “Serried ranks of tall POINSETTIAS awaiting their turn for glad service in spreading the spirit of Christmastide.” (Note: Dr. Charles V. Paterno was a tremendous fan of Christmas. You can read more about that passion HERE.)
Page 49: “Floral vista toward the “Door in the Wall” where once stood the fireplace which, later, was to be “pushed way back.””
Page 50: THE FIREPLACE where, to the music of the soft swish of swirling snow without, “Old friends, new friends, gather ’round together.” (NYHS: Handwritten note on left side reads: “This page is unfinished.”) Note Paterno coat of arms on mantel.
Page 51: NHYS: “Vista through palm and poinsettias toward the fireplace that was “pushed way back.”” PC: “Charming vista through palms and poinsettias toward the fireplace which was “pushed way back.””
Page 52: “In the BILLIARD ROOM “The Ball no question makes of Ayes and Noes, But Here or There as strikes the Player goes.” Rubaiyat“
Page 53: Image of the billiard room south of the conservatory
Page 54: “Looking northward toward THE CASTLE, Toward the castle of Paterno while “Ever deeper, deeper, deeper Fell the snow o’er all the landscape, Fell the covering snow, and drifted Through the forest, round the village.” Longfellow“
Page 55: “The PORTE-COCHERE forms a charming frame for the sun-lit expanse toward the north gate.”
Page 56: “The Castle as seen from the north pavilion of the pergola.”
Page 57: “Wintry vista through the arches of the pergola.”
Page 58: “The massive columns of the pergola in winter garb.”
Page 59: NYHS: “Through the soft veil of the cold wintry rain the huge old castle in the distance seems airily faeriesque.”; PC: “Through the soft veil of the cold wintry rain the huge old castle seems airily faeriesque.”
Page 60: “Who wouldn’t dance to the sonorous chords of”
Page 61: “Purple and Gold and Greens and Brown – crashing into the high crescendo of the SCARLET POINSETTIAS?”
Page 62: “What if the nipping cold does tingle through the stark trees in the wintry moonlight? Within the CALM OLD CASTLE all is snug and comfy.” (This page does not appear in the PC version.)
Page 63: Photo of castle in the snowy moonlight. (This page does not appear in the PC version.)
Page 64: “The Ides of March has come and gone and as Spring, like jocund day, “stands tiptoe upon the misty mountain tops,” DEPARTING WINTER waves a beautiful farewell.”
Page 65: “The soft awakening of SPRING and once again the infinite round is begun.”
Page 66: Illustration of sun rising over hill.
Page 67: Photograph looking northward with a view of greenhouses, billiard room, conservatory, and main house
Page 68: “THE OLD SWIMMIN’ HOLE”
Page 69: Photograph of the swimming pool. Note diving board and exercise ropes.
Page 70: “The beautiful effect of Water in motion”; This page does not appear in the PC version.
Page 71: Photograph of the swimming pool. (This page does not appear in the PC version.)
Page 72: “General view of the castle bathed in the sunshine of early spring.”
Page 73: Photograph of castle estate from and elevated vantage point showcasing the northern-most driveway leading through the porte-cochère
Page 74: “Detail of Westward aspect of the Castle as seen from near the pergola”
Page 75: Photo looking east from the pergola on the river side of the estate
Page 76: “South Pergola Tower from north pergola tower at dawn”
Page 77: Photo from one pergola pavilion to another with Riverside Drive below
Page 78: “Looking southward along the RETAINING WALL at matin hour”
Page 79: Photo view from the retaining wall mid-ledge looking at both pergola pavilions
Page 80: “THE BEAUTIFUL ROCK GARDEN, in the exuberance of the middle of May changes its color scheme almost from day to day.”
Page 81: “A SMALL SECTION OF THE ROCK GARDEN”
Page 82: “In the background of this bit of the ROCK GARDEN is the old Purple Beech and the big Horse Chestnut in full bloom.”
Page 83: “The picturesque STONE STAIRWAY leading up from the Rock Garden”
Page 84: Illustration of flowers
Page 85: “Grace and color alongside the driveway to the exit gate.”
Page 86: “Parting glimpse of the castle and porte-cochère as one drives toward the exit.”
Page 87: Driveway from the south through the porte-cochère
Page 88: “The four seasons have slowly and beautifully gone their way and – the round is ended. The pictures too, in a way, are cyclical in that they end almost where they started a twelvemonth ago for, at the top of this tall tower took place that leisurely stroll in the moonlit pergola.”
Page 89: PC: “CASTLE-O’-DREAMS – but a few hundred feet west of old Fort Washington – stands not far below the crest of the highest point of Manhattan Island. (271.4”) From the Castle’s lofty perch on the precipitous western slope of this hill there spreads out an ever-changing panorama across the stately Hudson to the ‘Jersey shore and the world-famed Palisades – chameleon-like in their varying hues of purple and pink and red and blue and gray. Contrary to popular belief this river was not discovered by the man whose name it bears but by Verrazano, (1524) a Florentine navigator, nearly a hundred years before Hudson saw it. (1609) From a map based on Verrazano’s charts it seems that the river’s first published name was “San Germano.” Next came Gomez, the Portuguese, (1525) and called it “Rio San Antonio.” Hudson, himself, referred to it as the “Manhattes.” Its first legal name, given by the Dutch, was the rather pretentious “De Riviere van den Vorst Mauritious.” Other names were “Rio de Montagne” the River of the Mountain; “Groote Riviere” “Nordt Riviere;” “Nassau;” and, by the English, called “Hudson’s River.” Compromise, after many years, finally emerged by the simple process of common consent so, at present, the harbor section about up to Yonkers, is known as the “North River.” From there onward it is the “Hudson.” There are many curious things about this much-benamed old river, not the least of which is its very unriverlike behavior. At times it spreads out beneath the Castle windows as currentless as a lake, while again it rushes past at the speed of a mill race first in one direction then in the other at the whim of the tides as they come and go. Another, and perhaps the most astonishing, fact about the old river is that, for many miles of its lower reaches, it really is not a river at all but a fjord – perhaps the only one in the United States and a most fitting outlook, indeed, for a castle. The setting of the Castle, that solid old granite-gneiss ridge on which it rests, has seen many changes since that day, eons and eons ago when it probably spewed up from unknown depths below and lay, a slowly cooling and crystallizing mass of molten rock, many hundreds of feet below the surface of the earth. Then slowly the overlying rock disintegrated to soil, the Age of Ice came and the old granite mass knew the rush of swirling water from melting glaciers which…”
Page 90: PC: “…gouged out the earth from around it, formed the marsh at Inwood valley between Inwood hill and Riverdale and left the old granite mass exposed as a huge, finger-like ridge rising high above the surrounding country. Ages upon ages again crept into yesterdays. Soil once more covered the rock so that when the little “Half Moon” carried Hudson up the river which was afterward to bear his name, a dense forest of birch covered the section from Yonkers to Jeffrey’s Hook near which now stands the east tower of the huge George Washington Bridge. This forest was the hunting ground of the native Indians and known to them as Weckquaskeek – the Birch Bark Country. Once again time slid into eternity. Weckquaskeek and its kindred spirit, the Indian, had given way to civilization. The ancient granite ridge had become prosaic “Long Hill.” Revolution had flamed over the section leaving freedom in its path and on that sunny July day of 1907 when “the Boy” and his “Princess fair” looked upon the land through the eyes of appraisal, the section had become open farm land checkerboarded with fields and dotted here and there with peaceful country homes. A bold eminence jutting out toward the river caught their eyes and they promptly decided that now was the time and here was the place for that wonderful CASTLE-O’-DREAMS to materialize into stone. Busy weeks intervened until that momentous 23 day of November 1907 when two memorable events occurred. A little visitor by the name of Carlo came to live with “the Boy” and his “Princess fair,” and ground was broken for the actual erection of their CASTLE-O’-DREAMS. Once again the old ridge trembled to the shock of powder but under far different circumstances from that tragic night of November 1776, just 131 years almost to the day, since Washington, from the ‘Jersey shore had sorrowfully watched the red smoke of battle sweep across this very site as Fort Washington fell to the British assault. As to the planning of their CASTLE-O’-DREAMS the “Princess fair” had some definite ideas of her own. With a pencil she sketched the well-known diagram of that ancient childhood game of “Tit-tat-to,” saying “Here! This is how I would like it.” And so, from so simple a motif, grew the main building of the Castle, stone upon stone, until that happy day of June 21, 1908, when “the Boy” and his “Princess fair” and the little visitor fared forth and took possession of their wonderful CASTLE-O’-DREAMS perched high up on the steep side of what, but a paltry million or so years ago, was a fiery mass of molten stone a thousand feet or more, perhaps, beneath the surface of the ground. The new castle soon settled into its place in the scheme of things, and those who know “the Boy” also know that flowers must soon have begun to…”
Page 91: PS: “…bloom in profusion over the steep hillside about the Castle. Shortly, however, those beautiful flowers and shrubs became a vexing problem for Mr. Wanderer, passing by in growing numbers, seemed to have mislaid his copy of that well-known injunction against coveting “they neighbor’s goods.” He seemed unable to recall whether, along with the prohibitions relative to “his ox and his ass” specific mention had been made of “flowers” – anyway, he lived too far away to be a “neighbor” so he clambered up the steep hillside and applied what the cafeteria would call “self service.” These annoying practices of Mr. Wanderer seem too trivial to have led to such colossal results but that Cyclopean wall, rising like some huge fortress from Riverside Drive, grew out of the desire to stop these petty depredations. An amusing incident developed during the construction of that wall. “The Boy” had told the contractor where to set his derrick so as to handle the big rocks to the best advantage but the contractor disregarded instructions with the result that, later, the derrick had to be moved to where he had been told to put it. When the wall was completed the contractor included the cost for this change in his bill but “the Boy” refused to pay for this item. Years went by when the contractor again urged payment. “The Boy” made a rapid calculation and decided to pay the bill as rendered, and chuckled as he told the story. “We both won,” said he, “The contractor got his money nor did I pay for moving the derrick, for the interest, in the meantime, had accumulated to the amount of the bill.” As to CASTLE-O’-DREAMS, the time had come for new growth to meet new needs. Again the “Princess fair” had an idea. The fireplace was too close. “I’d like it pushed way-y-y back” she told “the Boy” and April 23, 1926, the expansion, which had been in thought for many moons, was begun. “The Boy’s” delight was to please his “Princess fair” so low foundations soon rambled out from the south wall over an area much greater than that of the main building. Slender steel forms arched upward into the air and, presently, a wide-spreading house of crystal had grown from the wall of the Castle where the fireplace had formerly stood. The fireplace gave way to a great door and, itself, receded to the far side of the huge glass Sun Room ,beyond which, a billiard room, swimming pool, fourteen greenhouses and the big rock garden had become the visualized answer to a friend who, some time before, had asked “Why don’t you fill up that unsightly hole?” but had received only an evasive reply. While the “unsightly hole” was being so beautifully “filled up” a new fence, each post a battlemented white stone tower, took the place of the old while, at the same time, the graceful, slender-columned…
Page 92: PC: “…pergola began to take shape along the top of the great fortress-like wall, rising in two stages from Riverside Drive, seventy-five feet below. Thus, in three major stages of development, has CASTLE-O’-DREAMS come into being; – First, the original stone structure – commenced November 23, 1907 and completed in the fall of 1909. Next, the big retaining wall – begun 1921 and completed in 1925. Then, the glass structure, the new fence, and the pergola – three units in one, as it were – begun in 1926 and completed in the spring of 1928. AND NOW, as one gazes at all his wide-spread beauty the glowing foliage of a venerable old Purple Beech – scarlet-studded in the bright June sunlight – catches the eye and lays hold on fancy. Who, or what manner of person was it, he wonders, who, hundreds of years ago, had set it out – whether the old tree heard the spiteful snarl of the bullets on that fateful November night of 1776 – if it had stood, a mere switch, in the door yard of some Dutch farmer’s “clearing” among the beautiful old trees of the vanishing Indians’ Birch Bark Country and fancy, yet unsatisfied, “…dipt into the future far as human eye could see” striving vainly to picture the course of change and what manner of thing will have, in its turn, replaced this present growth of steel and brick and stone which has supplanted all those noble trees of the Birch Bark Country – a million years hence. Clement Benjamin Davis
Page 93: “Clement B. Davis PICTORALIST of Homes and Gardens ~ Artists’ Colony, 529 Studio Road, Ridgefield, N.J. ~ Phone Morsemere 3025”
Page 94: NYHS: “On this page to be the favorite portrait of the lady of the house, preferably facing toward the her left so as to be looking toward the names of the guests, beginning on opposite page just below the greeting.” PC: reproduction of portrait of Minnie Minton Middaugh Paterno
Page 95: “Hail Guest! We ask not what thous art. If friend, we greet thee hand and heart; If stranger, such no longer be; If foe, our love will conquer thee.” (This page does not appear in the PC version.)
The pages below appear only in the Paterno Castle (PC) version of the book:
Transcription: SALUTE! To grace the Hudson’s lofty heights, Paterno Castle stands – The charming symbol of delights, Which crown successful hands. Here luxury and art commune, The pool invites the fair, Rare flowers waft their rich perfume, Sweet music fills the air. As Castle glows with light and life, And feast and joy hold sway, We toast our host and his sweet wife, This silver wedding day. As years roll on, as they surely will, And silver days have sped, May peace and love still bless this hill, Through golden days ahead! – Charles T. Lark – To Doctor and Mrs. Charles V. Paterno, Castle Paterno, New York City, December 23rd, 1931. [Note: a large party was held for Charles and Minnie Paterno at the Castle on their 25th wedding anniversary.]
The photos below are to demonstrate the size of the Paterno Castle brag book:
The Paterno also commissioned a brag book for their country estate, Windmill Farm, which you are welcome to view HERE.