In its quest to financially keep its head above water, Winnekenni Castle has harnessed its mystical atmosphere.
The castle and its surroundings meld quite nicely with the increasing demand for psychics and spiritual readings — something they discovered about five years ago and have built upon ever since.
The first night of psychic readings employed only two psychics and it sold out quickly, so they added another, then another. Now they need five psychics and hope to find a sixth.
Just last month, the first psychic night of the 2008 season, the evening sold out as soon as the doors opened. There was a line of people down the walkway of the castle, each hoping for a reading. To accommodate everyone, a couple of psychics agreed to stay longer.
This month Haverhill psychic medium Susan Deren rented the castle for a May 9 event with a group audience of 80. The evening was similar to the television show of international psychic medium John Edward called "Crossing Over." (See related story in this issue.)
On the Castle's roster this year are a psychic workshop on June 19, where psychics teach people how to tap into their own intuition; a channeling workshop on Aug. 7, and a psychic fair on Aug. 24. Psychic nights will still be held monthly, but due to the demand, the number of months the castle holds them has increased — from April straight through to December.
As always, the castle's Halloween offerings, which flourish under the castle's mystical ambiance, take up all weekends during the month of October with haunting nights — The Castle of the Living Dead.
Extending events into December is something the castle can easily handle now that major renovations have taken place. The castle has a new roof, new windows, new masonry work, new woodwork, a new dance floor, and new paint throughout. It's a warm and safe atmosphere for all.
Outside, landscaping was added to beautify the grounds last year and more will be added this year.
Along with the improvements comes a modest increase in the rates to rent the castle — $200 an hour during peak hours, up from $150 last year. Peak hours are Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays. But if that rate is too much, they also offer a bargain-time rate for off-peak hours, Monday through Thursday and non-holidays, at a rate of $200 for four hours. As a result they have more requests for weddings during the week. The castle hosts about 20 to 25 weddings per year, said Grace Marcoux, president of Winnekenni Foundation, which oversees the castle.
Next, Marcoux hopes a serious fund can be set up to take care of the cosmetic and structural needs of the castle because the historic landmark requires constant repair.
This year the three outbuildings behind the castle will be painted and the brush around them will be cleared to make way for a new picnic area with about 12 picnic tables. The strong, sturdy tables, which last many years, can cost up to $800 each so she hopes city businesses will help sponsor them. She envisions six tables scattered on the hill and six under the large tree by the outbuildings.
Winnekenni Foundation is negotiating for a food cart owned by a Haverhill resident to be available at the castle soon.
New this year is Chowderfest & Music on Aug. 10, with a rubber duckie race in the little river that runs into the basin. Organizers are ready with 750 rubber duckies on hand.
The partnership between the castle and Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School will continue when trade students and staff help build a new rock wall around the Castle marquis by the Kenoza Avenue entrance. They expect to break ground in September. The marquis was donated by Haverhill Rotary Club. New landscaping will also be done around the flagpole donated by Haverhill Exchange Club.
And Winnekenni Foundation and COCO&CO just settled on a new logo that blends the old with the new: An antique drawing of the castle is done in dark green, reminiscent of the castle's wooded surroundings. It has an updated radial arch, representing the hill it sits on. The name WINNEKENNI is prominent with Foundation Inc. in smaller letters underneath, depicting how the foundation operates quietly in the background, holding the castle up and keeping it alive.
Marcoux calls it "The People's Castle" because she believes the foundation keeps it standing for everyone to enjoy. Anyone can become a member, which costs $50 for a family, $25 for individuals and $500 for businesses.
"It's a wonderful asset with such good spirit. Everything that happens here is so happy," said Marcoux, who has been actively involved with the castle since her son was 4 and attended theater groups there, which was more than 20 years ago.
For the future, in the spirit of scientist and inventor Dr. James R. Nichols, who built the castle in 1874 as a summer home, Marcoux wants more science events for children. Nichols opened a drug store in Haverhill and founded a wholesale drug and chemical business in Boston. His inventions include a soda water dispenser, a fire extinguisher, and an improved hot-air furnace.
Foundation member Thomas Sullivan has expressed an interest in horseback riding on the trails, and boat rides in Winnekenni Basin, but that could only happen in partnership with other city departments. The foundation has control only over the top of the hill around the castle itself.
Marcoux agrees that it's important to make the castle a destination for both residents and those who would venture here from out of town. Marcoux also wants to bring back the Renaissance Fair, which was an annual event from 1991 to 1993.
But the big event this year is the 40th anniversary of Winnekenni Foundation. The celebration will be held Aug. 21 with a wine and cheese reception, and organizers hope get some of the original board members to visit as none still sit on the board. They are looking for photos of the original interior of the castle if anyone in the community has photos to share.
