The home was built in 1897 by Norman McEwan, a brother of William and Andrew McEwan. Notes written by Fanny Simpson Johnson say that the house had windows facing all four directions and that the rooms were quite large.
The first tenants were Mr. W. A. McEwan and family who took in boarders and later rented apartments. Mr. McEwan is said to have built five other homes on Algoma Street around the same time as the castle and as of 1988, three of the five were still occupied.
Interviews from long time residents state that the castle was the first thing people on ships approaching Thessalon would see from a distance due to its height and location high up on the rock.
The Castle was later used as a hospital, but the approach to the building made it very difficult to get the patients in and out. As there were no stairs over the rocks, you simply had to pick your way up to the house. After its use as a hospital, a few rooms remained rented out and in later years Mr. George Rhodes, who owned a mill in Thessalon, resided in the house with his family. He is believed to have been the last tenant.
Prior to its demolition the "castle" sat vacant for quite some time and became the source of a real "Thessalon Urban Legend" that being that the "castle was haunted" and many seniors who were interviewed and asked about their memories of the unique landmark all mentioned their apprehension as youngsters with regard to the haunted mansion.
The castle is believed to have been demolished in 1945 when it was said to be owned by Harry Phillips.
Despite having hand written notes by a long time resident who knew the history of the property and played there as a child, and despite certified Land Titles documents, there persists a romantic story that even found its way into the Sault Daily Star, as of Monday September 9, 1974 with regard to this long time landmark.
The newspaper article refers to the castle as being built in 1916 by William Thomson who apparently had constructed the castle as a future home for his second wife who was still residing in Scotland. The article goes on to say that it was the first home in Thessalon to have indoor running water and plumbing facilities(that part may be true), but the notes supplied by Fanny Simpson Johnson clearly state the home was built by Norman McEwen.
As for it being surrounded by groves of apple trees and well kept grounds.....photos clearly show that this was not the case. It was built on rock and while there are some apple trees on lots nearby, the castle was surrounded by rock.
One last modern note to the castle tale and that is that the author of this essay currently owns the property next to Castle Rock and can confirm that, there are no apple orchards in close proximity of the site of the castle, nor is there any possibility of the castle having been surrounded by well kept lawns.
While there is an odd apple tree in the yards close by, conversations with previous owners confirm there were no orchards surrounding the castle and the only regular growth was and is around the base of the outcropping and that I'm afraid is only tag alders and weeds.
As for the castle being haunted...I guess we'll never know... it could be no more than part of the fairy tale legend of the castle.
