The Northernmost of the six buildings along Maraval Road and Queen's Park West is Stollmeyer's Castle. It was the first house to be constructed in St. Clair, shortly after the sale of the lands on which the Government stock farm was established.
The house was built by Charles Fourier Stollmeyer. Construction began in 1902 and was completed in 1904. It was designed by a Scottish architect, Robert Gillies, from the firm of Taylor and Gillies. Undoubtedly, the Scottish influence was predominant in the design. It is said that the structure of the house was patterned after a wing of Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
The structure involved a great deal of time and effort, and turned out to be the epitome of "magnificence". However, Mrs. Stollmeyer, who had simple taste, found the building much too elaborate for her fancy, and she and her husband did not move into it.
The house was given to their son, Conrad C. Stollmeyer, who was about to be married and who moved into the house in 1904.
The new Mrs. Stollmeyer named their new home "Killarney". In 1940, the building, like Whitehall, was used by the U.S. Forces, and was referred to as "the Castle" - no doubt because of the fortress-like and foreboding appearance, with its turret and spire. It was from that time referred to as "Stollmeyer's Castle".
In terms of architecture, J Newel Lewis, in "David Frost Introduces Trinidad and Tobago", describes Stollmeyer's Castle thus:
" . . . magnificently built, using difficult materials. It is a triumph of good construction and bizarre architecture. The hard stonework is beautifully cut square and dressed to fit all the slopes, which meant a lot of selection and hacking. This battle resulted in a tight, pale, brittle building, dry and laconic, sombre and tense. It is Scottish in its narrow verticality - French influenced - and no doubt, German in intent . . ."
A more detailed architectural description is given by Olga Mavrogordato in her book, "Voices in the Street."
" . . . the building is of imported brick, trimmed with hand-hewn limestone, and the marble on the gallery which surrounds the ground floor was imported from Italy. The ceilings on the ground floor are of plaster of Paris, and the gesso work of an Italian craftsman, add to the charm of these well-proportioned rooms.
"The interior woodwork and panelling downstairs are of various local woods. The roof beams were imported, as the local beams obtainable were not long enough. The floors downstairs are of purple heart wood from Guyana, and so is the beautiful staircase with its graceful harp-like design on the landing.
"The light filtering through the stained glass windows to the east, and the ministerial gallery with its elegant balustrade of purple heart overlooking the staircase, give a charming effect to the entire entrance of this beautiful home. A spiral staircase leads to the tower, from which an uninterrupted view can be had of Port of Spain and the harbour."
Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Stollmeyer lived at the house until their deaths. Mr. Stollmeyer died in 1965, and his widow in 1969. The house then passed to the Stollmeyers' only son, Dr. John Stollmeyer.
In March, 1972, John Stollmeyer sold "Killarney" for $215,000 to Jesse Henry A. Mahabir, an insurance executive. The building was to be used for residential purposes only. In March, 1971, for the first time "Killarney" was opened to the public, and hundreds of tourists visited it.
The building was acquired from Mr. Mahabir by the Trinidad and Tobago Government in 1979.
PAGE CREATED: 2002-02-28