Seton Castle Restoration Ground-Breaking Ceremony Speeches

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January 21, 2005
Speech given by Beverly Spears

The restoration of Seton Castle has involved, to date, a great deal of research, understanding, close communication and participation from everyone involved. As the architects for this project, we continue to balance the needs of the Academy for the Love of Learning with the requirements of historic preservation, state and local building codes, budget and the sensitivity to the historic period to which the Castle is being restored.

Reviewing Seton’s journals and locating his original sketches for the design of the Castle, in addition to a few photos dating to the Seton era have been key to the understanding of how the Castle was designed, intended and constructed. The sketches that were located are simple pencil sketches, some on loose drawing paper and others from his journal entries. Seton is noted for his extensive and detailed drawings of wildlife, however, he was not an architect nor did he have full architectural drawings for the Castle. Possibly, he viewed the construction of the castle as a work of art with the ability to evolve through the process. The Castle was built in phases with many decisions and changes being made in the field. Signs of these field decisions and later modifications are evidence of his thought process during the design and construction of the Castle and are key character defining elements of the Castle.

Extensive site investigation and documentation have proven invaluable to the understanding of the construction. Conversations with Seton’s daughter, Dee Barber, and the review of several journal entries have given us great insight into how the Castle was used during the time that Seton lived there, 1931 to 1946. In addition to the information that Dee shared with us in reference to the time her father was alive, she helped us locate the original sketches and gave us additional information about the later additions to the Castle done by her mother, Julia.

Seton Castle is a National Historic Landmark not because of the architectural significance of the building but because it was the home of a significant contributor to history, Ernest Thompson Seton. So, when we look at the Castle, what we want to restore are the qualities of the Castle that illustrate how Seton was thinking and living during this final episode of his life.

The values we see manifested in the physical fabric and furnishings of the Castle include the love of learning, community, appreciation of wildlife, art, and an affinity with Native American culture. The largest room in the house is the library, which, during Seton’s era, was filled with books and chairs for guests, indicating Seton’s lifelong interest in bringing together people to learn about natural history and share stories of the outdoor life.

The original 2,500-acre parcel of land on which the castle stands was a somewhat remote, wild tract of piñon and juniper forest and grasslands that also reflected Seton’s romance with the great outdoors. The carefree rabbits incised in the plaster of the music room and the charming tar monkeys on the nearby wall, as well as the birdhouses tucked into the south eaves of the house, all speak of Seton’s love of animals.

The informal floor plan and the predominance of “public’ spaces along with the small bedrooms and minimal bath and dressing areas suggest a life devoted to work, study and social exchange rather than personal comfort. The west portal, northwest patio, east terrace and roof deck all support the informal life style and the connection with the outdoors.

Seton’s admiration of American Indians is expressed through design motifs on the front (west) elevation of the house and on the living room fireplace. Furthermore, the entire exterior composition of the house with its stepped massing, informal asymmetrical profile and mix of plaster, stone and wood gives the impression of a Hopi pueblo structure atop a desert mesa.

With the restoration of the Castle, our goal is to preserve and restore these many examples illustrating Seton’s values and thought processes. Through the construction phase of the project, it will be critical to continue the collaborative efforts of the owner, architect and contractor, share this understanding and respect for Seton, and maintain the integrity of the historic restoration of this important National Historic Register property.