If you live in Chesterfield, New Hampshire you have most likely heard of Madame Sherri and her mysterious "Castle" in the woods along the Gulf Road. Madame Antoinette Sherri was an extravagant Broadway costume designer during the era of magnificently staged reviews such as the Ziegfeld Follies. The Madame had a varied and mysterious life which I outline in my article this week for the New England Photography Guild Blog (To be Published 3/24/14). Today, she is mostly remembered for the summer retreat that she built in 1931 to entertain her friends from the city. All that remains of her "Castle" is the foundation and a marvelous native stone spiral staircase, which now rises sadly to the sky.
exhaustively explored by
fellow Chesterfield Conservation Commission Member Lynne Borofsky. I
partnership with the Chesterfield Historical Society, Lynne has been
able to answer many of the questions surrounding the Madame’s history,
especially as related to her time in Chesterfield, but many mysteries
remain. Lynne has also
been fortunate to gain access to many photographs from Madame Sherri’s
original photograph albums and it has been my privilege to work on the
restoration of these images. They provide a wonderfully personal window on the Madame’s life. I
have included some of the pictures in this week’s NEPG Blog, but since
space was limited I decide to arrange more in this separate album.
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| Young Madame |
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| Andre & Madame |
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| Madame & Andre Puerto Rico Wedding |
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| Madame and Pigeons |
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| Chain Smoker |
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| Charles Lamaire |
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| Primrose Path |
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| Furlone Farm, Madame's Home |
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| Main Stairway |
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| Rare Castle Interior Image |
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| After the fire |
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| The Ruins |
