FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 01, 2005 "Singer Castle's Moike at Antique Boat Museum"

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As the Antique Boat Museum's 41st annual boat show begins on August 5, visitors drawn from all over the country will have an opportunity to marvel at the extensive collection of antique boats. One of these boats is the Moike, a high-speed 38HP Gold Cup launch purchased by Frederick G. Bourne, owner of Singer Castle on Dark Island, for his daughter Marjorie on her 14th birthday. Built in 1904, the boat is unrestored. An avid boater, Bourne became involved in competitive speedboat racing in the early 1900s and Moike participated in the early races along the River, winning many trophies. Bourne, the fourth president of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, built Singer Castle in Chippewa Bay, which was completed in 1905. He was a sportsman, boxer, hunter and boater, and in fact, Singer Castle was built as a “hunting lodge.” With the development of motorboats following the turn of the century, Bourne became fascinated with high sped racing. He also owned several other boats and in 1905 was named the commodore of the New York Yacht Club, where he was a life member, and his leather-bound annual member books were found in the library of the castle. Other distinguished members in 1905 included Cornelius Vanderbilt, John Jacob Astor, J.P. Morgan, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Bourne had several other yachts, steamers, and power boats, including the Alberta , a 300' yacht manned by over 100 men, which was purchased in England and was the flagship of the yacht club during most of his term as commodore. Bourne was also a member of the Chippewa Yacht Club, and was president of the exclusive Jekyll Island Club in Georgia from 1914 to 1919, and docked his palatial yacht Marjorie there. Visitors at the Antique Boat Museum who examine the Moike will now be able to enjoy some of the rich history of the area's wealthiest boater, Frederick G. Bourne of Singer Castle. Singer Castle is open to the public for guided tours daily from 10:00AM to 5:00PM. For more information, call (877) 327-5475 or visit the castle website at www.singercastle.com.