Incredibly intelligent Harry Andrews lead an interesting life but, when he retired at 65, he started a building project that would be his legacy. As dementia phased in, his dreams took flight! He spent decades building (nearly single handedly) a massive 16th Century Medieval castle on 1.5 acres outside of Cincinnati, OH. Hauling water in pails from the river and making bricks in milk cartons.
The truly impressive Loveland Castle (Chateau Laroche) and Harry Andrews received a lot of attention over the years from the news and locals. The castle served a greater purpose though... Harry retreated into a more simple time, rejecting the modern world, and founded the Knights of the Golden Trail. Something like Boy Scouts, they did camping, and they emulated the ideals of noble knight of yore.
“What about those Knights, the young men for whom Harry built the castle and to whom it was willed when he died? "Nothing that God ever made on the earth is more awe inspiring and heart warming than the sight of a noble youth just budding into manhood," Harry wrote. "Any man of high ideals who wishes to help save civilization is invited to become a member of the Knights of the Golden Trail."
The Knights still maintain the castle today and welcome tourists. I stopped by on a road trip (took these pictures below).
To learn more about this architect, leader, visionary and possible dirty old man, (including how he cheated death once, but ultimately died of an infection from when he lit his pants on fire on the castle roof while burning trash). Click here! Or here!
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