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Seeing changes on the river through some seventy summers provides Paul with a personal view of more than half of its history as a major resort. When a youngster, he became intrigued with it's earlier history, as related in his trilogy of books about the Thousand Islands derived from a lifetime of research.
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An architect, author, and educator, Paul has long been active in preserving historic buildings. Presenting a 2001 "Excellence in Historic Preservation" award, the Preservation League of New York State said: "For over 40 years, Paul Malo has been at the forefront of preservation advocacy in New York – as architect, author, teacher, scholar, and consultant. A faculty member of Syracuse University’s School of Architecture for over 30 years, Paul also maintained an architectural practice that brought him into contact with many historic properties. Paul also authored numerous publications featuring New York’s architectural heritage, from the Adirondack Great Camps to the Thousand Islands region. A former president and trustee of the Preservation League of New York State, Paul’s work continues to protect and promote our historic resources." |
Professor Malo also received the prestigious Pillar of New York award, "Honoring twenty-five years of leadership." He has similarly been recognized by communities around New York State, such as Rochester, Syracuse, and Thousand Island Park, where he has been a preservation advisor for many years. As an architect, Paul is known for many works in Central New York, most notably the Onondaga County Civic Center. |
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Paul has written about Central New York, Rochester, and the Adirondacks, but mostly about the river, where he spent summers as a youngster. The first volume of his Thousand Islands trilogy focussed on the enigmatic lore about the prinicipal landmark of the region, Boldt Castle. Several versions of the Boldt story persist on the river. The book's narrative describes, as the subtitle indicates, the search for the lost story. The late Clover Boldt Baird, grand-daughter of George and Louise Boldt, and her husband, Alec Baird, ultimately provided the critical family version, long suppressed and doubly surprising because it was not consistent with the official history long presented visitors, or, in fact, with Mrs. Baird's own published telling of the story. Paul's publication became immediately controversial. Not sold to visitors at Boldt Castle, the Antique Boat Museum pulled the books from the shelves of the shop in deference to the views of the Boldt Castle management. Boldt Castle has been reprinted several times, available at the museum and elsewhere regularly in recent years--but not at Boldt Castle. |
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Boldt Castle has received commendatory comments, such as a substantial review in the scholarly journal, New York History. The book, available through local retailers, is distributed by Syracuse University Press and North Country Books. JV Prep Productions has acquired an option for film and TV rights. |
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The second volume of the Thousand Islands triology broadened scope to view the larger resort community at the turn of the twentieth century. The title, Fools' Paradise, reflected the emphemeral quality of our golden (or "gilded") age, fleeting like our short summers. The title also suggested the foolishness of some projects like the Boldts' extravganza, or Carleton Villa, shown of the cover, where the according to local lore the owner spent merely one night. Fools' Paradise, with hundreds of historic photographs, conveys a lavish lifestyle when a fleet of huge steam yachts and grand houseboats, as well as innovative Gold Cup racing craft, adorned the river. Three major yacht clubs served as social centers, supplimented by grand hotels. Little is left of this lost world, except several imposing summer homes. The story tells of builder' achievements that were rewarded by great fortunes and these astonishing trophy houses. |
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The second and third volumes of the trilogy, even moreso than the Boldt Castle book, are in part personal memoirs, recalling Paul's impressions of the river during the first half of the twentieth century. A family friend, "Julie," a half-century older than the youngster, recalled the gilded age here. The once wealthy actress had fallen into hard times during the Great Depression, but lives again in these books as a remarkably gallant lady. |
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A Floating World continues the narrative of Fools' Paradise, adding a few more fully developed case studies focused on several families on the river. The book also surveys the roster of political and theatrical personalities identified with the resort. Yachting is another component, with a segment about the last of the great steam yachts, the Magedoma, now being restored. Like the first two books, A Floating World contains hundreds of historic illustrations. The trilogy as a whole approaches a thousand pages in length. The books are indexed. A Floating World provides an extensive bibliography of historic and modern books about the Thousand Islands. The publisher of the Thousand Islands trilogy is Laurentian Press.
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