The History of SKIBO Castle

"Heaven on earth" was how Andrew Carnegie described SKIBO - his glorious Highland Castle. Born in Dunfermline, Scotland, he came to America at the age of thirteen to make his fortune and returned one of the richest and most successful men of his generation. His extensive search for a Highland Home led him to SKIBO which for over a thousand years had enchanted all who visited there. In the tenth century its Celtic people believed SKIBO to be a gift from the Gaelic fairies and called it "Schytherbolle" or "Fairyland of Peace". The passing years and slow change of the name had in no way dispelled its old magic and Carnegie was immediately captivated. He acquired SKIBO in 1898 and spent a fortune rebuilding the castle, to create one of the world's great residences. Carnegie used SKIBO as a base for his intensely active social life and his philanthropic endeavors.

About the same time as his gaining ownership of SKIBO, the towns of Mansfield and Chartiers merged to form the borough of Carnegie. In return for naming this new town for him, he built the beautiful Andrew Carnegie Free Library with its attached Music Hall. Carnegie was present at the building's dedication and the stage curtain featured a painting of his beloved SKIBO castle.

Nearing the One Hundredth anniversary of Carnegie's purchase of SKIBO Castle and his dedication of the Borough's library and music hall, together with the beginning of SKIBO Bancshares, M. H. C., seemed an appropriate time to replace the long gone original stage curtain with an updated rendition of SKIBO Castle.

The materials were donated by First Carnegie Deposit and SKIBO Bancshares, M. H. C., which combined with the artistic talents of the members of Stage 62, have produced this new curtain which will evidence the relationship of Andrew Carnegie, Carnegie Borough, the Andrew Carnegie Free Library, First Carnegie Deposit, Skibo Bancshares M. H. C., and Stage 62.

- Wanda Forsythe Clay

This page was last updated Mon Jan 19 00:21:50 1998