Karl Triller (September 30, 1928 - February 27, 2022) was born in Hungary and immigrated to Canada as a young man in the early 1950s. He worked in northern Ontario for a couple of years before moving to BC, where he worked as a baker and cook in forestry camps.
He married Elizabeth Wolf in 1956 and they had four children: Margaret in 1956, Rudy in 1958,Terry in 1960 and Fred in 1962. Around 1964 they settled in Courtenay,and Karl worked for Safeway for the next 16 years. Karl and Elizabeth divorced in the late 1970s.
Karl took early retirement at the age of 52 and moved to Cortes Island. He had always loved castles, and the granite rock of his property on Manzanita Road was the perfect place to build one. He designed, built and furnished a five-story, eight-bedroom German medieval-style castle of cement blocks over the course of 12 years. The castle featured eight bedrooms, a large dining hall, and a dungeon in the basement. The castle opened for business in the early 1990s, serving as a bed-and-breakfast and a venue for banquets and parties.
Karl took an active part in community life, and was crowned King of Cortes in Dec 2000. His duties included leading the Cortes Island Day parade and presiding at community Christmas dinners.
L to R: Kiyoshi Kosky, Justin Stirn, Mike ?, John Shook
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
L to R: Kiyoshi Kosky, Justin Stirn, Mike ?, John Shook
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
L to R: John Shook, Justin Stirn, Pierre DeTrey, Kiyoshi Kosky, Cedar DeTrey
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
L to R: John Shook, Justin Stirn, Pierre DeTrey, Kiyoshi Kosky, Cedar DeTrey
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
L to R: Cedar DeTrey, Mike ?, John Shook
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
L to R: Cedar DeTrey, Mike ?, John Shook
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
Note the log bulwark in the background designed to stop erosion of the bank.
This is one of five photographs with an accompanying letter brought to the Museum from the Manson's Landing fire hall. The photos were used in a display and have been removed from a paper backing. The letter is in the Small Fonds box.
Note the log bulwark in the background designed to stop erosion of the bank.
This is one of five photographs with an accompanying letter brought to the Museum from the Manson's Landing fire hall. The photos were used in a display and have been removed from a paper backing. The letter is in the Small Fonds box.
One of a series of photographs of volunteers removing the remains of shacks at Carrington Bay when Carrington Bay Marine Park was established.
L to R: Kiyoshi Kosky, Pierre DeTrey, Cedar DeTrey
One of a series of photographs of volunteers removing the remains of shacks at Carrington Bay when Carrington Bay Marine Park was established.
L to R: Kiyoshi Kosky, Pierre DeTrey, Cedar DeTrey
Dr. Dale Anderson's Marine Dental Clinic provided dental services for Cortes Island and nearby islands from 1995 - 2020. The dental office was originally in this sailboat and then moved into the float house clinic at the Whaletown dock (seen at the bottom of the ramp).
Dr. Dale Anderson's Marine Dental Clinic provided dental services for Cortes Island and nearby islands from 1995 - 2020. The dental office was originally in this sailboat and then moved into the float house clinic at the Whaletown dock (seen at the bottom of the ramp).
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
L to R: Kyoshi Kosky, Justin Stirn
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
L to R: Kyoshi Kosky, Justin Stirn
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
"Fred's cat, 1969" on verso.
Fred Reedel was skidding into Strange's Bay in 1969 with this beautiful 40 foot long, 6 foot diameter fir log in the arch.
"Fred's cat, 1969" on verso.
Fred Reedel was skidding into Strange's Bay in 1969 with this beautiful 40 foot long, 6 foot diameter fir log in the arch.
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.