It's billed falsely by the deteriorating sign out front as "A Medieval Castle," defying the fact that the early 20th century was not, by any measure, "medieval." When John Hays Hammond, Jr., the quirky inventor of the 1920's, built his fabulous medieval-style castle on a point overlooking the sea near Gloucester, Massachucetts, he had no idea that it would become a repository of some of the tackiest, thrift-shop trash imaginable.

Hammond built the impressive structure and filled it with an eclectic collection of priceless objects d'art from Europe including early Roman sculpture, medieval church carvings in stone and wood, and even facades of charming buildings his architects artfully worked into the edifice. The lovely gardens, awesome "great hall," fabulous 1000-pipe organ, and the charming castle turrets, narrow passageways, and open-beamed rooms make the place a charmer, even for people like me who have visited the great castles of Europe and North America. Add to this the fascinating story of the inventive genius and personal eccentricitries of the father of radio-controlled guidance systems, and you have a place that should fascinate the most jaded visitors to historic sites.

But, when the castle came into the hands of its current owners, something horrible happened. In an inexplicable effort--it is supposed--to add interest for visitors, the "curator" (if, indeed, anyone fills this role) began filling every available square meter of the walls and rooms with the most awful collection of cheap junk imaginable. A modern, tole-painted serving tray placed among some of Hammond's lovely curios, cheap, modern pine cabinets covered with strange nick-nacks, and cheap reproductions of medieval armor (available at any Medieval Times gift shop) clutter the castle and offend the taste and senses of any discriminating visitor.

The greatest favor anyone could do for the memory of John Hays Hammond, Jr., and the thousands of visitors who fork over seven to ten bucks a visit would be to sweep through the place removing and trashing every piece not actually owned my Mr. Hammond and placed in his castle personally. As Hammond Castle stands, it's as if someone had painted a blond wig and goggles on a fine reproduction of the Mona Lisa.