In and around 1900 Holyoke, Massachusetts was one of the wealthiest cities in the world. By the latter part of the 20th Century a hydro-electric dam and canal water power system provided the manufacturers and residents of the city with virtually free electricity. Because of this a wonderful, prosperous community flourished and people from all over the world came to Holyoke to become a part of its incredible success and excitement.
Belle Skinner was the daughter of the owner of the Skinner Silk Empire whose mills in Holyoke and offices in New York City made their family close to a billion dollars by 1920. After WWI, Belle went to France and began the village restoration project with President Poincare and restored the village of Hattonchatel in Lorraine. In the process she found a stash of 400 old coins dated back to the time of Cahrlemagne who is known to have had a fortress there and left behind an incredible treasure that has never been found. On her last trip back to France to live in the restored castle, Belle mysteriously died in a Paris hotel.