History

The Brown Boat Line

The date was March of 1917 and George Brown had just received the big news that he had been anxiously waiting for. The Clayton-based boat builder had been awarded the U.S. Government contract for carrying the mail between Clayton and Alexandria Bay . . .

Historic Shipwrecks of the Thousand Islands

From 1754 to 1760, the British and French built over 18 major warships on Lake Ontario and the Thousand Islands . . .

Dennis McCarthy

Starting to Discover River Sturgeons

I write to you as I am now living just west of Gan . . . and there is no awareness of the sturgeon fishery or that sturgeon stock are now quite plentiful in our area of the River."

Ken Treusdell & Susan W. Smith

The Sunset Anniversaries

Warren pulled the ties of his wife’s apron undoing the bow. She removed it and hung it up on its hook. “A walk to enjoy the sunset, my dear husband?” Elizabeth asked . . .

Sherry L. B. Johnson

"Mer Sea" – A 1999 French Canal Boat

With the Olympics in Paris this year, it seems appropriate that now we have a French canal boat on the St. Lawrence River. Welcome “Mer Sea,”

The Blue Boat, Grindstone Island, NY, Circa 1930’s – 1950’s

The Blue Boat had an important job for many years – to deliver milk, ice, and vegetables to my grandfather’s customers in the nearby summer island cottages . . .

Manley L. Rusho

A Very Lucky Fellow

I began life in Prescott's "Albert Whitney House," a now sadly derelict, long vacant, red brick town house on Prescott's Dibble Street.

The Blockhouse

The Blockhouse was built after the raid on Gananoque and was contracted by Charles McDonald . . . a very interesting history.

Motor Yacht "Dolphin" – A 65-foot Fast Commuter Yacht

It is hard to imagine that a 65-foot yacht has been owned by the same family since 1929. Motor Yacht (MY) Dolphin is such a vessel . . .

Captain George Darrell Horne MM

It was just weird that the ol’ man wasn’t out and about like he always was. Customs officers had arrived at their post by the pier and it was close to loading time. Still no sign of the captain . . .

A Week at the Frontenac Hotel

Have you ever wondered what visitors to the Gilded Age hotels did to pass the time, while staying in the Thousand Islands? Let’s look at a bulletin from the Frontenac Hotel on Round Island, for the week ending August 30, 1902.

Sharon Bourquin

Windmill Point Lighthouse

Windmill Point Lighthouse is one of only three that remain standing today, a testament to its strength – weathered but enduring. It was here that “The Battle of the Windmill" took place in 1838.

Mary Alice Snetsinger

Island Stories from the "Gananoque Reporter" in 1888

While doing some research in old issues of the Gananoque Reporter for 1888, I ran across a series titled ‘Gananoque’s Early Days’. Included in the articles several stories about various islands . . .