History

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.

Volume 19, Issue 10, October 2024
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 . . .

Volume 19, Issue 10, October 2024
Paul Coté

The Steam Roller: Grindstone Island circa early 1940’s

The abandoned steam roller sat beneath the oak tree by our farm gate, a once proud machine. A metal roof covered the entire frame . . . The front roller was a massive, solid, round steel drum. Light rust now covered the roller with its bottom now slowly settling into the ground.

Volume 19, Issue 10, October 2024
Manley L. Rusho

The Islander Johnny O’Shea, Bard of Wolfe Island (1932 - 2023)

This post is to honor the late John “Johnny” Francis O’Shea (May 15, 1932 – September 11, 2023), of Wolfe Island, ON.

Volume 19, Issue 9, September 2024
Jannet L. Walsh

Patriot Chronicles: Battle by the Pen-William Lyon Mackenzie’s Letter to the People of St. Lawrence County, Part 1

Instead of using the sword, William Lyon Mackenzie took up the pen and supported the Patriot cause as the editor of "Mackenzie’s Gazette".

Volume 19, Issue 9, September 2024
John C. Carter

Patriot Chronicles: Battle by the Pen: William Lyon Mackenzie’s Letter to the People of St. Lawrence County, Part 2

Part 2 completes the presentation of a "Letter to the People of St. Lawrence County" written in "Mackenzie's Gazette", plus endnotes and references.

Volume 19, Issue 9, September 2024
John C. Carter

The Grindstone Island Cheese Factory, (Circa 1940-1954)

The Cheese Factory was open late April until about the end of October each year. Every morning when the factory was open, on the road there was a parade of horses and wagons, mostly a wagon with a single horse.

Volume 19, Issue 8, August 2024
Manley L. Rusho

R.M.S. Titanic and the Thousand Islands

You might ask what the "R.M.S. Titanic" and the Thousand Islands have in common?

Volume 19, Issue 7, July 2024
Rick Casali

Amazing Links to the Thousand Islands, first murder - now a sham auction! Part II

A sham car auction showcased the Wallis C. Bird car collection, 11 months after the death of the owner, Marjorie Winifred Kendall Bird in 1961 . . .

Volume 19, Issue 7, July 2024
Steve Krask

The Story of Miss St. Lawrence, Part II

The complete history of the gasoline powered "Miss St. Lawrence", built by Ira Cupernall. Most of those boats are gone. Some are displayed in museums. Only a few still grace the Thousand Islands. This is the story of one such boat that still plies the waters that bears her name: Miss St. Lawrence.

Volume 19, Issue 7, July 2024
Tom Frauenheim

Seeing Shipwrecks Then and Now

The first deep glimpse under the waters was for a select few with hardhat diving in the nineteenth century, but it was expensive and risky . . . Now underwater vehicles and underwater drones collect data and images without human intervention.

Volume 19, Issue 7, July 2024
Dennis McCarthy

Thousand Islands Watershed Land Trust Seminar

All about the Canadian Land Trust - such as learning about the various tax credits that could accrue to the owner, based on the type of gift - and more . . .

Volume 19, Issue 7, July 2024
Elspeth Naismith

Every Barn Has One

Every barn has one, some have two. What I am describing is a barn gutter, a place for cows to dispose of their digested hay or grain.

Volume 19, Issue 6, June 2024
Manley L. Rusho

Amazing Links to the Thousand Islands - Even Murder

A simple email brought back memories of my research into Batterman's Point and the mysterious death of Winnie Bird in far-off Switzerland... Steve Krask gives us new information and we are honored to share it now.

Volume 19, Issue 6, June 2024
Steve Krask

The Story of the Miss St. Lawrence

As the era of steamboats died out, a new breed of fast, sleek boats powered by gasoline engines rose to take their place. This is the story of one such boat that still plies the waters that bears her name: "Miss St. Lawrence".

Volume 19, Issue 6, June 2024
Tom Frauenheim

The Revenue Cutter "Salmon P. Chase"

Research about the Salmon P. Chace, a Revenue Cutter built to ply the Northern Lakes to prevent smuggling from Canada in 1965.

Volume 19, Issue 6, June 2024
Richard Palmer

Discovering Rogers Passage Through the Islands in 1760

After years of dedicated research and exploration, I have successfully charted the most plausible path that Major Rogers' expedition might have taken through the Thousand Islands. It has been a fascinating and challenging quest

Volume 19, Issue 6, June 2024
Jerry Knitis

Women Who Build and Race Boats

Traditionally, the boating industry has been dominated by men . . . This article will focus on a few women who have been pioneers in boat building and racing in the Thousand Islands.

Volume 19, Issue 5, May 2024
Rick Casali