TI Life Happenings in November ‘15

As we go to press we are learning more about the incredible violence that was struck in Paris on Friday, November 13th.  Like so many around the world I find it difficult to express our sense of outrage and sorrow – suffice to say our thoughts are with our Parisian friends.

Here in the Thousand Islands it is just November – a time for Thanksgiving – and a Quiet River – Mid-month and we have had warm temperatures, making many wish we were on the River, with a boat in the water!  Never mind, the cold winds will blow soon enough. 

Thanksgiving gives me the opportunity to thank our writers, for their hard work, and our readers for the comments and questions received throughout the year; they are truly appreciated.  

This issue:

Material presented his month will be appreciated by history buffs.  Both The Great Warship That Waited and Waited by Richard L. Palmer and Eye Witness Accounts of the Battle of Windmill Point, 1838 by Dr. John C. Carter have presented important reference material not easily found.  In fact, I wish I had found this Patriot War of 1838 and War of 1812 material, when I was researching my book.   In addition, Rex Ennis shares his research on  Grindstone’s Small Islands.  Res Ennis is also hoping we can help find a Missing Film @ the George Eastman Museum

Lynn McElfresh does a terrific job explaining the differences of Seasons Within Seasons and Sharon Bourquin, executive director of the Thousand Islands Museum in Clayton, NY gives a special tribute in Norm Wagner Remembered.

We also present two articles that go beyond our geographic area.  Let me explain. When we created “TI Life” we limited coverage to On the River, Under the River (Dive clubs) and Above the River (Ian Coristine’s photographs and now the drones…)  but we also introduce many who live in the region and are experts in their field.  One of those is Dan Lekander, Sudoku puzzle solver and another is Phil Chadwick, who is a retired, well-known meteorologist – so we took full advantage and present:

El Nino 2014… 2015… and Counting by Phil Chadwick and  Part 4–Sudoku Gordonian Rectangles and Polygons by Dan LeKander.  We are hoping these articles help you understand future weather patterns and to become an avid Sudoku solver! 

New contributors

Sharon Bourquin - Norm Wagner Remembered Sharon Bourquin was born and raised in Clayton, NY, graduating from Clayton Central School, in 1964.  She started volunteering at the Thousand Island Museum, after she retired as Secretary/Treasurer of Wingerath Bros., Inc., a local contracting and building supply business. For several years now, you can find Sharon at the Thousand Islands Museum as Volunteer Executive Director. When not at the Museum, she says, “I can usually be found with a book in my hand, as I am an avid reader.”

Sarah Ellen Smith - Come and See Otter Creek Sarah Ellen Smith began shooting and developing photos, with a brownie camera, along the shores of the St Lawrence River, Black River and Lake Ontario, during her childhood.  In the years since, she has traveled the world, taking images for various organizations. She worked special events, in photo processing, at “Sports Illustrated”, during the pre-digital era and continues to see the world through the lens of a camera. In 2010, Sarah Ellen became a year- round River resident, where she and John Arnot opened a gallery of their individual and collaborative work;  St. Lawrence Pottery, is a working artists’ studio, where Sarah Ellen works in glass and silver, decorating pottery, painting on canvases and giving demonstrations.

River’s loss

On Sunday, October 18th, longtime friends of Mary T. Dial met to express their sadness after learning that Mary died Monday, October 12 at her home in Clayton, where she was under the care of the Hospice of Jefferson Country and her Healthcare Providers.  Last summer, in September 2014, Janet Sullins  wrote:  A Special Thanks to Mary Dial.  Rather than just thanking Mary Dial and her late husband, Morse, for their many philanthropic gifts given to the North Country, a local committee, including Mary Mascott and Carol Munro, established the Dial Scholarship Endowment at SUNY Potsdam. The endowment provides annual scholarships to students from St Lawrence, Jefferson and Lewis Counties, hoping to study the Arts at Potsdam. And better still, the majority of the gifts given in support of the scholarship endowment were matched by the Northern New York Community Foundation.

Mary Dial’s gardens were enjoyed by so many over the years and Elaine Vedette Tack captured them in a video, as part of the Garden Club of America’s Collection in the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.  Certainly Mary will be missed, but she truly left her mark in our communities and she will be remembered.

Gifts to TI Life

Our thanks for those who continue to think of TI Life and share. 

Robert Lynch, from Nokomis, Florida, sent a Souvenir post card book, published by the American Boat Line, Inc., Clayton, NY.  Robert discovered Mike Fesko’s article, How I found the missing American Boat Line… and thought we could share this.  These early publications help us piece together our River history. 

The American Boat Line, Inc. Clayton, N.Y. - with Calumet Castle.

Jeffry Weldon shared two videos…  We really are lucky!

Singer Castle Ranked… 

Tom Weldon shared this news!             Click Here to see the web site.

Photographs

This month we include a number of photographs originally posted on Thousand Islands River Views Facebook page.  Created by Dennis McCarthy, this group is for those who enjoy watching and seeing the Thousand Islands and the St. Lawrence River.  The group encourage readers to add their original photographs and to include the date and location of each picture.

Please Don’t Forget

Remember our Facebook page throughout the month, as we post information and photographs & follow us on We also appreciate having you hit our  button and DONATE!  Watch for our December when we start our Annual Appeal.

By Susan W. Smith, Editor info@thousandislandslife.com

[Special thanks to our proof readers,  Jane Taylor, Georgia Barker and RickTaylor and editors David Ray and Bill Stallan]