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Chasing the World Record Muskie…

Chasing the World Record Muskie…

It was a really good hit, I grabbed the rod, set the hook and checked the drag. Dan was right next to me and I said, ‘Here...
by: Rich Clarke
The Essence of an American Christmas

The Essence of an American Christmas

Getting to Grindstone - First glitch, the boys had thrown locking hitches on the dock lines. NEVER a locking hitch after November 1!
by: Richard L. Withington
50 Year Old Sailing Memories

50 Year Old Sailing Memories

We finished last. We’d learned about starting, spinnakers that the Lightnings could deploy downwind, and how to get around the course without fouling.
by: Dave Whitford
“Taps” a Reveille Classic

“Taps” a Reveille Classic

The magnificent launch was completed on schedule as promised. Wela Ka Hao met Col. Wilber's expectations so completely that it became his principle boat for the next twenty-five summer seasons.
by: Anthony Mollica Jr.
Discovering the Box Stove Wreck…

Discovering the Box Stove Wreck…

I'm not sure why shipwrecks fascinate me. Maybe it's because I watched a boat sink while standing on my parent's beach i...
by: Dennis McCarthy
Anchors Away…

Anchors Away…

From the moment the anchor emerged dripping from the waters of the St. Lawrence River, the twelfth grade students of Tho...
by: Hayley Jones and Laura Kelly
The Ship named “Supply”

The Ship named “Supply”

The summer of 1904 proved to be the debut in quantity of the gasoline launch in the Thousand Islands. The Syracuse Post ...
by: Rex Ennis
“No son, It is a Cliffe Craft”…

“No son, It is a Cliffe Craft”…

The warm spring sun reflected brilliantly off the freshly varnished woodwork as Jack Preston guided his brand new blue a...
by: Tom King
All Sorts of Boats

All Sorts of Boats

Have you been to Clayton lately? If not, you are probably missing out on some interesting sights along the water. For...
by: Michael Folsom
The Dreamer: Captain Robert Beckstead of GBL

The Dreamer: Captain Robert Beckstead of GBL

Mix well: Seven months and $400,000. Add one motel owner, a lawyer and partner with a small boat company. Strain and pre...
by: Brian Johnson
About Hunter Grimes

About Hunter Grimes

“Sure is,” he said. “That was a hard crash. When I woke up in the ambulance and saw that white ceiling and the light, I thought ...
by: Dave Whitford
Protecting “One Dive at a Time

Protecting “One Dive at a Time

“If there’s that much trash in this one little area, then how much is in the entire river?” asked a spectator on a Septe...
by: Dennis McCarthy
Thousand Islands One-Design Sailboats

Thousand Islands One-Design Sailboats

The 1000 Islands is a playground for a multitude of summer water-based activities. Swimming, rowing, kayaking, wake-boar...
by: Tad Clark
An Unforgettable Turn of Events…

An Unforgettable Turn of Events…

Without the motor power, we still felt the boat dancing on the rocks and getting pushed around by the waves.
by: Konrad Linckh
Seeing Underwater…

Seeing Underwater…

“So spooky to see boats just sitting on the bottom, waiting for the end of time”, was the reaction of one of the visitor...
by: Kathi and Dennis McCarthy
Cranker’s Machine Shop

Cranker’s Machine Shop

During the early to mid-1900’s, Alexandria Bay’s boat building and repair business included several machine shops. My fa...
by: John Peach
Oh, Those Two Glorious Weeks!

Oh, Those Two Glorious Weeks!

As the summer of 2011 rapidly comes to a close I find myself thinking about our latest two-week cottage vacation and rea...
by: Tom King
Tinkering

Tinkering

Dave Whitford provides an article titled: "Tinkering" and a tribute to the late Riggs Smith whose contributions to the River community will be long remembered.
by: Dave Whitford
Baseball’s Boys of Summer at The New Frontenac

Baseball’s Boys of Summer at The New Frontenac

In the Gilded Age, as now, American’s love sports; hotels, clubs, and communities had teams. The Thousand Islands region...
by: Rex Ennis
1904

1904

June 1904 marked the beginning of the Gold Cup Races, considered power boat racing’s ultimate contest in North America a...
by: Robert L. Matthews
Welcome back Jim…

Welcome back Jim…

How many of us wish we could live, work and play golf in the Thousand Islands? James (Jim) Hungerford, who left the Rive...
by: Susan W. Smith
Honoring Hutchinson

Honoring Hutchinson

I started looking for sources of Hutchinson history to see if there might be enough material available to actually create a modest exhibit...
by: Anthony Mollica Jr.
Ship!

Ship!

SHIP! It’s a game we started when my husband retired nine years ago. It’s nothing original. We actually got the idea fro...
by: Lynn E. McElfresh
Northern Marine’s  community…

Northern Marine’s community…

Imagine if there was no gas station near your home, no mechanic to fix your car, or, when at home, no place to park your...
by: Susan W. Smith
Leaky Boats

Leaky Boats

I then knew, well before anyone else my age, that life’s basic needs were food, clothing, shelter and a boat...
by: Hunter Grimes
Chalks Marina, Our Magic Portal

Chalks Marina, Our Magic Portal

The portal to our magical island world starts in Fishers Landing at Chalks Marina. I think my heartbeat doubles as soon...
by: Lynn E. McElfresh
Tom King’s Internet Research

Tom King’s Internet Research

I love the internet! It seems that not a day goes by without me marveling at the vast array of information that is avail...
by: Tom King
Island Quest Scavenger Hunt …

Island Quest Scavenger Hunt …

Getting stranded on an island with your students may sound like a teacher’s field trip nightmare, but in St. Lawrence Is...
by: Kim Robinson
120 Years and Counting

120 Years and Counting

"There's something pretty special going on here" says Scott MacCrimmon surveying the crowded room. It’s early January in...
by: Linda Gayle Ross
More Nostalgic Vessels

More Nostalgic Vessels

I dug into the family archives and found some more great pictures of interesting and memorable boats that plied both the American..
by: Tom King
St. Lawrence River Skiff goes beyond…

St. Lawrence River Skiff goes beyond…

In December 2010, The Finger Lakes Chapter of the Antique Classic Boating Society published this article written by Tony...
by: Anthony Mollica Jr.
Johnny Truesdell’s Abay.com

Johnny Truesdell’s Abay.com

The 1st part of my trip was really fun.. the last part 'not so much'.. it was becoming Man vs Wild back there..
by: Susan W. Smith
How Dixie II got its name…

How Dixie II got its name…

What a thrill it was when a package arrived recently from a man I had never met, Bill Schroeder. The envelope contained ...
by: Robert L. Matthews
Floyd Carter’s Motor Iceboat

Floyd Carter’s Motor Iceboat

100 Years Ago:  “The familiar sound of a put-put from the vicinity of Washington Island caused people to look at on...
by: Mark A. Wentling
Bringing Back Ice Fishing…

Bringing Back Ice Fishing…

Tim Jowett is a dedicated fisherman.

by: Kim Robinson
Ladies, Canoes and Rules: “Camp Grindstone” Part II

Ladies, Canoes and Rules: “Camp Grindstone” Part II

Women stayed in their own camp from five o’clock in the afternoon ...
by: Robert L. Matthews
“Que’ Sara”: Basket Case to Beauty

“Que’ Sara”: Basket Case to Beauty

The Restoration of a Que’ Sara, a 1932 18’ Gar Wood           ...
by: John Peach
Hutchinson Boat Works

Hutchinson Boat Works

One of the best known and longest operating boat building businesses on the St. Lawrence River is Hutchinson Boat Works, Inc.
by: Bonnie Wilkinson Mark
First Airplane Service in the Islands

First Airplane Service in the Islands

Sightseeing flights over the islands were very popular. People loved to do the unusual, talk about it and maybe get their names in the paper.
by: Robert L. Matthews
Blue Lips and Goose Bumps

Blue Lips and Goose Bumps

You could always tell the river kids who were living the really good life from the ones who were not. It had nothing to do with family fortunes
by: Hunter Grimes
A Nautical Hitchhiker…

A Nautical Hitchhiker…

As a nautical hitchhiker, I've explored the Thousand Islands by tall ship, cruise ship, power boat, canoe skiff, Sea-Doo...
by: Kim Lunman
Fish Tales

Fish Tales

I learned to fish here in the Thousand Islands the year before we were married. My husband, Gary, grew up fishing. It wa...
by: Lynn E. McElfresh
Saving “River Runner”

Saving “River Runner”

My earliest recollection of "River Runner", our spectacular 1926 Hutchinson Brothers sedan, was of a gray painted work
by: John Peach
What is around the bend?

What is around the bend?

Hunched, damp and tired, we look at the scribbled number on the page and debate calling the U.S. Coast Guard. Almost 24-...
by: Trevor Brightman
About the Skiff…

About the Skiff…

Our 1902 St Lawrence Skiff “Bobby” was my salvation as a teenager. It was 1961 and our cottage on Comfort Island was easy rowing distance from Alexandria Bay, NY.
by: Tad Clark
“Building Chris-Craft, Inside the Factories”

“Building Chris-Craft, Inside the Factories”

When I met Anthony (Tony) Mollica at a recent gathering, I told him that I...
by: Susan W. Smith
46 Years and Counting…

46 Years and Counting…

The Antique Boat Museum's 46th Annual Boat Show in Clayton, held over the July 30th - August 1st weekend, attracted over 7000 visitors
by: David Dodge
What’s in a building… Part I

What’s in a building… Part I

What’s in a Building? Bricks, mortar and a lot of wood. But the Gananoque Canoe Club (GCC), now known as the Thousand Is...
by: Gretchen Bambrick
Sequel: The Cangarda's 'Faithful Guardian'

Sequel: The Cangarda's 'Faithful Guardian'

Louis Richards wrote, "It is a chapter in the story ...
by: Kim Lunman
Tony Mollica’s Boats

Tony Mollica’s Boats

The Central New York winter season has become my model building time. Several models have been built for collectors...
by: Anthony Mollica Jr.
Fulford's Steam Yacht Afloat Again

Fulford's Steam Yacht Afloat Again

One of the most luxurious steam yachts of the Thousand Islands was a floating fixture on the St. Lawrence River during t...
by: Kim Lunman
River Memories

River Memories

I captained the old Snider 1000 Islands tour boats from 1978 to 1980...
by: Paul Reilly
Early Pugilism in the Islands

Early Pugilism in the Islands

In 1867 the Marquess of Queensbury brought structure to the sport of prize fighting. These rules instituted the three mi...
by: Rex Ennis
Rideboat

Rideboat

We were headed back upriver, the last scheduled ride on a sunny, August Sunday afternoon. The boat was running well, sli...
by: David Dodge
Counting Down the Days…

Counting Down the Days…

  For me, there are only three seasons: Pre-River Season, River Season and Post-River Season. Pre-River Season s...
by: Lynn E. McElfresh
“Arctic Goose”

“Arctic Goose”

When the St. Lawrence River freezes over, one mode of transportation is by “ice boat” or “air boat”, as they are called ...
by: Rex Ennis
What’s in a Name?

What’s in a Name?

What’s one of the very first things you think of after purchasing a new boat? Perhaps you think to yourself, what will I...
by: Michael Folsom
K.I.S.S.R - Keep It Simple Sailing Regatta

K.I.S.S.R - Keep It Simple Sailing Regatta

Saturday August 1st, proved to be a perfect day on the St. Lawrence River in the Admiralty Islands for the first Annual ...
by: Douglas Goodfellow
Up Close by Kayak

Up Close by Kayak

One of the best ways to see a spectacular string of islands known as the Admiralty Group in the St. Lawrence River is up...
by: Kim Lunman
TIA Invites you to Breakfast

TIA Invites you to Breakfast

The Thousand Islands Association (TIA) will be holding their annual general meeting on July 25 at the Thousand Islands P...
by: Patricia Tague
Crooked Creek May Morning

Crooked Creek May Morning

The morning trip through Crooked Creek follows a route that brings a myriad of contemplations as well as a collage of co...
by: James Rappaport
Shipping Muse: A River Hobby

Shipping Muse: A River Hobby

  I was once spotted by innocent onlookers who crowned me to be the "crazy guy in a little boat with a big flag," i...
by: Michael Folsom
Keep Grindstone on the Left

Keep Grindstone on the Left

Editor's Note:  This month we received two short stories written by friends who paddle together in the summer. Both...
by: Kathy Kempson and Peggy Hart
Training On Ice

Training On Ice

Ice on the mighty St. Lawrence is beginning to thaw, but as light snow fell on the morning of February 22, nearly thirty...
by: Michael Folsom
Danger On Ice

Danger On Ice

We were going to contact you about going airboating with us, but we had a small mishap a few weeks ago.
by: Michelle Argersinger
Research at Governor's Island

Research at Governor's Island

The Thousand Islands Biological Station (TIBS) is located on Governor's Island, near Clayton, NY, and is an important re...
by: John Farrell, PhD
The MacNair Forty-Acre Muskie

The MacNair Forty-Acre Muskie

A “Monster” muskie was caught in the Thousand Islands on November 28th by Ottawa resident Dale MacNair who was with his ...
by: David Ray & Susan W. Smith
Spring into the Boating Season

Spring into the Boating Season

February, the dead of winter, and here we are thinking spring. We asked Roland Pootmans and his wife, Danielle, if they ...
by: Roland Pootmans
Clayton: a Boating World

Clayton: a Boating World

There can be no disputing Clayton is the boating capital of the Thousand Islands both on land and in the water. This small U.S. town on the St. Lawrence River has been transformed ...
by: Kim Lunman
Concours d'Elegance

Concours d'Elegance

What do Pebble Beach, California; Amelia Island, Florida; Michigan's Meadowbrook Hall; Lake Como, Italy; and hopefully t...
by: Ian Coristine
Sinking a Scuba Mecca

Sinking a Scuba Mecca

We think of landmarks as being on land, but we have underwater landmarks on the river. Soon we may have one more. A non-...
by: Paul Malo
Original River Houseboat, Balboa

Original River Houseboat, Balboa

The Clark family of Comfort Island in 1893 acquired the first houseboat on the river, the Comfort (later Balboa). As Pau...
by: Paul Malo
Party of the Century

Party of the Century

Nearly a century has passed since the first golden age of the Thousand Islands ended. A "funeral" party in 1913 at the T...
by: Paul Malo
The Vision of the Anglers' Association of the St. Lawrence River

The Vision of the Anglers' Association of the St. Lawrence River

Instead of our patchwork of public parklands on the river, we might have had—and perhaps almost had—a larger...
by: Paul Malo