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Little known to visitors because most boat tours did not pass this way, the group of islands in Chippewa Bay was once more prominent because of the Chippewa Bay Yacht Club, which won and hosted Gold Cup Races here. Since Dark Island has been opened to the public, more visitors discover this beautiful area.
Wyanoke Island with distant Dark Island. Ian Coristine / 1000 Islands Photo Art
Chippewa Bay was favored by duck hunters at the turn of the twentieth century. The story is told of Frederick Bourne bringing his family, finally to see the "shooting box" he had been building for years. They threaded their way among these islands until rounding the tip of Ingleneuk Island (above) they were astonished to see the great granite pile of their new "castle" on Dark Island.
"The Towers," Dark Island, Ernest Flagg, architect. Frank Hui photograph.
Frederick Bourne on Dark Island and his neighbor on Ingleneuk Island, Frederic Remington, probably are the two most historically notable residents of the Thousand Islands. Bourne, if less well known, had greater impact on the course of history, since he built his Singer Sewing Machine business into the first global corporation, advancing marketing practice by innovations such as installment plan purchasing and local customer service as well as establishing retail facilities all over the world.
Dark Island. Ian Coristine / 1000 Islands Photo Art
Although Frederic and Frederick looked at each other's islands across the water, they probably saw little of each other. Frederic Bourne was in quite a different league from most members of the summer colony. He had several homes and yachts and did not spend the entire season here. Dark Island was built for fall hunting, but the family subsequently enjoyed it longer each year.
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Ingleneuk Island Boat House. Courtesy Remington Art Museum. |
Frederic Remington. |
"The Writer at Work, Ingleneuk, 1902," Photograph by Edwin Wildman, courtesy Frederic Remington Art Museum, Ogdensburg, New York
Frederic Remington, unlike his neighbor, did spend a long season here. Although best known for his western scenes and bronzes, painted several Chippewa Bay landscapes. The major museum of his work is nearby at Ogdensburg.
Frederic Remington: Chippewa Bay, ca. 1908. Buffalo Bill Historical Center.
Frederic Remington: Ironsides. Buffalo Bill Historical Center.
Ironsides Island, locale for a breeding colony of Great Blue Herons, was designated a Natural National Landmark in 1967.
Looking northwards to Sister Island Lighthouse and Grenadier Island. Ian Coristine / 1000 Islands Photo Art.
Chippewa Bay lies between two landmark lighthouses, Sister Island and Crossover.
Crossover Lighthouse. Rudy and Alice Rico photograph.
Crossover Lighthouse. Ian Coristine / 1000 Islands Photo Art.
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Dark Island provides a grand setting for special events.
Dark Island wedding. Tom Weldon photograph.
Dark Island. Brigitte photograph.
Dark Island landscape. Jean DeVaughan photograph.
Some families have enjoyed island summer homes in Chippewa Bay for generations-- for more than a century at Ragnovok, below.
Ragnavok island, with Oak Island, left, and Rob Roy at rght. Brush Island is behind Ragnovok, with Grenadier in the far distance. Ian Coristine / 1000 Islands Photo Art.
Cooler fall weather brings different landscape qualities--here morning "sea smoke" that rises when still warm water releases vapor into the chilly air.
Ian Coristine / 1000 Islands Photo Art.
Islands have typical contours, generally elongated granite formations aligned with the river itself, like stone ships with "flagged" pine masts.
Ian Coristine / 1000 Islands Photo Art.
[More to come]. |
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