The Thousand Islands - Seasons of the St. Lawrence - excerpt

SEASONS OF THE

ST. LAWRENCE

GEO RGE FISCH ER

COVER | Water trails around the Admiralty Islands provide picturesque channels for boating adventures.

SOUTHWEST OF GANANOQUE, ON

PREVIOUS PAGE | The Sizeland family purchased Hub Island in the 1950s as a getaway, although the unique perch has become a popular cruise attraction. Dubbed “Just Room Enough Island,” it contains a small yard from which to enjoy the river view and relax after a quick dip.

ABOVE | Highly polished and showing off her lines, a small craft slices through the river past Boldt Castle.

Vintage boats are very popular in the Thousand Islands and often participate in classic boat shows.

H E A RT ISL A N D, A L E X A N D R I A B AY, N Y

A L E X A N D R I A B AY, N Y

Copyright © 2019 George Fischer.

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the photographer, George Fischer.

Design and captions by Catharine Barker, National Graphics, Toronto, ON Canada Copy Editor: E. Lisa Moses

Fischer, George, 1954-, photographer, author The Thousand Islands / photography, George Fischer.

ISBN 978-1-77108-711-7 (hardcover)

Nimbus Publishing Limited 3660 Strawberry Hill Halifax, NS Canada B3K 5A9

1. Thousand Islands (N.Y. and Ont.)--Pictorial works.

I. Title.

Tel.: 902 455-4286

FC3095.T43F57 2019

Printed in China 2

971.3’7050222

C2018-906298-3

foreword

T

he better part of marketing is telling a good story. In my 20 years of working at the 1000 Islands International Tourism Council, I have had the distinct pleasure of being one of the region’s storytellers.

As I enter retirement, I look back and appreciate how lucky I’ve been to live and work in one of the

world’s truly special places. I have always been impressed with how passionate loyal visitors are about the 1000 Islands. It is not simply a pretty place to visit, but also a place where people find comfort and rejuvenation; a place that encourages true and lasting relationships. Maybe the hospitable atmosphere comes from a 150-year tradition of welcoming diverse visitors. Maybe it comes from a blending of American and Canadian sensibilities.

As a tourism guy, I frequently got to tell our stories to visitors. It was a joy to come to work every day knowing that I didn’t simply have a product to sell. Rather, I had a wonderful story to share. Sometimes, a day called for guiding a foreign journalist. Other times, it included offering advice to visiting retirees on a road trip. Often, a day would hold a surprise. And occasionally, what started as a short story unfolded into many chapters. That was the case with George Fischer.

In 2000, George Fischer appeared at my office. He was looking for advice and assistance in shooting lighthouses. Since that first foray, George has become an ongoing chronicler of the Thousand Islands. Like so many others, he returns year after year, forging friendships and partnerships with all the storytellers, whether they be historians, tourism marketers, museum curators or cruise operators.

Over the decades, George has produced five books about the region, richly illustrating the stories of the Thousand Islands. In this new book you will find his favourite images depicting some of my favourite tales. Enjoy.

Gary DeYoung Retired Director 1000 Islands International Tourism Council

Castle Rest on Calumet Island enjoyed its glory days in the late 1800s. It once comprised 30 rooms, several outbuildings, a lagoon and a boathouse. After a fire decimated the structures in 1956, only a few of the surrounding buildings survived. The landmark water tower is the most recognizable.

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Learn from a river; obstacles may force it to change its course, but never its destination.

Matshona Dhliwayo, philosopher and author Built in 1900, this 50-room cottage (Belora) on Cherry Island is remarkably original and still furnished in the same manner as it was when first constructed.

Casa Blanca remains a prominent fixture on Millionaire’s Row. In the 1870s, James Pullman (inventor of the luxurious Pullman railroad sleeping car) paid $40 for Cherry Island and its original residence, known at the time as Melrose Lodge.

A L E X A N D R I A B AY, N Y

NEXT PAGE | The Thousand Islands Bridge is illuminated at dusk over the American Narrows section of the seaway.

The longest American span is 240 m (800 ft.) while the longest Canadian one is 230 m (750 ft.).

In 1962, Albert and Edith Amsterdam purchased and refurbished the property in Gilded Age style. On public tours, visitors can bask in the romance of days gone by.

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A backward glance through a boat's wake affords an eastward view of the American span of the Thousand Islands Bridge.

Mammatus clouds form pouches in a unique formation after a thunderstorm.

NEAR WELLESLEY ISLAND, NY

NEAR COLLINS LANDING, NY

35

A beautiful portrait of the Algomarine, a straight-deck bulk carrier. The 222-m (730-ft.) lake freighter was launched in 1968 and enjoyed a 50-year career. Her last trip was down the seaway in the spring of 2016 with a cargo of road salt.

A classic wooden 8.5-m (28-ft.) 1909 One-Design boat, built for racing and leisure, pauses dockside.

N E A R C A PE V I N C E N T, N Y

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The Sister Islands Lighthouse illuminated a dangerous spot along the Canadian and American channels with a 360° arc. Almost 90 years later, the light was decommissioned and replaced with a buoy, and the property sold privately for $6594.

Generations of the Wambach family have enjoyed the charms of their cozy cottage on Surveyor Island and the sights along the river, where “You see something new every day.”

A L E X A N D R I A B AY, N Y

NEAR IVY LEA, ON

52

A large, single cowl vent stares back from a Thousand Islands “one-design” boat. The idea was to build identical boats for racing so only the skill of the driver determined the outcome. Nineteen members of the Thousand Islands Yacht Club signed up for the unique venture.

The river’s moods can create gentle waves that allow paddlers to meander, or become rushing currents that hustle boats along in a blur.

NEAR GANANOQUE, ON

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Shadows form fascinating undulations on a midwinter snowfall.

NEAR KINGSTON, ON

Fulford Place, an Edwardian mansion, is framed by an Italianate garden. Now a museum, it is the former home of George Taylor Fulford who made a fortune from his patent Pink Pills for Pale People in the late 19th to early 20th century. The medicine was essentially iron and magnesium sulfate.

BROCKVILLE, ON

118

Multicoloured umbrellas shade diners from the hot sun as they survey the sailboats at Navy Point Marine.

Resting chairs at the river's edge form a pleasing palette.

NEAR GANANOQUE, ON

SACKETS HARBOR, NY

119

Bursts of fall colour cover wooded islands. From Ivy Lea, Ontario to Collins Landing, New York, no island is split by the international Canadian-American border as agreed upon in a document signed in 1793.

THOUSAND ISLANDS BRIDGE, ON

No man is an island, entire of itself ; every man is a piece of the continent.

John Donne, poet, cleric

Rock Island Lighthouse, commissioned in 1847, was originally one of six guiding lights along the St. Lawrence River.

FISHERS LANDING, NY

156

A spring sun starts its work to warm the St. Lawrence River, which is a link to an international seaway. No wonder Jacques Cartier called it "the great river of Canada."

NEAR KINGSTON, ON

157

From the mainland to Howe Island, the Frontenac-Howe Islander ferries passengers and their cars year round, 24 hours a day.

The vessel’s operating history dates back to 1898. It is now owned by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario and operated by the County of Frontenac.

NEXT PAGE | Grass Point State Park juts into the American channel and captures an impressive view of the American span of the Thousand Islands Bridge.

KINGSTON, ON

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With a long, narrow shape like one of the seaway lakers, the fabulous cottage on Wauwinel Island enjoys front- and back-door access to clear waters.

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The eastern edge of Heart Island supports Boldt Castle’s Power House and Clock Tower. The roof was destroyed in 1939 when a stray spark during a fireworks display caused a fire. After a complete restoration by the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority, it opened to the public in 1991.

A handsome sailboat cruises past Sister Islands Lighthouse. It was built in 1870 just off the foot of Grenadier Island within the U.S. side of the international boundary.

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The cottage on Zavikon Island enjoys a great deal of attention all summer long. Tour guides sometimes point out (erroneously) that the bridge connecting the two islands is the world’s shortest international bridge. In fact, both the dwelling and its backyard are Canadian, with the international border off the southern shore.

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If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favourable.

Lucius Annaeus Seneca, philosopher

Boats at the Gananoque Municipal Marina create a floating matrix. The popular 385-slip shelter offers sailors various services.

Bright villas provide living space over a boathouse on Carnegie Bay.

GANANOQUE, ON

A L E X A N D R I A B AY, N Y

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Kingston City Hall fills a city block with its impressive Neoclassical style and iconic dome. The imposing structure facing Lake Ontario was completed in 1844 when Kingston was capital of the Province of Canada.

KINGSTON, ON

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FISCH ER

George Fischer’s first foray into The Thousand Islands in 2000 has evolved into a recurring thrill for him and

THE THOUSAND ISLANDS

The publication Canada: 150 Panoramas sold out quickly and was reprinted to help celebrate Canada’s sesquicentennial.

George’s book titled Unforgettable Canada was on The Globe and Mail’s bestseller list for eight weeks and sold over 75,000 copies. It is now in its fourth printing.

ISBN 978-1-77108-711-7

9

781771

087117

$39.95

N I M BUS

Currently George is working on several books including Yukon, Rugged Beauty and Yoga–True Nature.

See more of George Fischer’s work at GeorgeFischerPhotography.com

expedition, he uncovers brilliant new images that recount lively tales and present freshly dynamic perspectives on the region’s storied history, nature

SEASONS OF THE ST. LAWRENCE

George Fischer is one of Canada’s most renowned and prolific landscape photographers. His work has appeared on the covers of countless international magazines and newspapers worldwide and in the promotional publications of tourism agencies around the globe. In November 2017, George received the Ontario Tourism Award of Excellence in Photography. He has produced more than 60 photographic books and a collection of over 50 art posters. He is also known for his unique art prints commissioned by various companies, hospitals and private collections – working with the tourism boards of Jordan, France, Italy, Guatemala, Cuba, Canada, the Maldives, Malta, the United States and numerous others.

his readers. With each photographic

and people.

One of George’s favourite playgrounds, the distinctive area comprises a labyrinth of more than 1800 isles winding through some 80 km (50 mi.) of the St. Lawrence River. Defined by the rugged Canadian Shield, pine and deciduous forests and sandy beaches, these bite-sized islands boast everything from secluded bays and private docks to charming cottages and massive mansions. And the waters are channels for tour boats, lakers and small leisure craft for fishing, exploring or visiting neighbours.

SEASONS OF THE

ST. LAWRENCE

With this book, you’ll return to the islands with George – and feast anew on the sights and spirit of this sparkling domain.

THE

GEO RGE FISC H ER