The Map

Written by Susan W. Smith posted on August 13, 2011 22:21

In July 2011, TI Life published a book review of Saints, Sinners and Sailors of the Gilded Age: A compendium of biographical sketches centered on the Gilded Age in the Thousand Islands. This month we are honored to publish photographs of “The Map” which the author, Rex Ennis, used as the basis for for writing his book.

The Map

The history of man is often lost, forgotten or destroyed. Sometimes when we least expect it the lost become found. In the early 1990’s Mrs. Dean B. Thomas required some foundation work at her cottage “Sunrise” at Westminster Park; she hired Steve Taylor to make the repairs. Bill Strodel and associate of Mr. Taylor’s began preparing he walls to allow the building to be jacked up. As he removed the wall covering he found rolled up in the wall was the 1889 Frank H. Taylor Map of the Thousand Islands; Hotels, Parks and Cottages.”

The names in Saints, Sinners and Sailors of the Gilded Age were found on a reproduction of the Frank H. Taylor’s 1898 map. After the map was discovered; it was later reproduced by the Thousand Islands Land Trust as a fund raiser. There are a few original copies still around, one can be found in the Thousand Island Park Museum. The map is a snap shot in time that names people, cottages, islands and geographical locations. Some of the locations like Thousand Island Park will be familiar while others may have disappeared or have different names today.

Posted in: History

Comments

Comment by: Skip Tolette ( )
Left at: 8:05 AM Monday, August 15, 2011

I continue to say WOW! Thank you again!!! Even published on Sunday, Cheers, Skip (& Joan) T.

Comment by: Jack Patterson ( )
Left at: 12:03 AM Monday, August 22, 2011

Wow. I notice 'orange' line- perhaps the ferry route(?) (Steamer Captain Visger, Steamer Valeria, it says) goes between 'Robbins'(now, Picton)and the lower end of Grindstone. Also it- one steamer, at least, is shown going (on it's way to Gananoque) between the small island at the foot of Sugar Island and (now) Prince Regent (Prince Regent is shown on the map - in capital letters, as McDONALDS, I assume, Island.)

Unlikely to me anyone would choose that route. Small boats can pass that way. A skilled captain maybe but route is shown close on the nose of (now) Boundary Island and then westerly in the passage as just stated. Very unlikely. Rock strewn- then shoal water if hugging the small isle below Sugar; no route for a 'steamer'(notice too line goes to the south of Jackstraw...is where the rocks are.)

So, the 'orange' line is likely 'about' the route the steamers took. Brings to mind also, no one person could have known, personally held in their own mind, ALL the information provided by this 'map'! Would be beyond what a single person could grasp and remember, yes?

If Narrows more shoal bound then than now, I would think it still a preferable route (1898 map shows Narrows beacon/light). If true, however, that they did follow a route below Sugar instead of the Narrows route, makes more sense my memories as a child of hearing the ferry nights from, in effect, a cabin at the east end of Axeman. Ferry, I assume, ran for several years after the bridge construction ended in 1938.

Maybe- for now, finally, map 'title' says, and I quote, "Occupied Islands and Points are Indicated in Capitals." Capitals is smudged but seems correct, yes?

If so, only two in 'caps'... or occupied islands (McDONALDS & STAVE)as per the definition, in the entire Lake Fleet Group at that time, yes?

One last: ACA meet shown on Stave 1898. There is a bronze plaque on a ledge in the grass at Headquarters Bay on Sugar Island that says, more or less- "Sugar Island purchased by ACA in 1898".

Maybe i'll have to paddle over and (double) check...

A few things one person can fiind.
What about you?