Tom French

Experience River History in 3-D

River Views: A History of the 1000 Islands in 3-D, is now available to order at:  tom-french.net.

Book:  12 by 10 inches, Hardcover, with 96 full-color pages.The 3-D Viewer is included

Tom French and his mother, Nellie Taylor (TI Park), are two of the foremost collectors of stereoviews in the region.  Tom's book, River Views:  A History of the 1000 Islands in 3-D, includes over one hundred full-size stereoviews as well as a collapsible viewer so that readers can enjoy the images in 3-D.

An excerpt from the book appears in the June issue of TI Life: Stereoviews–New Book Features River History in 3-D

The book will sell for $44.95.  For more information and a preview of the book see:  tom-french.net.

In addition to being available from tom-french.net, and Amazon, the book can be found at Corbin’s River Heritage, 534 Riverside Drive, Clayton; the Antique Boat Museum, 750 Mary St., Clayton; Captain Spicer’s Gallery, 40467 Route 12, Clayton; the Brewer Book Store at St. Lawrence University, Canton; Traditional Arts in Upstate New York office, 53 Main St., Canton; and at the Clarkson Bookstore at Clarkson University, Potsdam.

In Canada:  Novel Idea, 156 Princess St., Kingston; Earth to Spirit Fair Trade Co., 340 King St., Kingston;
Arthur Child Heritage Museum, 125 Water St., Gananoque; and Leeds County Books, 73 King Street W., Brockville.

________________________________________________________________________

Note:  TI Life congratulates Tom French on receiving an IPPY award for 2012.  The press release announcing the award is printed below:  

Local Book Receives Silver Medal as Best Non-Fiction Book in Northeast

River Views: A History of the 1000 Islands in 3-D, by local author Tom French, has been awarded a Silver Medal for Best Regional Book in the Northeast in the 2012 Independent Publishers Book Awards. 

Also known as the “IPPY,” the Awards are intended to bring increased recognition to the thousands of exemplary independent, university, and self-published titles produced each year, and reward those who exhibit the courage, innovation, and creativity to bring about change in the world of publishing. 

The book comes with a special viewer that allows readers to view the 125-year-old photographs of the 1000 Islands in three dimensions and is available through Amazon.com as well as www.tom-french.net.

The 3-D photographs, known as stereoviews or stereocards, were originally taken between 1870 & 1890 and show the 1000 Islands region at the birth of its tourist era, beginning with a visit by then sitting US President, Ulysses S. Grant.  The full-size reproductions in the book, when viewed through the enclosed viewer, allow readers to experience the stereocards in much the same way as the first Victorian patrons of 3-D.

One highlight of the book is an image from the George Eastman House in Rochester, New York.  The stereo image, taken in 1873, shows a large, lighter-than-air balloon in front of the 1000 Island House (current location of the River Hospital) as it was being filled with gas (mostly hydrogen) prior to a 20-mile ride to Antwerp, NY.

Most of the over 100 stereoviews were taken by A.C. McIntyre, perhaps the most accomplished and prominent early photographer of the region.  His 3-D stereoviews became ubiquitous to the area during the late nineteenth century, and his photos were, and in some circles continue to be, synonymous with the region.  Walk into any museum or browse any book associated with the history of the Thousand Islands, and you will no doubt find multiple images taken by A.C. McIntyre.

During the course of his career, McIntyre published thousands of views including the visits of two sitting US Presidents to the 1000 Islands — Ulysses Grant in 1872 and Chester Arthur ten years later.  He traveled in a circle of nationally known photographers including George Monroe (personal photography teacher of George Eastman of Eastman Kodak) and the famous civil war photographer, Mathew Brady.

The book is divided into three sections.  The first section highlights the early growth of tourism in the region with the rise of grand hotels such as the Crossmon House (currently the site of Capt. Thomson’s Resort) and the Thousand Island House — two of the largest hotels in the region at the time.

The second section highlights several of the luxurious private camps built by early, wealthy vacationers such as George Pullman (of the Pullman Palace Car Company), Harry Packer (a Pennsylvania railroad magnate), and J.G. Holland’s Bonnie Castle.

The last section examines the history of Religious Camp Meeting Grounds in the area, beginning with one of the first at Summerland Island (established by, among others, George Pullman’s brother, James; and Almon Gunnison of St. Lawrence University) and continuing with Thousand Island Park and Westminster Park.

Most of the views included in the book come from a collection jointly owned by the author and his mother, Nellie Taylor of Thousand Island Park.  Jack Brown, Brockville, Ontario, noted McIntyre expert and collector made significant contributions to the book as well in the form of stereocards and providing access to his research.   There are also a number of views from the collection of Dan Grant, Clayton, New York.

Award-Winning Canadian Graphic Designer Dave O'Malley of Aerographics Creative Services in Ottawa designed the layout.

Tom French teaches English in Massena, NY.  His work has been featured in Thousand Island Life.com, Mac|Life, Adirondack Life, Stereo World, and The Watertown Daily Times.  Several of his commentaries have aired on North Country Public Radio.

In addition to its availability online, the book is available at several storefronts in the 1000 Islands region including Corbin’s River Heritage and The Antique Boat Museum Gift Shop in Clayton; The Magical Swan, The Ship, and La Boutique in Alexandria Bay: Earth to Spirit Fair Trade Co., 340 King St. and the Novel Idea, 156 Princess St. in Kingston, the Arthur Child Heritage Museum in Gananoque; and Leeds County Books in Brockville.