Winston Cosgrove's
Wolfe Island Past and Present
Excerpts from:
Chapter Twelve: Sports
Used with the kind permission of Mrs. W.M.
(Phyllis) Cosgrove
October 10, 2001
For the purpose of brevity, only portions have been extracted
from the full text. For a genuine appreciation of Mr. Cosgrove’s
writings please read the entire work. The book is available
from the Kingston Public Library.
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A speech by J.D. Cosgrove on baseball was given at a 1966 Wolfe Island Township Baseball league meeting. A partial text of the speech reprinted in W.M. Cosgrove’s book. In it the following facts are listed.
In 1885 the Wolfe Island team defeated Clayton, Cape Vincent and Morrisburg to take the series. The lineup of the Wolfe Island team playing at the Cape Vincent Fair in 1885 was: C. Hanson (c), H. Davis (p), P. Grant (1b), T. Ferguson (2b), J. Davis (ss), C. Cummins (3b), J.K. Hackett (lf), J. McManus (cf), D. McLaren (rf). In 1905 a Sporting Club was formed to promote all sports with Dr. Arthur Spankie as President. Players included William Pyke, William Davis, George Whitmarsh, Malcolm McLaren, James and John T. McDonnell, Everett Woodman, Harry Card, and Richard Davis. In 1909 Dr. A. T. Spankie donated a Silver Cup for Township Baseball competition. There were three original teams: The Head, Village and Foot. It was enlarged year by year to include the Ridge, Button Bay, and Boxon Harbour. By 1915 another group of players developed including: Jack Horne, Richie Spoor, Richard LaRush, Frank Hogan, Henry Davis, James Ryan, Adrian Ryan, and Barton Cummins. In 1917 Wolfe Island entered the Kingston City League composed of C.L.C. (Canadian Locomotive Works), Wueen’s U., and Wolfe Island. The Islanders finished second behind C.L.C. In 1920, a Frontenac County League was formed with Sydenham, Verona, Parham, and Wolfe Island as the original members. Wolfe Island won the championship in three out of the first five years. In the early 1940’s the Wolfe Island Township League was revived. Some of the players during this period were Eugene and Neil Hogan, Harold LaRush, Wilfrid and Mike Cosgrove, Francis Lollar, Vern, Jim and Hugh McDonnell, Glenn and Timmy O’Shea, Neil Docteur, Hanny McDonnell, Howard Kyle, Norm and Eugene Hulton, Clifton Fargo, Charles Murphy, Jim Berry, Bill Hawkins, Howard Seville, Gene Tarrant, and Sid Richardson. In 1947 the County League was reorganized with Verona, Elginburg, Wolfe Island and Howe Island as participants. Wolfe Island won the championship in 1949 with a team composed of the Township League’s top players. 
Click on photo for larger versionThe Wolfe Island Intercounty Champs 1921 Members of the Team: R. Spoor, Dr. R. Millan, J. Ryan, F. Goodfriend, C. Conley, E. Kemp, E. MacDonald, D. Cosgrove, W. Keill, B. Hunt, M.D., Adrian Ryan, Ollie Olson. From "Sports," Cosgrove, W.M., Wolfe Island Past and Present, 1973, p. 52 The Wolfe Island Frontenac County Champs 1949 Members of the Team: K. Fawcett, D. McDonnell, H. Kyle, G. O’Shea, E. Hulton, E. Hogan, J. McDonnell, W. Hawkins, M. Cosgrove, N. Hulton, F. Lollar, H. McDonnell. Village W.I. Twp. League Champs 1945-6-7 Members of the Team: L. McDermott, W. Hawkins, E. Hogan, F. Greenwood, E. Flynn, N. Hogan, J. McAllister, H. LaRush, B. Woodman, W. Cosgrove, M. Cosgrove, K. McCready, Rev. J. Shannon, J.D. Cosgrove, H. Kyle, N. Hulton, H. Greenwood (batboy), W. Niles. Village W.I. Girls Softball Champs 1946. Members of the Team: L. Fawcett, L. Tarrant, E. Hough, J. Lacey, J. LaRush, M. Lacey, P. Greenwood, Mabel Greenwood, Marion Greenwood, A. Bolton, M. LaRush, T. Morrison, D. Hogan, L. Mosier, M. Cosgrove, F. Lollar, H. Whitmarsh, D. Flynn.  Click on photo for larger version Portion of W.I. Team Kingston Twp. Fair 1915 (Top L-R) F. Hogan, B. McDermott, H.Davis, B. Kyle, S. Horne (Bottom L-R) B. Cummins, D. Cosgrove, B Pyke From "Sports," Cosgrove, W.M., Wolfe Island Past and Present, 1973, p. 49 
Click on photo for larger versionWolfe Island South Frontenac Hockey Champs 1911-1912 Members of the Team: W. Cummings, R. Bullis, B.T. Cummins, E. Crawford, W.A. Davis, F. Whitmarsh, R.E. Davis, J.D. Cosgrove, H.B. Card. From "Sports," Cosgrove, W.M., Wolfe Island Past and Present, 1973, p. 52 
Click on photo for larger versionWolfe Island Frontenac County Hockey Champs 1920 Members of the Team: W.A. Davis, O. Davis, L. Shields, R. LaRush, J.D. Cosgrove, H. Card, B. Spoor, T. Crawford, J.H. Davis, E. Healey, H. Davis, J. Ryan, A. Ryan, R. Spoor. From "Sports," Cosgrove, W.M., Wolfe Island Past and Present, 1973, p. 52 PHOTOS IN BOOK BUT NOT ONLINE: Wolfe Island Frontenac Champs 1949 page 47 Village W.I. twp league Champs 1945-6-7 page 48 Village W.I. girls' Softball champs 1946 page 48 |
The Islands: Books: Winston Cosgroves Wolfe Island Past and Present: Sports
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