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IF you know the year for any of these articles please email me.

RATTLES ICE: Ferryman John Heasler is shown above trimming with an axe the few remaining claws of ice which gripped the Howe Island ferry as it started its maiden trip of the season between the mainland and the lower end of the island. Armed with axes, saws and pike poles, Howe Island farmers hacked open a waterway for the ferry last Monday, and yesterday the cable-driven scow was agian transporting cars and trucks after a tie-up of three months. The spring ice removing problem may be eliminated as there is the possibility tht a bubbler systerm will be installed across the channel. The idea of the system is to push air through a perforated plastic pipe at the bottom of the channel. The released air bubbles then push the warm air from the bottom to the top, preventing the freezing over of the surface. This system has proved satisfactory in many areas, including Alaska.

Submitted by Wilf Garrah
Transcribed by Peter Rogers
HOWE ISLAND LANDMARK RAZED IN $1-MILLION FIRE
‘It’s such a devastating loss for the islands’: Restored Nokomis Lodge destroyed.
Kingston Whig-Standard
Date: 200?
By Sue Yanagisawa and Wesley Fok
After photo
Before photo
Nokomis Lodge, a Howe Island landmark, and one of the scenic jewels of the Bateau Canal, is no more.
The one-of-a-kind mansion was destroyed by fire Monday morning. “It is completed destroyed,” said Howe Island fire chief Mike Quinn. “The building is levelled. There’s probably a million (dollars) plus in loss.”
By the time the fire was extinguished, little was left of the building. The only recognizable piece of the house still standing was the chimney. No one was believed to have been in the 14-bedroom mansion at the time of fire, Quinn said.
The owners, Dr. David and Kathleen Edmison, could not be reached for comment.

(Click on photo to enlarge)
Article on Driscoll brothers truck going through ice.
"Despite the bitter cold yesterday afternoon, a half hour of
walking around the bottom of the north channel off Howe Island
did not make skin divers any colder than reporter-photographer
Len McGlashan who snapped this picture. Here B. Monohan is shown
ready to call it a day after securing a cable on a truck that
plunged through the ice on Sunday afternoon with a load of
fishing equipment. In the background are the Driscoll brothers,
Howe Island commercial fishermen, who own the truck."
Thanks to Gerry Ross for this article.

(Click on photo for larger version)
Yesterday the school board accepted delivery of modern new bus.
They are shown with the two vehicles above. From left Bus Driver
Patrick Norris, trustees Rev. John P. Ainslie,Parish Priest,
Joseph Norris, and board Chairman Ira Garrah.
Thanks to Wilf Garrah for this article!

Click on photo for larger version.
Howe Island
Ferry trip damp, cold
by Mike Sykes
of The Whig-Standard Gananoque Bureau
Howe Island--Whipped by winds in excess of 40 miles an hour, clouds of spume cascaded over the pitching scow, soaking the shivering figues huddled together for protection on the slippery deck.
Such was the scene about 4:20 Thursday afternoon at Pickett's Landing on the Frontenac County cable ferry to Howe Island. And it's a scene which is repeated daily, five days a week in chilly fall weather.
Those shivering figues were school children, forced to cross the often turbulent water in the open every moring and evening going to and from school. On days like Thursday when the elements went wild they inevitably end up soaked.
"Some of the kids are getting drenched coming over in the morning and stay that wall all day," said Howe Island Township councillor Wilfred Garrah, who is fighting for improved ferry service.
"How long is this going to go on before someone drowns" he asked. "It's just a crime." When the children are picked up in the morning the bus lets them off at the ferry. Another bus meets them on the other side. At night the procedure is reversed.
"The county of Frontenac is probably aware of this situation and I would imagine the department of education should know the circumstances also," added the councillor.
"There's just got to be an answer, to go on like this is just asking for trouble."
Thanks to Wilf Garrah for photo!

Transcribed by Peter Rogers
Unknown date or source
AMHERST ISLAND
This truly beautiful gem of the lakes belongs to the county of Addington. It is situated at the estuary of the Bay of Quinte, and forms the principal breakwater between the lower bay or that part of the bay between the upper and lower gaps and the lake. It contains 14,015 acres, the whole of which was taken up long since. This island was called by the French the Isle of Tanti, a name which it still occasionally bears. The soil is rich and productive and a great many farms are cultivated here, and some of the best and choicest stock raised. The township was settled at an early date, in all probability as early as those on the opposite shores. It is said that the Mohawk Indians, who accompanied Sir John Johnson to this province, claimed this and other lands, and they leased their right, if they had any, to Colonel Crawford, who accompanied Sir John Johnson, and that Colonel Crawford transferred his right to Sir John.
The following story is found in “Sabine”, and is said to have references to this island: Allen states that on his receiving from England some finely laced clothes, the Mohawk became possessed with the desire of equalling the baronet in the splendor of his apparel, and with a demure face pretended to have dreamed that Sir William (father of Sir John Johnson) had presented him with a suit of the decorated garments. As the solemn hint could not be mistaken or avoided, the monarch was gratified and went away highly pleased with his device. But alas for Hendrick’s short sighted sagacity! In a few days Sir William in turn had a dream to the effect that the Chief had given him several thousand acres of land. ‘The land (which is said to be Amherst Island) is yours,’ said Hendrick. ‘but now Sir William, I never dream with you again.’ However this may be, the Government recognized the claim of Sir John Johnson (son of Sir William), and the land was patented to him in consideration of the immense sacrifices he had made in the loss of the vast possessions of his father on the Mohawk and elsewhere in the United States, and of loyalty and good service to his country. Since that time the island has passed from the Johnson family to the Earl of Mount Cashel, but is now the property of Maj. R. P. Maxwell, County Down, Ireland. His representative or agent on the island is William H. Montray, Esq. who is spoken of by his tenants in the highest terms, his conduct towards them being courteous, gentlemanly and impartial. We may here say that a great many farms on the island have been sold to the occupiers, and are therefore deeded to them and their heirs forever. There are two English Episcopal churches, one Presbyterian, one Methodist, and one Roman Catholic church, and five schools, all of which are moderately well attended.
The Bay of Quinte steamers call here on their way up and down the bay during navigation; in the winter it is frozen over and the communication is direct to Kingston and elsewhere. There are two thriving villages on the island with good stores and many handsome private and farm residences. Stella is a pretty village, where there is a post office conducted by Captain Polly, whose uniform courtesy has made him one of the most popular business men on the island. The other village is named Emerald, the Postmaster of which is Col. John Hitchins, who for many years has been one of the active businessmen of the island. His father, Richard Hitchins, Esq. J.P., was for a considerable period agent for the island for Sir John Johnson and his daughter Mrs. Bowes. Colonel Hitchins commanded the 3rd Battalion of the Addington militia, and has been acting Justice of the Peace for a considerable length of time.

Kindly contributed to this page by The Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston, Ontario; Nancy Granter, Trillium Curator.
Submitted by Chris Morrell
Unknown newspaper, date unknown:
Old Charter For Ferry Is Found

The charter to what was probably the second ferry operating to WolfeIsland has been found at Ottawa.

Signed March 12, 1809 the charter provided a seven-year lease to Samuel Hitchcock for the annual rental of one pound, five shillings.

In return Hitchock was to provide "a common ferry for travellers and their stores, cattle, carriages and all other goods."

One clause made certain personnel wouldn't have to pay. The operator was "firmly bound and enjoined to carry across the said ferry Indians or soldiers with proper passports or under the command of their officiers, without fee or reward."

A warning that the ferry would be seized as crown property if the rent were not met within a 20-day period of grace was also included.

The agreement was signed in the 49th year of the reign of George II under the hand of Francis Gore, Esq., lieutenant-governor of out said province at York (Toronto).

Photostatic copies of the charter were forwarded to Mayor William T. Mills Thursday. The charter was discovered by W.P. Beaton of Ottawa, an employee of the secretary of state department.

In an accompanying note, he said "I go up to Kingston every year for my holidays and I am much interested in all boats including ferries. We stay at Lake Ontario Park."

Records are spotty but they show the first ancestor of today's Wolfe Islander was chartered in 1802. No name for that first ferry is recorded.

By 1841, the Strawberry, a sailing vessel was on the run and two years later another ship took over. In 1850 a third ship took over.

Seven year later Queen Victoria issued a warrant to Herman HINCKLEY for the Pierrepont I. Timber for the ship was cut and milled on the island.

The Perrepont I was suceeded in 1864 by the Gazelle in service until 1872 when the Pierrepont II replaced her. The Thomas Fawcett started in 1904 and was re-named the Wolfe Islander before retirement in 1946. The present [Wolfe Islander II] went into service at that date.

Note the Wolfe Islander III began running about 1975.

Thanks to Wilf Garrah for submitting the following:

Wolfe Island, home of Canada’s first crime writer

by Kate Baldwin

Local writers and historians say they have tracked down the birthplace of the first Canadian detective writer.

This weekend, Wolfe Island is being celebrated as the place where Grant Allen was born and where Canadian crime writing originated.

Born 1848, Grant Allen was the first prominent Canadian crime writer.

“He’s the first to do classic detective stories, in the mold of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,” said David Skene-Melvin, a crime-writing historian and the author of Canadian Crime Fiction 1817-1986.

Now famous mainly as the close friend and neighbor of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle—the creator of Sherlock Holmes—in his day Allen was a celebrated crime writer in his own right.

“He would have been one of the top popular novelists at the time. You’re talking about someone who would have been the equivalent of Danielle Steele,” Skene-Melvin said.

Grant Allen lived at Alwington House, his family home on Wolfe Island, for the first 13 years of his life. His father, Joseph Antisell Allen, was the first minister on Wolfe Island. His mother, Catherine Ann Allen, was part of the Grant family, an eminent French-Canadian family.

After leaving Wolfe Island, Allen moved briefly to Newhaven, Conn., and then to England, where he attended Oxford University. Initially, he tried to make a name for himself writing on scientific and philosophical topics. In 1880, at the age of 32, he began writing fiction professionally, with much greater success.

Allen became notorious after the publication of his sociological novel, The Woman Who Did.

His most famous novel is probably An African Millionaire, published in 1897. The work is credited as the first detective story to make the criminal the central character.

“He is the first person to think of making the central person in the novel the crook,” Skene-Melvin said.

Although Allen never returned to Canada, his childhood on Wolfe Island continued to influence his writing.

Allen set several of his short stories in southern Ontario.

The Foundering of the Fortuna, which is about a man who deliberately sinks his ship and its crew for the insurance money, is set near Sarnia on Lake Erie.

Jerry Stokes, a short story about a local hangman who is worried he is going to hang an innocent person, is set in Napanee.

Violette Malan, a local crime writer, says that Allen’s childhood in Canada made a deep impact on him and may have influenced the topics that he wrote about.

“He often spoke of his childhood in Canada and living out in the respective wilderness,” Malan said.

NOTE:John Rive writes Jan 2003:
"I note that Alwington House is referred to as being on Wolfe Island in the above web article. In fact it was at 450 King St West in Kingston beside the penitentiary (if that is still there on King St.) The location is now Alwington Place. "

Transcribed by Jerry Vaughn
Ferry Family Tradition
Horne Bros. Shuttle Cars Between U.S., Canada
By Carl S. Weiser
Times Staff Writer
Cape Vincent
They are the only ones remaining, carrying on a tradition a century and a half old – the tradition of the St. Lawrence River ferryman.
Eleven times a day, the Horne brothers of Wolfe Island shuttle cars, vans and bikes across the narrow stretch of river separating Canada’s Wolfe Island from the United States’ Cape Vincent.
For operating hours of the William Darrell ferry from Cape Vincent to Wolfe Island and the Wolfe Islander II, which takes travelers to and from Kingston, Ont., see listings in back of this issue.
“The Cape Vincent – Wolfe Island ferry is the last remaining passenger and vehicular ferry crossing the St. Lawrence River between the U.S. and Canada,” wrote Sarah Bird Wright in her “Ferries of America” book.
“There are ferries operating in the U.S. which are older, but few of more royal lineage.” she wrote.
The Horne brothers are Bruce J., 37 – “I’m as old as the boat’ – and George D., 39. The boat is the “William Darrell”, named after their uncle (William) and their father (Darrell.) Their father and uncle used to own the ferry.
The tradition of ferrying began long before William or Darrell. As early as 1820, Samuel Hinkley of Wolfe Island was running a ferry.
In 1829, King George IV of England formally leased the ferry to him. Eventually, Mr. Hinkley’s son, Coleman, and Coleman’s brother-in-law Demetreus Spinning took it over.
Mr. Spinning’s daughter, Angeline, married Thomas D. Horne – George’s and Bruce’s great-grandfather – and the boat has been in the Horne name ever since.
The Hornes’ greatest skill may not actually be in piloting the craft across the 7-mile swath of water, but in cramming innumerable cars, including some hefty vans, into a space no bigger than a tool shed.
Officially, the capacity is 10 cars, according to Mrs. Wright, but the Hornes have jammed as many as 16 cars onto the boat. Plus bicycles.
Of course, added George, in the 1970’s, the decade of massive cars, a full load might have been only “eight or nine.”
The only difference now is that the boat has radar, and the cockpit on the second floor has a “carpeted floor,” said Bruce Horne.
This season is a “little busier” than last, Bruce said, adding that their traffic generally parallels the traffic over the Thousand Islands Bridge. As tourism increased, traffic increases; this year the passenger load is up about 10 percent, he said.
The crossing itself takes only 10 minutes, although Canada or U.S. Customs takes at least another five.
The ferry operates from May 13 to Oct. 24. A crossing costs $5 for vehicle and driver and $1 each passenger. Bikes are $1.
(NOTE from Thelma Moye:They sank (scuttled) Sept. 21, 1985 in the St. Lawrence River off the Kingston Shores the Wolfe Islander II – 1946 to 1985. The Wolfe Islander III took over.)

Council Clerk Friendly Courageous re:Laura Mae Bennett
Submitted by Wilf Garrah
Transcribed by Jerry Vaughn
Kingston Whig Standard
Unknown date
Council clerk ‘friendly, courageous’
Wolfe Island
Laura Mae Bennett worked above and beyond the call of duty as the clerk-treasurer of Wolfe Island Township and will be dearly missed, says Coun. Mildred Hawkins-Walton.
“She was a wonderful person with the public and always presented a very efficient, courteous and friendly image at all time,” Hawkins-Walton said.
Mrs. Bennett, whom everyone knew as Mae, had recently been on holiday in Florida when she became ill with what she thought was the ‘flu. She returned home to the hospital and was diagnosed with cancer. She suffered a only short illness and died Wednesday. Mrs. Bennett was 74.
Mrs. Bennett assumed the duties of clerk-treasurer on Wolfe Island over a decade ago, after her husband and clerk-treasurer, Garfield Bennett, died in office.
“She had a lot of courage,” Reeve Tim O’Shea said. “She came in and did a good job. She worked real hard at it, she just threw herself into it. It was probably a blessing in disguise, her taking over that job, but I hated to ask her to do it.
“She told me several times later on that she didn’t know what she would have done if she hadn’t taken it.”
O’Shea said Mrs. Bennett was “very pleasant” to get along with. “She had a good community interest in everything.”
Hawkins-Walton served five terms working with Mrs. Bennett on the Wolfe Island Township council. “I enjoyed serving with her and knowing her as a longtime Wolfe Islander,” she said.
“Mae did many duties for everyone, above and beyond the call of her office.”
Mrs. Bennett is survived by six children, 16 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Friends will be received at the Gordon F. Tompkins Funeral Home, 49 Colborne St., from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. today. The funeral service will be held tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. at Trinity Anglican ……..
(Clipping ends here with one or more lines missing)

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The Islands: Articles: unknown