by Karen K. Delmonico  President & CEO Greater Watertown - North Country Chamber of Commerce

Tourism is a growing and vital part of the New York State economy. In 2008, visitors spent $53 billion, 4% over 2007. 684,000 Jobs, or 6.2% of all jobs in NYS, were sustained by visitors to the state with a total associated income of $27 billion. Tourism in New York generated $7 billion in state and local taxes.

Tourism is big business, and the Thousands Islands Region reaps many of the benefits of this important industry. Jefferson County and the entire North Country welcome visitors from around the world to enjoy the clean air and ideal summer temperatures, to play in the waters of the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario, to ride the rapids of the Black River, and to hike, bike, and ride hundreds of miles of trails through pristine forests.

Economic Impact
A report on The Economic Impact Tourism in New York State/Thousand Islands Focus issued in April 2009 identified tourism in the Thousand Islands as a $433 million industry, supporting over 8,300 jobs. Jefferson County represents 50% of the regions tourism sales with $218 million in visitor spending.  Although growth slowed across NYS in 2008, the Thousand Islands went against the trend and expanded by 3.4% - Jefferson County increased 4.1% Visitor spending crossed a diverse range of sectors, including Lodging (15%), Recreation (6%), Food & Beverage (25%), Retail & Service Stations (17%), and Transportation (5%). Significantly, spending on the rental and upkeep of second homes accounts for 31% of visitor spending.  

As reported last year, Jefferson County benefits tremendously from its large population of summer residents. Research indicates that summer residents own 5,950 properties in the county - That’s 17% of the county’s total residential property count. This is a significant portion of the population that is generally outside of the County’s demographic profile of residents, but greatly impacts the tourist season.

Although some of the tourism related jobs are seasonal, tourism still represents 7.4% of all employment in the Thousand Islands Region; with 9.7% (4,061 direct and indirect jobs) in Jefferson County that generated $97 million in labor income.

Taxes revues from tourism are also significant. Tourism in the Thousand Islands generated $55 million in state and local taxes in 2008. Sales, property, and hotel bed taxes generated $27.6 million in local taxes in Jefferson County, representing 51% of the region’s tourism tax base.

Local Business Confidence Survey
Another study of interest was conducted by the 1000 Islands Tourism Council,  The 2008 Summer Tourism Season Business Confidence Survey, which surveyed both US and Canadian businesses in the region. 2008 was an interesting year to track since most businesses began to feel the impact of the current recession in the second half of the year. Many of the responses by the tourism businesses reflect the same feelings of businesses from other sectors of the economy.

The survey indicated that Canadian responses were consistently more positive than responses from the US businesses in the region. Most businesses were pleased with the summer season (37%) or satisfied (34%), with 28% indicating disappointment.

While most businesses reported a decent level of satisfaction, 2008 was described as either flat or weaker than 2007 by most respondents. Only 29% of those responding saw an improvement in 2008 over 2007, the lowest number in the history of the survey (since 1999). When looked at by the type of operation, more lodging establishments and retailers reported having better business than restaurants, recreation based business or attractions. The survey asked about the variances in business month to month. As expected, business got stronger as the summer months progressed. Of the  “shoulder months” September was stronger than June, and again, as expected, July and August were the strongest months. Most businesses continue to see a long-term, continuing improvement in their business, but compared to past years the general level of confidence was lower, reflecting the general attitude of business in the recession.

The factors that the respondents attributed to their feelings about the summer of 2008 were:

General Economic Conditions: Most operators felt that the economy was a negative factor. Even given the tradition of judging the economy negatively, 2008 had the most negative response of all of the years this questions was asked.

Weather: Half of those surveyed said that the weather was a negative factor in 08. Wet weekends during the summer seem to have put a damper on business.

US/Canadian Exchange Rate: 43% of Canadian businesses judged the exchange rate as a negative, while 44% of US businesses saw it as a positive

Border Security: The number of respondents seeing border security as a negative declines from 55% in 2006, to 49% in 2007, to 39% in 2008. However the overall numbers may be skewed by the fact that near-border communities are much more sensitive to those a bit further away. For instance, only 8% of Watertown respondents ranked the issue as a negative while 61% of Brockville respondents ranked it as a negative.

Gas Prices: The record high gas prices of summer 2008 were seen as a negative by 72% of the respondents. It appears that most businesses did not feel that the region benefited from tourists looking for a closer-to-home driving destination.

Water Levels: The 2008 responses show that the water levels were a more positive factor overall than in recent years.

 The contrast of the two studies is noticeable. The economic impact of tourism indicates it is indisputably a key economic contributor to the region. The confidence survey illustrates some of the struggles that the individual tourism businesses face.

 Everyone in the private sector understands the challenges that businesses in NYS face with the high cost of doing business, and in the case of the tourism businesses, outside factors like the weather and the exchange rate. Whatever the challenges, however, we all appreciate that we live in one of the most beautiful areas in the country and wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Both of these studies are available in their entirety on the Chamber’s website, www.watertownny.com in the community - economic development section.

Two of the greatest recreational activities the North Country has to offer come from the areas greatest natural resource, fresh water. These recreation activities are fishing and boating. There are literally hundreds of lakes, rivers, steams, creeks and ponds to fish from in the Tri-County.

They are a major tourism draw in the North Country and an important source of revenue for many area businesses. My favorite hobby, next to viticulture, is fishing. Where else can you find virtually every fresh water species of game fish in one area other than the North Country? The greatest thing about fishing is that people of all ages can enjoy it.

There is nothing better than to see a young child catch his or her first fish or to see a young boy or girl catch a large fish. It hooks them, no pun intended, on the sport. You do not have to spend a lot of money to enjoy fishing. All you need is a fishing pole, line, a hook and some bait or a lure. Children do not even need a fishing license. Fishing is one of the most participated in forms of recreational activities in the North Country.  I have heard statistics that over 80% of homeowners in the Tri-County area own at least one fishing pole and many own at least two. I have not been able to verify the number. I own eight fishing poles.

There are many well known areas to fish such as the Saint Lawrence River or Lake Ontario. There are also many areas that are not that well known but produce wonderful fishing as well as other recreational activities. The Black River has great walleye fishing and the Indian River is becoming known for its bass and walleye fishing. Several years ago someone at the Department of Environmental Conservation told me that the Indian River was one of, if not, the cleanest river in the North Country.

Ft. Drum has many great fishing spots, especially around their training areas. The public is welcome to fish these   areas but must stop by Resource Permits, which is on route 26 just past the entrance to Wheeler Sack Airfield. An angler must present his or her fishing license and get a permit. This is to ensure that someone is not within an area where training may be taking place. If there is training going on, an angler may not be allowed into the area and would be directed to other areas.

Although some people fish from shore, the majority of anglers fish from a boat. Boats of all sizes provide an array of recreational activities. Many companies charter a boat and treat their guests to a day of fishing on Lake Ontario and often return with trophy trout, walleye, bass, muskellunge and/or northern pike. Now that can make for a very pleased customer.

Boats provide an array of recreational activities besides fishing; water skiing, tubing, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, sun bathing, partying (alcohol is a no-no if you are piloting the boat), site seeing, and camping, to name a few. And of course, boats range from the luxury boats which can be ocean going, to cabin cruisers, runabouts, skiffs, canoes, kayaks, etc.

Many homeowners and tourists own their boats, but boats can also be rented at many locations. There is also a wealth of information about boating and fishing in line. Just goggle “fishing in NY”. This will take you to all kinds of information about fishing in New York. There is a section called “fishopedia”, which provides an angler with all kinds of information about the New York’s fresh water fish. You can find charter services, outfitter and boating information, and much more.

The North Country, with its natural resource of fresh water, is a haven for tourist. Being on or around the water provides many recreational opportunities for the tourism industry and our area. An important thing to remember is that while on the water, safety must come first.

What is the most important thing to have when you are on the water or children are around the water? A life vest.  Life vests are a requirement in every boat. I think of an old infantry saying when I think of hauling around life vests. “It is better to carry it and not need it than to need it and not to have it”.

Once again, a North Country county leads the rest of New York State. This time, Lewis County has drawn the template with its exemplary All Terrain Vehicle Trail System.  ATV owners and riders in this region and in many other states are flocking to our trails and telling their friends about this local treasure.

Organizers and advocates say all of this equates to tourism dollars-lots of them. County business owners,  legislators, chamber officials and just about everyone else will say, in difficult economic times, we’ll take all the revenue we can get.

And, if we accept the prediction of Lewis County Trail Coordinator Bob Diehl, we’ve only just begun. Diehl is like the famous Energizer Bunny. He seems to be every where, working on the trails and doing everything in his power to promote the system at any forum.

To say he is the perfect person for the job would be a gross understatement. He is a former schoolteacher with a background in English. He worked for years with the New York State Parks and Recreation System. He has construction experience and attended The NYS Ranger School of Forestry at Wanakena. He was a land surveyor for a decade, doing environmental work all cross the country.

At one point, Diehl recalls, it was time to find a nest and settle in it with his wife and new baby. With a glowing resume, he spotted a newspaper ad for the trail coordinator’s position in Jefferson County, but another person was hired there. Soon thereafter, a similar ad appeared in Lewis County.He was interviewed and hired in June of 2006. In retrospect, he says it was a great fit. His qualifications and work experience gave him the background he needed to fill this important niche and settle down into what he refers to as a “dream job.”

Earlier this year, the Lewis County Legislature voted to begin a special ATV permit system and those permits went on sale May 1st. Diehl happily reports, “This is the first ATV system in New York. This is the only place in the state where you can come, unload and ride over 400 miles on an ATV.”

The Lewis County Chamber of Commerce administers the permit system. Interested riders can easily apply in person or on line. The cost is $40 per machine if you’re in a club that is part of the Tug Hill Adirondack ATV Association. You can join when you apply. For others, the price is double at $80.

None of the permit money goes to New York State or the county’s general fund. It all goes to Chamber permit administration, education and enforcement, trail maintenance, and future trail additions. The Trail Coordinator says, “All of the trail work is done by volunteer club members and their representatives. That includes all the bridge work, all the stone, all the culverts and the bridge decking-everything.” He went on to explain, “Lewis County has four ATV clubs and two Jefferson County clubs joined our association along with clubs from Oneida, Oswego and Cayuga Counties; so we changed our county group into a regional association.

We now have 11 clubs and call it the Tug    Hill Adirondack ATV Association.” Diehl’s passion for the position is obvious to anyone with whom he comes in contact. He is certain his ultimate dreams of connecting all the North Country trail systems will soon enable riders to take their machines all the way from Syracuse to Vermont. He explains, “We are catering to a kind of recreation that has been largely disregarded and not well recognized.

For thirty years, ATVing in New York State went on unchecked.  They sold these machines that can go anywhere and do anything and nobody has been watching, so it’s been running wild. Part of my job and that of other serious spokesmen is to soften or eliminate the stigma attached to ATV riding.”

He went on to say, “When I first started, there was only a patchwork of riding here. There were some town roads across Tug Hill that were open and some were not. That meant a lot of illegal riding. There were miles of user-created trails but not a solid connection anywhere. We had to essentially start from scratch. Without the strong club base, this job would be horribly terrifying.”

Diehl made the rounds to every town asking if they had local laws and if they had roads open for riding. He did a full assessment of the entire county to get a picture of what was available, where people were riding, along with what was legal and what was not.

He expressed his pleasure at the legislature’s vote to adopt the ATV permit system and explained that so-called “sideby- side” vehicles are currently designated as Utility Vehicles or UTVs and cannot be registered in New York State because of their weight and width. Diehl is confident, though, that this hurdle will be legally overcome very soon. The larger side-bysides with bench seats are favored by many riders. He says his greatest ally was the Lewis County Legislature, especially Rick Lucas. He adds, “They were behind the system. They totally understand the economics of what was here and what could be here. The county was on board.”

Lucas indicates that he actually ran for the legislative position because of his interest on the ATV trail system. Since 1998, he and his wife have owned and operated the Montague Inn, located in the Lewis County town of the same name and a popular stop for ATV and snowmobile riders. He says he saw the need to try and “increase revenue sources in the county and create more jobs. Being in the recreational business in our restaurant and motel with the snowmobiles, I saw the need for ATV trails for many years.” He said he looked at his wife and said, “Why don’t these people see what’s right in front of them?”

Lucas concluded, “One of the quickest and easiest ways to increase jobs and  create economic development was to create an ATV system here. So, shortly after I took office in early 2006, I got my colleagues involved and we agreed to get underway.

We started by hiring a trail coordinator. We couldn’t have chosen a better person for the job. He’s been out of state visiting other trail systems. We’ve been challenged and have won. We’ll no doubt be challenged again, but we really feel strongly that this is a very positive thing for the region and we’re going to continue moving forward because we believe in what we’re doing.” Lucas adds that the new permit system was another one of his ideas and says, “My belief is that the people who use the trail system should be paying for it.

Anybody who wants to ride ATVs doesn’t have an issue with coming up with a few dollars to help us succeed.”

Lucas explained that in 2005 the Tug Hill Commission paid for a feasibility study to try and determine what ATV riding brings to the region.

He says the results shows an excess of 32 million dollars a year brought into the region because of ATVs. Both he and Diehl insist that this figure will continue to grow exponentially.

He indicates his delight that the county decided to contract with the Lewis County Chamber of Commerce to handle the ATV permitting without having to add more county employees. He mentioned the New York State Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle Association or NYSORVA that claims to offer resources and a “political voice for New York’s off-highway vehicle community.”

Lucas, who is Vice Chairman of the legislature and Chairman of the Legislative Economic Development Committee, says the Lewis County ATV trail system includes about 90-percent private landowner property along with at least 100 miles of county reforestation land through the woods and public highways. He explained, “The permit is required whenever you’re not riding on a public highway. If you’re riding on a town road that’s open, you don’t need the permit. But if you want to make the connection to the next area, you might go across a private landowner trail or through some county reforestation land and there you do need the permit. We have a complete system here.”

Registration is required for all ATVs in New York State and the Lewis County permit system adds a dimension to create and maintain a trail system that is the envy of other areas in this state 20 as well as many others.

Anne Merrill, Executive Director of the Lewis County Chamber of Commerce is also thrilled with how quickly the new ATV trail permit program has caught on.

She says, “We have people calling every day from Pennsylvania,  Ohio, New Jersey, Virginia and Western New York looking for information on ATV riding here. It’s amazing how much interest there is. Truly, we’ve had nothing but positive feedback from people purchasing the permits. They’re certainly willing to pay the extra money to make sure that the trail system is in place and they can have a good place to ride.”

She likes the idea of her Chamber taking all calls on the ATV Trail permit system because “When they call, we can answer all their questions about what else is going on in Lewis County. It’s really a perfect fit for us. They can contact us by telephone or via e-mail. We offer them trail system maps for a small price.”

She laughed and added, “They might never have heard of Lewis County, but they all know about Tug Hill.” She is referring to Tug Hill’s reputation for tremendous winter snowfall and, more recently, its wind farms. The permit comes in the form of a 3-by-4-inch sticker to be placed on the ATV with space for a smaller sticker that displays the year it was issued.

Merrill added her high praise for Trail Coordinator, Bob Diehl who was hired, she says, “To put this whole system together.  He’s the one who went out and talked to all the farmers and landowners and has been the man behind so much of what we’ve done.”

Will the other North Country Counties get in line behind the permit system and add their connections to set up a unified trail system all the way from Syracuse to Vermont? Diehl says, “The Oswego County ATV Club has made great progress and has made a deal with its snowmobile club and landowners and will share that trail all the way to Brewerton.

St. Lawrence is well underway and could be added later this year.” He is hopeful to see Jefferson, Oneida, Wayne and all the region’s other counties eventually added to the group. He says, “We’re headed over to Franklin and Clinton Counties and right to Vermont. We’ve already talked to Vermont and they’re ready.” He added, “I’m telling you-two or three years and you’ll be able to go from Brewerton all the way to Vermont.”

That would please Clinton County ATV enthusiast George Jones from Chazy Lake who says he has been riding in Lewis County for years and is thrilled with the progress their trail system has made. He says his club, called the Outback Riders, would love to join the Tug Hill Adirondack ATV Association. He explains, “Clinton County technically doesn’t have any legal ATV trails.” His group is hoping to see a unified system someday. Jones says riders in his club and others have followed the Lewis County fight to open trails very closely and 30 or more of his riders travel to Lewis County at least four times per summer. He adds that each of those riders spends an average of $500 in a weekend while there. Jones also had high praise for Rick Lucas and his hospitality at the Montague Inn. Jones also mentioned what is called the SNIRT Run in Lewis County and says, ” It offers  about as much fun as you can have with ATVs.”

SNIRT is a word combined from snow and dirt and the 2009 event was held over Easter Weekend when 1653 people registered and Trail Coordinator Diehl says they had at least 3,000 people on the Hill.

And there are numerous special events held throughout the year. Diehl says, “We have the perfect infrastructure to get this going. We’ve always had ATV riding here and snowmobiling is huge in Lewis County. We’ve got lots of motorized recreation. It was just a matter of the county pulling the trigger, creating this position and hiring somebody full time to put all the parts together. It’s a lot of work, but I’m delighted to get those puzzle pieces on the board and watch it all grow.”

He says the public is now beginning to understand that having a unified trail system and a permit process are important for the economic future of the area. Clubs promote ATV safety and respect for private property. Diehl loves to lecture and explain his ideas anytime, any place. “I can speak GREEN with anybody,” he adds. “I show them how it all fits together and often the nay sayers end up changing some of their opinions about ATVs.”

To paraphrase his comments, “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet!” “The potential for expansion is huge. We’re so close to Canada. We’re five hours from New York City and everything South. Sooner or later, it’s all going to explode.” He says he’s ready for the next chapter and the chapter after that.

Part of Diehl’s trail plan includes play areas or what he likes to call “pressurerelief destinations.” One such place is on a 144-acre piece of wet, “nasty,” swampy private property that he says is perfect for ATV riders who want to play and “do it in the mud.” He hopes it will help to alleviate reckless trail riding.

With his English background, Diehl, with an office in Lowville, enjoys writing grants and boasts one for $10,000 from Polaris and another for close to $29,000 from Yamaha. They helped to buy a compact excavator, trail counter and other needed items. He also mentioned a 4-H ATV Community Safety Grant and says, “We were one out of seven states that got one of these grants. They recognized what we were doing and education is a big part of this system.”

He concluded by saying, “This is so much fun. How can you not love it? When somebody offers a negative comment, I try to counter it immediately and fix it. Then I say, “What else have you got for me?’”

The Lewis County ATV Trail System is open from May 1 and will close the second Friday in October when rifle season starts.

Supporters look forward to Lewis County paving the way toward what they tout as the largest ATV system in the entire Northeast. The initial “Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Lewis County Trail System” from May of 2008 said, “The County believes t hat a coordinated trail system will help to identify and manage the safe and responsible use of existing resources as well as set forth consistent parameters for managing future development.”

It goes on to say, “The purpose of the proposed ATV system is to capture additional tourism revenues during nonwinter months by providing a destination for ATV owners where they can ride a County-wide system of well-managed, safe, and environmentally sound trails.”

Mission accomplished.

Tourism and recreation abound year round in the North Country. But spring really gets people moving about and involved in recreation. It’s time to work off the weight we may have gained if we were too sedentary over the winter months.

One of our the Watertown Golf Club at Thompson Park recently received an outstanding honor by being named one of the best golf courses in the North Country by Golf Digest.  We are fortunate to have this golf course right in our own backyard.  The course sits high above Watertown and the views are spectacular. From the first tee, you can see Dry Hill and much of the city of Watertown.

Joseph Butler, a long-time chemistry teacher at Jefferson Community College, a county legislator and Mayor of Watertown is one of the owners and acting president of the Golf Club. Butler explained some of the club’s history. The Watertown Golf Club is 83 years old and was founded in 1926 and as a nine hole golf course. During World War II, the Club’s name was changed to the Kamargo Country Club. The name changed back to the Watertown Golf Club in 1952.  

In 1966, nine holes were added and the Club became a full 18-hole course. Interestingly, the club itself owns only nine holes. The other nine holes are owned by the city of Watertown. The Watertown Golf Club has a 25 year lease with the City and currently has 170 members.  Watertown Golf Club has 54 owners, but 80 percent of the stock is owned by four of those members — Butler, Jim Bernier, Gene Hughes and Don Gladle.

The course does not have any water holes, but it does have many bunkers and trees lining the fairways. The longest hole is the #10 hole at 545 yards. The shortest is #5 hole at 158 yards. The 18- hole course is in great shape. The greens are immaculate and fairways are well-kept. Much of the credit for the course’s condition goes to the Green Superintendent, Ken Hicks.

The club hosts approximately ten tournaments a year for charity purposes. It also hosts several leagues, including a co-ed league, the Thursday Twilight league, men’s and ladies days, etc. Electric carts are available, but those who prefer to get their exercise may walk or carry their own club. With few hills, it is a walkable course.

The club has a pro shop, operated by golf pro Bruce Lortie. There is also an attractive club house overlooking the first tee and the city of Watertown. A lot of work has been put into the club house to make it a place where one can bring the family for dinner and an enjoyable evening with the best view of the city anywhere in Watertown. In addition to the restaurant, the club offers a less formal bar and grill. Chef Dave Boucher, has an excellent reputation in the area. The menu is diverse: prime rib, salmon, chicken pasta, etc., and the facility is open seven days a week during the season for lunch and dinner. The clubhouse can be rented for weddings, reunions, and parties and is open to the public.

For more information about the Watertown Golf Club, call at 315-782-4040 or check its website at www.watertowngolfclubinc.com. If you haven’t enjoyed a game of golf at the Watertown Golf Club, now is the time to try. A discount coupon is included in this issue for your enjoyment. The 18 hole course is well groomed with watered fairways, excellent greens, and a challenge for all golfers. The course is very scenic and easy to walk. Carts are also available.

Describing the ever-growing campus, MacLean explained that there are five new buildings. He is especially delighted to talk about the Haxall Building with its three exhibit halls, a library and archive, and space for their small artifact storage. It is named for two of their founders, The Museum began, with a charter from the NY State Department of Education in 1980, as the 1000 Islands  Shipyard Museum. Elizabeth “Betty” and Bolling Haxall.

The Director explained there are seven buildings on the Mary Street Museum campus and five additional storage buildings. There are 29,000 square feet of exhibit space and 33,000 square feet of public program, collections  storage, archives,library and administration space. There are 300 boats in the entire collection and almost all of them are available for the public to see. What isn’t in the exhibit buildings on the campus is available in the 20,000 square feet of boat collection space at the Doebler collections Storage facility.MacLean said, “That’s what we call visible storage. It’s open to the public one day a week. When visitors come, they can go out there and see all the other boats that  are on display off campus.” He boasts of 1900 feet of dockage and 1300 feet of river shoreline.

MacLean glowed with pride while talking about the beautiful McNally Yacht House with its stunning turn-of-the century architectural design and its wonderful in-water displays. One of them, called Pardon Me, the largest runabout ever built. It’s 48 feet long and was constructed in nearby Alexandria Bay at Hutchison Boat Works.

Another “must see” is the turn-ofthe-century gilded age houseboat called La Duchesse. MacLean described it as 106 feet long, two stories high and “like a great floating historic home.” It was given to the museum by its former owner, Andrew McNally, and was built in 1903 for millionaire hotelier George Boldt. The director explained, “We care for her and maintain her and that’s why we built the yacht house.” La Duchesse goes in there in the winter. In the summer, she’s out on her own pier and visitors can walk through and take a docent tour of her as well as see our other boats in the water.”

MacLean added, “We also have an elegant boat called Zipper, a 41′ 6″ commuter, designed in the 1930s by the Purdy Boat Works and built in 1974 by Studacher Yachts of Kawkalin, Michigan. She’s fully operational and is available forcruising to Friends of the Museum and other donors who give $1,000 or more each year to the museum. She also  needs work every year. Her engines need to be cared for, her bottom painted, woodwork replaced and varnished and it’s all done as needed.”

Other ride boats include Teal, a 28′ triple-cockpit runabout Garwood; Gadfly: a 33′ 6″ sedan, built in 1931 by Hutchison Boat Works; and finally Miss 1000 Islands II: a 30 foot triple-cockpit runabout, built in 1999 by HackerCraft. Miss 1000Islands II is available to the general public for rides seven days a week.

MacLean had high praise for North Country Congressman John McHugh, who has long given his support to the museum. The congressman recently introduced legislation that would ensure that Zipper would continue “La Duchesse”, an elegant turn-of-the-century houseboat . to operate legally on the river. Without the bill, McHugh says, existing law would not allow the unique craft to remain in service without what he calls “traditional documentation.” McHugh has described the ABM as “a family friendly museum that’s full of experiential opportunities.”

MacLean says the public enjoys being able to come to the museum and ride in an antique speedboat kept specifically for that purpose. Who would not want to “thunder down the river in a gleaming mahogany triple-cockpit runabout?” Many of the exhibits are “hands-on” and can be viewed “up close and personal.” For example, “Oar, Paddle & Sail Nights” will take place one day a week this year and is a time when the Museum gates are open free to the public so anyone can come and experience the joy of rowing and sailing. That will start this season on Tuesday, July 7.

Under its “Boat-builder-in-Residence” category, the museum web site uses colorful verbiage when it says, “Some days, like when planking is being steamed for bending, the air is perfumed with the smells of cedar and linseed oil. Whatever the experience, there’s always something going on in the Stone Building when our Boatbuilder-in-Residence is working.”

The Cleveland Dodge Building exhibit is a wide selection of the museum’s collection of powered pleasure boats, including a steam launch, runabouts, long deck launches, speedboats and two “climbaboard” cruisers complete with timeless galleys and bunk beds. On the mezzanine there is a colorful exhibit of outboard engines and outboard boats  including two hydroplanes soaring through thin air.

The Pauline Morgan Dodge Building and the Adelaide and Miller S. Gaffney Building house what is described as “the museum’s outstanding collection of historic small craft, from dugout canoes to St.Lawrence skiffs to elegant sailing canoes.”

MacLean said that improvements to the museum are being made every year. Last fall, the museum grounds underwent a complete face-lift. New trees were planted, lawns were made, two heirloom gardens were created and paved paths were built so that the entire waterfront property was rendered handicap accessible. What is called a Posh Picnic and Garden Party is scheduled for July 3 to celebrate the new gardens and landscaping. The evening will be capped off with fireworks.

Funds to keep the museum open come from admissions and what MacLean calls “the generous support of thousands of members and hundreds of Friends of the Museum who each give $1,000 or more per year.” The Antique Boat Museum is chartered as an Education Institution; however, they receive few federal grants and rely on the modest admission charge along with private and foundation donations.

The museum offers far more than daily tours, MacLean noted. “We have weeklong family boat-building classes, which are always popular, and many other activities throughout the year. The fact that people can come here, get out on the water and experience our river in the actual artifacts is what makes us so unusual.”

The ABM web site says, “Following the theme set by our new exhibit ‘Made in Clayton,’ the Antique Boat Museum’s Education Department wants 2009 to be the year you ‘Make it in Clayton.’ There will be numerous programs to give entire families a chance to reconnect with Clayton’s nautical history and learn new skills.

Visitors can enjoy the museum store as well as being able to shop on-line. They can also plan for the 2009 Antique Boat Show and Auction scheduled from July 31to August 2. It’s touted as the 45th edition of the country’s oldest antique boat show. The special twist for this year is a focus on more than 100 boats built right here in the 1000 Islands.

Those interested can find the complete 2009 calendar of events listed on the ABM.org web site. MacLean is quick to stress that volunteers have been the heart and soul of the institution since its inception and the web site explains, “Over the past year volunteers contributed over 9000 hours.” The Volunteer Council consists of those volunteers who “have committed their time and energy to making the whole program run smoothly.” A newsletter titled “The Volunteer Voice” is published four times yearly and spotlights all of the museum activities along with volunteer efforts of all kinds.

Does the museum still accept donations of artifacts? Indeed it does. That’s how the collections continue to grow. Once again, the web site clearly explains the process to anyone who is interested. As a matter of fact, there are myriad ways to give of time and resources to the museum. They welcome gifts and happily answer questions at any time.

A brochure proclaims, “Join, Support and Share…and most importantly get the satisfaction of preserving freshwater pleasure boating history.” The benefits of membership are many. Those already involved say it feels good to become part of such a worthy institution. Besides regular individual and family tours, the museum welcomes group tours and asks that groups be scheduled at least a week in advance. Again, more information is available at the web site.

The exhibits and grounds are so picturesque that many of the facilities maybe rented for special occasions such as engagement parties, wedding and receptions. Charlotte Brooks, director of events, is ready and willing to handle all inquiries.

If you visit the Antique Boat Museum this year, you might not find “a beautiful pea green boat;” but you’re sure to be pleased with your tour of this Thousand Islands treasure. If you happen to spot a pea green boat there after all, so much the better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The future of the North Country is directly linked to the quality of its leadership. Dedicated, trained and inspired community leaders will shape and determine the future of our region for years to come. This belief was the motivation behind the creation of the Jefferson Leadership Institute (JLI), a program of the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce. Established in 1991, an average class size of 20 each year has led to over 330 graduates who are now part of the leadership core of Jefferson County. Read more

Milestones in North Country History: The Thousand Islands Bridge Authority

“Gateway to the Thousand Islands” - that’s how the Thousand Islands International Bridge system connecting Collins Landing, New York, with Ivy Lea, Ontario, Canada, has been described. 2008 marks its 70th year of service to international motorists. Seven decades have passed since U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King officially opened the bridge on August 18, 1938. The christening ceremony attracted more than 25,000 northern New York and southern Ontario neighbors, forever establishing the symbolism of a budding and fruitful relationship. Read more

Bay Drive-In Theater

Three minutes to show time. Three minutes to get your popcorn and delicious cold drinks. Playful summer nights under the stars. Hollywood is alive and well in northern New York… and the Bay Drive-In is one of the last remaining drive-in theaters in North America, an enduring symbol for what carefree summer fun once was. Read more

They’ve been in business since the 1950’s, but many aren’t aware of their purpose and who they are.

Ahh!! The beautiful Thousand Islands! Home of the Saint Lawrence Seaway, the Uncle Sam Boat Tours and two of the most beautiful castles in the United States. It’s an international tourism destination, complete with quaint communities along the Saint Lawrence River on both the Canadian and American side as well as on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario. Read more

“What do they say? Location, location, location! The Seaway Trail could be the equivalent of a main street in any town. We’re just along the “main street” of the North Country,” proclaims Thomas Weldon, General Manager of Dark Island Tours, better known locally as Singer Castle on Dark Island. Read more