Moving Buildings Was a Common Practice Along the River

Grand View Hotel to Picton Island

Traditionally, bracing was added throughout a structure and windows would be removed prior to moving. The windows in this photo have been boarded over and braced. The reverse of this photo says, “Aunt Kate Standing. Mary Syral and Ada. House they lived in.” Part of the Iris Waterson Collection of the T.I. Park Museum.

According to newspaper accounts, the Grand View Hotel was moved to Picton Island by barge in 1908.

Reverse of this picture says, “Fred and Frank and Kate Hotel.” Part of the Iris Waterson Collection of the T.I. Park Museum.

The reverse of this picture says, “Two weeks we lived in this one while ???? got in and out through the window. Drew wood and water through window.” Part of the Iris Waterson Collection of the T.I. Park Museum.

Grand View Park was established in 1885 by Hamilton Child, a book publisher from Syracuse, as a commercial venture. At its peak, around 60 buildings were constructed with almost 200 lots still available for purchase.

The hotel (and annex) could accommodate over 100 and featured a toboggan slide at its beach.

Charles Emery of Calumet and the New Frontenac purchased the property in 1903 for $7000 and had the hotel moved to Picton Island. Descendants of Emery sold the property for $25 in 1940.

Part of the Iris Waterson Collection of the T.I. Park Museum.

Reverse of this photo says, “House they lived in just ready to load on boat.” Part of the Iris Waterson Collection of the T.I. Park Museum.

Moving Houses over the Ice

This Real Picture Post Card (RPPC) below shows a house being moved from Round Island to Clayton in 1911. About a dozen horses can be counted in the photo. The house is now located across from the Shurfine Supermarket in Clayton.

A Summer Kitchen Becomes an Island Camp

Thomas Mitchell with his construction crew, circa 1942, towing an old kitchen from Thousand Island Park across the ice to what would become his camp at Crow Island, across from Ivy Lea (Hear the Story Above). Photo taken in the Narrows between Wellesley and Murray Islands. Thomas Mitchell was the son in Thomas Mitchell & Son, a construction company based at Thousand Island Park established in the 1890s by his father, Thomas Mitchell Sr. (Courtesy of the Nellie Taylor Collection; Photo by Thomas Mitchell).

The summer kitchen on Central Avenue before it was moved to Crow Island. The cottage on the lot was moved to United States Avenue and is now the Humphrey Cottage. The summer kitchen, probably built as a storage building while a tent still occupied the lot, was a separate building.

The Camp on Crow after a porch was added to the front and a bedroom to the side (right behind). The door seen in the earlier photos while the structure was on the ice now leads to the porch.

Starting out across South Bay, Thousand Island Park (Courtesy of the Nellie Taylor Collection; Photo by Thomas Mitchell).

The Crew of Thomas Mitchell & Son, circa 1942, towing an old old summer kitchen from Thousand Island Park across the ice. Photo taken in the Narrows between Wellesley and Murray Islands. Individuals are (left to right): Harry Dano, Will Grant, Chancy Patterson, Jay Waterson, Bill Waterson, unknown, but last name believed to be Dano. Notice the can of motor oil between the legs of Harry Dano and Will Grant. (Courtesy of the Nellie Taylor Collection; Photo by Thomas Mitchell).

Hear the Story of Moving the Summer Kitchen (along with other Recordings from the Past) at Riverstories.org