History St. Lawrence Reservation

1 history

1.1 development new york
1.2 development canada
1.3 parks today

history

during latter half of 19th century, thousand islands region increasingly became focus of outdoor recreation, tourism, , private development. new york side of st. lawrence river in particular became host number of lavish private estates built wealthy newcomers region, exclusion of recreational visitors; in addition, river anglers grew frustrated impacts of illegal fishing , lack of enforcement of game laws. in response viewed spoiling of formerly open , abundant recreational resource, of region s residents , sportsmen began recognize need protection of lands , waters on both sides of river s international border.

among principle proponents of international park in thousand islands anglers association of st. lawrence river, concerned protecting river s fishing resources commercial exploitation. association included prominent landowners both american , canadian sides of river, , during 1880s began lobby both governments establish consistent regulations , set aside public lands recreational purposes.

development new york

pavilion , picnic area @ cedar point, c. 1901

in 1896, state reservation on st. lawrence officially established new york state legislature, designated part of river saint lawrence lying , being within state of new york, islands therein international park. newly created reservation placed under control of new york state fisheries, game , forest commission, charged creating laws , regulations pertaining state lands within reservation.

prior reservation s creation, state of new york did not own land within newly protected region, spanned approximately 100 miles (160 km) of river. fisheries, game , forest commission began purchasing properties in 1897, having been authorized spend $30,000 acquire lands reservation. difficulties arose when landowners inflated asking prices upon learning of state s interest in region; in response, state considered taking legal action against property owners. local municipalities, particularly ogdensburg , clayton, fought on state should focus establishment of parks.

by 1898, fisheries, game , forest commission had purchased following properties included within reservation:

mary island , canoe point both purchased in 1897; remainder acquired in 1898. among locations intended inclusion in reservation peninsula known cement point on grindstone island; declined state due uncertainty regarding legal ownership. these purchases of earliest actions taken new york state preserve lands recreational purposes, preceded protection of forest preserve , niagara reservation.

a camper makes use of cooking stove installed @ watterson s point, c. 1901

the state-owned reservation lands intended facilitate picnicking , camping boaters on st. lawrence river. end, state enacted improvements on new lands. close of 1899, of parks included piers suitable steamboats, docks smaller watercraft, , pavilions. prevent wildfires, cooking stoves constructed @ parks use of campers.

in 1911, reservation s name officially adopted st. lawrence reservation , , area simultaneously expanded include portions of lake ontario adjacent jefferson county, including several bays (chaumont bay, guffins bay, black river bay , henderson bay) , islands. long point on chaumont bay purchased included in reservation in 1913. late 1920s, grass point had been purchased state, , last parcel added reservation.

development canada

an 1898 map showing locations of both american , canadian public lands (in black) in thousand islands region

concurrent initial actions of new york state develop recreational grounds in thousand islands, canadian government moved protect islands within jurisdiction. 1896, canada had identified 11 islands potential protection , recreational development within region.

in contrast new york, canada did not need purchase islands in order protect them further development. agreement between mississaugas , dominion of canada had kept title of many st. lawrence river islands in hands of canada, , beginning in 1880s agreement modified allow sale of islands private individuals. in 1904, 11 islands officially purchased canada form basis of st. lawrence national park, known today thousand islands national park. recreational facilities subsequently developed on canadian islands similar found on american side of river.

the parks today

although public parks developed on both sides of st. lawrence river, formal international park never materialized. contrary intentions , attempts harmonize fishing laws , other regulations on both sides of border, laws diverged in 20th century; in addition, united states federal government did not involve parks on american side of river. despite lack of formal agreement binding canadian , american parks, new york continued market thousand islands being international park late 1929.

in 1932, direct control of majority of st. lawrence reservation s parks removed conservation department s division of lands , forests (successor of fisheries, game , forest commission) , placed in hands of newly created thousand islands state park commission, governor-appointed board reported conservation department s division of parks. change in leadership, work began develop reservation s lands independent state parks. formal definition of st. lawrence reservation removed lands , forests law in 1963, in recognition of fact defined lands no longer under jurisdiction of conservation department s division of lands , forests.

the former reservation s parks today managed thousand islands region of new york state office of parks, recreation , historic preservation, along additional state parks along st. lawrence river procured after creation of thousand islands state park commission.