The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-28
A RIVER
The Charming Casino on Welcome IsIand. on
Alexandria nay.


Alexandria nay.
Tho fortunate persons who live upon islands
In tho st. Lawrence River. and disport them
selves In skiffs or naphtha launches and house
boats, go rowing or putting about that beautiful
archipelago. paying visits and exchanging duty
calls. and having what pleasure in life their du-
ties In the city permit them to have far from the
heat and the noises, the restrictions and the dis
fractions Of the city. Season after season boat
ing parties have visited from island to island,
and an occasional visitor has been entertained
at some one Of the homes Of this colony of dwell
ers in our American Venice.
The subject and object of . casino was o
natural evolution. 1t has been realized. An
island Of about three acres in extent was
bought by q number Of gentlemen who organ
lied themselves into the st. Lawrence River
Real Estate Association. 1t isn't customary to
organize q real estate association in tho middle
Of q river, but that Is where the holdings Of this
company OF gentlemen are located. Welcome
Island, as It Is called. 10 of Alexandria Bay, to
the north of Dewey Isle and Nobby Island
and a little to the northeast of George NJ. Pull
mans Castle Rest. The clubhouse has been
built, and It will DO opened to the member Of
the st. Lawrence River Real Estate Association
and of the Thousand Island Club, which Is prao-
tically another name for the same thing, on or
"Soee ~ vi ouiys ~ hioA
Club. in a word. has leased the property of the
real estate association; but that is a detail.
The new casino is the handsomest building Of
its kind in the country. 1t 10 built on the edge
Of a great boulder, and from the boat landing
extends by a beautiful terrace up to q veranda
TINT 70 some 1S feet In width and about
$50 feet in length. running along the whole
front Of the clubhouse. The clubhouse itself 10
two stories in height and shingled throughout
externally. with hardwood finish and raftered
ceilings within. 1t Is q picturesque building,
generally red in color, with gables and Venetian
masts and other adornments. It Is . haven for
yachtsmen who may DO favored with cards, and
a place Of entertainment for the young people Of
the Thousand Island colony.
The cost of this cosey casino has boon about
S35.O00. Tho great hall. up to which tho ter
race leads from the river landing. is forty feet
square and finished in polished and vanished
cherry. Opposite the main entrance Is q great
fireplace. reaching nearly across the hall, and
even In midsummer on the st. Lawrence. To
the right of the hall is u great ballroom. 40
by 90 feet In measurement, provided with q
small stage and the necessary dressing rooms, for
such entertainments as the club may arrange
dining room. As by IS, and beyond that a Bill
lizard room that Is even larger than the dining
s spa win rse so sl5sn oe6a1 SSr y snse soo or ss sf 6T sS 9a.;
rooms overhead. There are hot and cold water
and gas throughout. and. OF course. the usual
toilet accommodation.
Apart from the casino Is a cottage for the ac-
commodation OF such OF the member OF the club
as desire to spend any time on Welcome Island,
and 1t is the aim of tho club to provide a wei.
come for any cruising yachtsmen who may wish
to tie up here. and where they need not deny
themselves any of tho comforts that the city
itself could provide, while enjoying the air and
scenery that the st. Lawrence alone can afford.
The officers of the Thousand Island Club are:
William {; Browning, President; James Q
Secretary; Charles I. Hudson, Treasurer. Gov.
ernors-Charles @. Emery, Charles !. Hudson.
George G; Boldth James II. olphant. Egbert Lc
J. c. Spencer. Michael Chauncey, Charles W.
Hackett. Executive Committee-Gilbert T. Raj.
ferty, George c. Boldt, James H. Oliphant.
or the St La wrence Real Estate Association,
which has built and equipped this beautiful
Wtllinm c. Browning. President; L. r. Holden.
vice.President. and Edward Wallace Dewey,
Secretary and Treasurer. The directors are Mr..
Dewey. Mr.. Browning, Charles q. Emory, K. r.
Holden. George NJ. Pullman. Charles I, Hudson,
Oliphant.
At tho opening OF the clubhouse next week
there will be n display of fireworks and such
other demonstrations Rs will bring into use the
ing room. and perhaps the wine cellar. Tennis
courts and golf links have been laid out for the
enjoyment of the young and agile. billiards are
there for moro serious minded persons, and for
the wholly thoughtful or contemplatiye there
are the long. broad versnda and cigars, through
whose curling blue smoke the river may be
watched as 1t rolls on toward the gulf.