A day’s catch near Clayton
Young dockhand (and future fishing guide) Joe Garnsey with two clients showing off a day’s catch. Clayton, NY. Circa 1950. Photo: Personal archives of Jeff Garnsey
Type of Work: Sport, Recreation, and Tourism
Guide Roly Garnsey cooking a traditional shore dinner on Grindstone Island
Guide Roly Garnsey cooking a traditional shore dinner on Grindstone Island. Shore dinners were traditionally served on guiding trips after a morning of fishing. They had three courses – first, a salt pork sandwich, then the fish caught that morning (cooked in the grease from the salt pork) and then thick french toast with maple […]
Prize muskie in front of Bertrand’s Hotel in Clayton
The Bertrand Hotel was a popular destination for summer tourists, who would often stay the whole summer. While staying in Clayton, they would hire guides like the Garnsey family to take them fishing. This picture shows three tourists after a day of fishing with their guide (back left). Clayton, NY. Circa 1970. Photo: Personal archives […]
Competing in the WISE fishing tournament on the St. Lawrence River
Fishing guide Joe Garnsey (standing inside the boat) and two clients competing in the WISE fishing tournament on the St. Lawrence River. Thousand Islands region, NYS. 1978. Photo: Personal archives of Jeff Garnsey.
Fishing guide Joe Garnsey on the St. Lawrence River
Joe Garnsey, a fishing guide in the Thousand Islands, holds a northern pike. 1977. Thousand Islands region, NYS. Photo: Personal archives of Jeff Garnsey
Guide Roly Garnsey in Clayton
Fishing guide Roly Garnsey kneels in front of three fish caught by his day’s clients (unknown, standing in back). Roly was a guide on the St. Lawrence River from 1920 until his death in 1979. Thousand Islands region, NYS. Circa 1960. Photo: Personal Archives of Jeff Garnsey
Fishing guide Garnsey with a big muskie in Clayton
Jeff Garnsey, third generation St. Lawrence River fishing guide, holding a muskie. Thousand Islands region, NYS. Circa 2000. Photo: Personal archives of Jeff Garnsey.
Inside the Fin and Feather in Clayton
Captain Jeff Garnsey inside the Fin and Feather, one of the boats he operates as a third generation fishing guide on the St. Lawrence River. Clayton, NY. Photographed by Sophie McKibben.
A train conductor with the station dog in Clayton
A conductor and the station dog at the railroad station in Clayton, NY. Like many North Country towns, the railroad was a vital part of the Clayton economy, bringing tourists to the riverside community. Circa 1930. From the Thousand Islands Museum.
Postcard showing the train station and docks in Clayton
A postcard showing a tourist train arriving at the riverside dock. Tourists were then taken by steamships to the islands. Clayton, NY. Circa 1910. From the Thousand Islands Museum.