The Sinking Boathouse of The Thousand Islands.. Posted Monday, April 25, 2011 at 11:11:41 AM     Alexandria Bay, NY 1000 Islands  Comments  Unique Views 19687/Total Views 22512

Once a Grand Dance Hall that entertained socialites back in the area's heyday, the Hagen Boathouse of Ina Island slips further into the Saint Lawrence each and every year. Unfortunately, the current owners who have been there since 1985 or so chose years ago to stop the yearly maintenance which consisted of yearly jacking from the ice and re-supporting of the structure among other things.

Link below shows the location via google map..
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/39159567 

Below are the latest pictures taken on April 24th, 2011. As you can see the old boathouse really took a turn for the worse as of late. And really, if there was ever an Historic location on the river that should have been saved this is probably it. The whole situation is sad. Seems like it will have to be taken down eventually??























More information...

Ina Island was once a resort of sorts with a fine dining restaurant and lodge. A shuttle ran from Alexandria bay to the Island. Rumor has it that the house on the Island was even at one time a brothel. (GASP) The boathouse in the pictures was a huge dancehall, with beautiful hardwood floors, supported with steel i-beams which at this point are twisted and failing. The old timers say it was the sight of many extravagant parties and it was the place to be.




The info and picture below are from a book that the Antique Boat Museum put out..
Follow link for book info..



Below is an interior shot that I found on the Internet.. the photographer is unknown.. but this gives you an idea of what the grand dance floor was like. Imagine a summer night back in the early to mid 1900's, a Piano player in the corner, people dressed up in the formal attire of the time, dancing the night away.. etc etc etc  It must have been truly grand..



If anyone has more information to add please leave it in the comments below..

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