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| Ina Island | |
There is not a lot of historical information about Ina Island but I have been able to piece together some interesting facts and collectibles over the years. Ina Island was originally one of the first islands to be sold to a developer in 1871. Samual A. Briggs of Chicago purchased the island and the nearby Arcadia Island for $150.00 from Azariah Walton. Briggs named the island 'Ina' after his wife, Ina Bessie Briggs. A local store owner and one of the men famous for trying to develop the islands was Andrew Cronwell. He recorded in his notebook the sale of the islands as 'Five islands in a chain one called 'Arcadia' North East of Summerland Land (Island) about 4 rods from it and contains about 3 or 4 acres land the other called 'Ina' and is South West from Summer Land about 4 rods from it, and contains about 1 acre... Letter from J.W. Pullman on files and Reed his check on West Side Bank N.Y. for $150." This statement is not well written but it has all the information about the transaction. Briggs held the island for 25 years before selling it to Mrs. Emma Hagen in 1896. Emma Hagen was married to Auther T. Hagen of Rochester, N.Y. who made his fortune by inventing and building commercial laundry equipment. He is credited with opening the first laundromat in the United States. Emma had been a laundress and had worked for Hagen before being married. 
Emma Hagen was said to have been a very imposing woman, weighing over 300 pounds. She had her chair at the Thousand Islands Yacht Club right at the top of the stairs entering the club house. This put her right where eveyone would see her and have to speak to her as they came into the club. She was also known to be one of the major socialites of the Thousand Islands. The Ina Island boat house has a large ball room on the second floor and was the location of many parties throughout the summer.
Some time in the late 1940's or early 1950's the island was again sold. This time to a group of three families who opened the island as a vacation resort and bar. I have a brochure advertising the island that shows some interesting features along with a business card and an advertisement postcard. In Ian Coristine's book 'The Thousand Islands, The Photography of Ian Coristine' (website) he writes on page 62 that Ina Island was once a brothel. Although no dates are given as to when this occurred, I did receive an email from a gentleman that claimed in the 1940's he worked as a boat driver for one of the wealthy local land owners. The land owner had two sons and on their 13th birthday each would be taken to Ina Island 'To become a man'. I'm not sure how factual the story is, but it is an interesting tale.  | |
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