|
Photograph Ian Coristine / 1000 Islands Life Larger than any regional community except Kingston, Brockville anchors the eastern end of the fifty mile stretch of river, just as that other city does the western end. The 401, considered North America's busiest highway, now connects the two, as the river has always done historically. The arterial freeway brings visitors from Montreal and Toronto. More international tourists come to the northern than the southern shore of the river for this reason.
|
 |
Photograph Ian Coristine / 1000 Islands Photo Art |
Brockville presents a skyline of old church spires. Its main steet likewise retains historic character, while residential sectors confirm the prosperity of the city, noted as having the highest per capita income in Canada. The Brockville area is said to be the fastest growing in Canada.
Photograph Ian Coristine / 1000 Islands Photo Art
Leeds County Courthouse terminates one of the region's finest public spaces.
Brockville Victoria [City] Hall. Photographer unidentified.
The Brockville Arts Centre is one of the region's major theatrical venues.
Brockville Arts Centre. Glyn Davies photograph.
Fulford Place. Photographer unidentified.
Hall, Fulford Place, courtesy Ah, Wilderness!
Fulford Place, open to the public, provides the region's most opulent house interiors.
|
Photograph Ian Coristine / 1000 Islands Photo Art
Like Fulford Place, seen at the top of the photograph above, other imposing homes have long been prominent on the St. Lawrence shore near Brockville.
Photograph Ian Coristine / 1000 Islands Photo Art
Many of these grand houses are little known, since they remain virtually invisible from the roads, seen only from the water.
Thorton Cliff. Photograph Ian Coristine / 1000 Islands Photo Art
The rugged rock shore has provided house sites with spectacular views.
Photograph Ian Coristine / Thousand Islands Photo Art
Although Brockville may seem remote to some who are more familiar with other areas of the river, it is in fact far more accessible to some affluent islanders who fly here by private plane. Maxxon Airport recently lengthened runways now accomodate private jets. Owners of islands as far up river as Clayton regularly land here.
Photograph Ian Coristine / Thousand Islands Photo Art
A Brockville suburb like Fernbank seems remote from the city, more akin to the wild islands nearby.
Robert Charron photograph
The City of Brockville had the foresight to acquire from the federal government many of the thirty nearby Brock Islands for park purposes. Although they have remained off the tax rolls for generations, they now provide an exceptional resource for recreation. Twelve of the islands provide docking for boats.
The Fighter passing one of the Three Sisters Islands, courtesy Great Lakes and Seaway Shipping.
Scuba party, Brockville. Photographer unidentified.
Scuba diver, Brockville. Photographer unidentified.
At the Keystorm. Photographer unidentified.
Photographer unidentified.
The railroad tunnel in downtown Brockville is historic as the first in Canada, constructed between 1854 and 1860.
Grand Trunk Railroad Tunnel. Photograph (c) 2006 Alex Tipaldos.
A statue on Blockhouse Island in Brockville Harbour fondly recalls Con Darling, who led the annual Santa Clause Parade through the streets of Downtown Toronto and Brockville with his famous chicken in the baby carriage.
Con Darling, Brockville. Photographer unidentified.
Dave Sheridan, an arts teacher at Brockville's 1000 Islands Secondary School, designed the statue. The school's shop class fabricated the piece.
[More to come].
|
|