So, I have been asked to recount the history of what we call 1092. The story
begins way back in 1948. Our Uncle Hapgood sent his son, John Russell Hapgood to spend a summer at Camp Keewaydin on Devil Island, north of 1092, some 7-8 miles. When his father Charlie saw the beauty and remote nature of Temagami, he advised our father that he needed to visit this unique spot. Dad got Mother on board and in 1949 they reserved a cabin at Ojibway guest camp at the north end of the same Devil Island. I was, of course, quite young, and the driving trip this far North was not to be undertaken with small children. Following their trip to Temagami, our family spent several summers knocking around lakes closer to our home in PA. We went to Conneaut Lake in Crawford Co., Lake Chautauqua in Jamestown, NY. Dad even bought a fairly run down house on Pymatuning Lake in Greenville PA. in an effort to secure the lake vacation cabin he always wanted. Pymatuning Lake was fairly new, full of stumps and carp. Fishing was flaccid, to say the least. And I believe in 1957 Ma and Pa decided to return to Ojibway, and the beauty of Lake Temagami. We stayed at the Jones Point cabins for several years. As luck would have it folks named MacMillen, Phyllis and Allen befriended our parents. Phyllis was born on this lake and her family, theBrowns, knew everybody. She advised Dad that he would be wise to buy an island for a whole $500. At that time there were 3 left available for purchase from The Crown. As we say, “The rest is history”.
In 1960, Dad closed the deal with the government and we have been paying taxes ever since. In 1962, Dad took the month of August off and he and I, PJ and his good friend Skip Wilson built the entire outer shell on this cabin. Pop was semi-retired and was able to spend weeks in the late spring and early fall outfitting the cabin interior. Mother was right by his side the whole time. She loved it here. In the early 60’s Dad, Grace and I built the fireplace. I think it took 3 summers. The three of us also built the guest cabin on Spider Point, finishing it time for PJ’s visit with his new bride in August of ’65. Dad made other improvements over the years, building the Propeller Club, laundry area and pantry along with some repairs. In 1981 we built the boathouse. Deb was on it swinging a hammer, nailing down the deck all the while heavy with child no.2. And Mother was aghast.
Other improvements/repairs trickle in to this day. Power came in 1985 thanks to the deeeep pockets of Norman Keevil. The new roof, a rubber fabric, was installed in 1998. Ed, Deb, and the kids built the swim dock in ’99. And rebuilt again, in 2020. I built the new barbeque structure currently in place somewhere in between.
Finishing the interior of Spider Point was started in 2015 or so, and continues as we get the urge. PJ paid to have it fully insulted,…why I never understood.
Eddie Russell
