#1833 "Darlingside"

#1833 "Darlingside"
10x12 inches oils on canvas 

My plein air artist friend Bob and I decided to paint together during the afternoon hours of a late autumn day. 

I stopped into Kehoe Marina where I had painted before (#1592 "Blue Quail"). We have purchased several items from Kehoe Marina and I knew the owners and staff fairly well. We were invited to paint at Darlingside on the shores of the St Lawrence River. I had only paddled past years before (with the strong current) so this was a unique opportunity. Off we went. 

It was a very windy day. The south-westerlies were funnelling down the St Lawrence with gusts to 30 knots and maybe more. The sun felt good on our backs. The wind made it challenging to hold my palette. The brushwork was even a challenge. I used my pinky finger as a small mahl stick to steady the brush.

I wanted a composition that led the eye along the flagstone path to the old general store and the gap between Batterman's Point and the Canadian mainland. The stretch of water is called the Raft Narrows. I included some of the homes and cottages on the north shore of Hill Island and the islands that line that shore. The maple trees along the shoreline also held a lot of character. 

The Darlingside site is located on the St. Lawrence River just east of the Thousand Islands Bridge with a beautiful and protected southern exposure. Thomas Darling (1813-1882) and his wife Janet Findlay (1825-1906) came to the area from Berwick, Scotland in 1837. Mr. Darling began a cordwood business in 1837. At that time, trade in cordwood figured significantly in the economy of the Township. Local residents from as far north as Blue Mountain would bring wood to Darling's depot. In turn, Mr. Darling would supply wood to steamers travelling along the St. Lawrence River.

As his business flourished, Darling recognized the need for a general store. His situation was ideal to serve both those in the Township and the steamers. The general store was opened in 1845. It was closely associated with a barter-and-credit system of trade with the wood business. This type of trade was very common in early Canada. Little cash would change hands, but products, both raw and finished, would.

The Darling family made an important contribution to the history of the Thousand Islands Region. They were pioneers in Upper Canada. They continued their mercantile business into the Railway Era. The family was also prominent politically in township and country government. Since the 1940's, the Darling family has used Darlingside as a summer home. The Kehoe family now owns this beautiful property. 

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Warmest regards and keep your paddle in the water,

Phil Chadwick