Frost Island (located in the Thessalon Marina):
A well known hunting, tourist and recreational town is nestled along the Thessalon river that leads to one of the Great Lakes. Yet as the generations age, many a true history of the actual origins of local landmarks and owned areas are silently forgotten as the seniors seem to fade away. Some are lost or misplaced in forgotten aNew tourists want, exploring areas of this small town, but do they remember things as they once were? Not likely. It is a case of "being there" and keeping that picture as a token in one's memory.
A prime example would be to ask a person what that strange flat rock is or was used for at one time that sits like a sentinel guarding the local government dock. Oh, if it could only speak of the times when the Norgoma used to be a passenger boat that also carried cars to Cockburn Island, the tugs and working boats that depended on that government dock for mooring, plus other various uses which even included a swimming hole.
Frost Island still remains defiant against the lowering water level of its constant competitor, Lake Huron. As one walks upon it, to most it is just a nice, clean rock. But those who know its history, know different. Thomas Bryson Frost, his wife Catherine, along with their three sons: Larry, Guy and Watson left from Fort Coulounge, Quebec, in the mid-1920's, by wagon, finally reaching their destination in Thessalon. They resided on the mainland for some time before they settled on Frost Island, building a house and raising chickens for a living, under Squatters Rights.
As town politics would go, Thomas (was) on the brink of eviction from his homestead. Getting frustrated, Thomas went to court to be able to keep his home and land. An ACR lawyer happened to be in the court when Thomas was there. After talking to Thomas and finding what his problem was, he took Thomas's case for free. The court settlement was that Thomas owned the island, and there was never to be taxes paid on it, a clause "written in stone.
Being somewhat of a comedian and unpredictable card in nature, Thomas was well known to many around. When the war of 1939-1945 came, all of Thomas's boys served in the service. Larry and Guy enlisted in the army, while Watson joined the Merchant Marines. After the war, they all returned to Frost Island to continue their lives, eventually marrying and having their own families. Thomas and Catherine, along with Larry, stayed on the island until 1955. At that point, Ken McColman gave them a piece of property right across from Frost Island where the Senior Citizen complex now stands. Thomas's two remaining sons, along with their two sons, who had taken residence in Sault Ste Marie came to Thessalon and built Thomas a new two bedroom home to live in.
Thomas and his son Larry were often referred to as "two peas in a pod" by local area residents and wildly known for their antics. I might add that on the Ottawa River in Quebec remains another Frost Island named after the Frost family in that region. Originally, Frost is a Scottish name and the families married into the local natives, making Thomas Bryson Frost three-quarter native who married Catherine, a full native.
As I reluctantly slide into my sixty-first birthday, I ponder on how this little island' history will fade also some day when I am gone. I can still see myself as a boy who walked the booms from the mainland to get to my grandparents house, the origin of my conception as the oldest remain grandson who continually invaded their privacy in my youth, along with my family, because my father would work on the breakwater out from the government marina. Thomas Bryson Frost was my grandfather. Thomas(Guy) Frost was my father and I remain Gordon Thomas Frost.
