In the mid ’60’s there was a brand new dock that sprung up on the Clayton side of Calumet Island. Pre-1960’s there may have been another dock in the same place, but I’m not sure; Paul Malo’s excellent book “Fools’ Paradise” states on page 27 “At one time there was a big deep-water pier for yachts on this side. It was over by that little island, which Emery more or less created…” (Paul Malo, “Fools’ Paradise” Copyright 2003 Laurentian Press).
The 1960’s dock was constructed during a period of growth for the then-marina. It never seemed to get much use, perhaps because it was on the non-protected side of Calumet’s harbor.
One weekend, a visiting seaplane pilot brought his craft to the water between Clayton and Calumet and provided an afternoon of amazing rides over the river (to me, that was worth every penny of the dock’s construction costs!)
Seaplane at Calumet Island dock, circa 1967
Years later I went back to Calumet and the dock was gone. A mystery as to why, and if it ever got used.
Interestingly enough, the Google Maps aerial view still shows the location of that dock, probably something that would remain hidden from view in the much less clearer St Lawrence of the 60’s.
Imagery c 2012 GeoEye, New York GIS, Map Data c 2012 Google