Grindstone Island Research and Heritage Center

06/18/2026

Schoolhouse Summer Children’s Program

Welcome to the Grindstone Island Research and Heritage Center, formed in 1999. Our mission is to preserve and protect the Schoolhouses of Grindstone Island and to nurture the cultural, historical, and social aspects of the island by collecting, preserving, and teaching regional, island, and family heritage.

Summer classes begin June 29th and end July 30th. The hours are 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m., Monday through Thursday. All children are welcome. Any child under the age of five must be accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older.

Our program is funded through our membership and is free to those who are members. We encourage all to become members ($25 for individuals and $50 for families). A membership envelope is available at the Red Schoolhouse. The fee for non-members is $5/day.

Thank you for being a supporter of our summer program.

Education Committee: Elsbeth Brown-Parr, Penny Joel, Fran Mallory,
Julia Purcell
Program Instructor: Jane Riff
The GIRHC Board

06/18/2026

Grindstone Island Upcoming Events for end of June - early July
*Friday, June 19 - 9 am - Co-Ed Coffee at Betsy & Roxane's
*Saturday, June 20 - 12 pm - 3 pm - Celebration of Life for Milton Rusho at Kring Ranch Barn in Alexandria Bay
*Sunday, June 21 - 10 am - Church Service in the Carriage House
*Thursday, June 25 - 5:30 pm - Church Parsonage Dinner (contact Jeff McArn for details)
*Summer Camp for Kids - starts Monday, June 29 10 am - noon until July 30 (every Monday - Thursday at the Red Schoolhouse)
*Wednesday, July 1st (new date) - Season Opening of the Grindstone Island Heritage Museum 1 pm - 5 pm
*Saturday, July 4 - 11 am Mule Parade at the Red Schoolhouse
*Saturday, July 4 - 8 pm - Dance at Dodge Hall
*Sunday, July 5 - 10 am Church Service at Aunt Jane's Bay
*Grindstone Island Winery - Open 12 pm - 8 pm Wednesdays thru Sundays
*Acorn Studios - Open 10 am - 5pm Saturdays - Mondays

06/15/2026

The June edition of Thousand Islands Life Magazine features another story about the Grindstone Island United Methodist Church's stained glass windows. This story is about Manley A. Rusho who died in 1937 and was the grandfather of Manley L. Rusho - who many people on the island knew and loved. Please note that there is a photo of Mr. Rusho with his wife Alice and a young boy - that young boy is Manley L. Rusho at age 4 (not Leon as the picture states). The Grindstone Island Heritage Museum will open for the season on June 27 and will feature an exhibit about the church - don't miss this new exhibit!

Manley was a shrewd businessman and entrepreneur who formed a working relationship with Charles Emery, the wealthy to***co magnate who built Calumet Castle . . .

06/07/2026

05/15/2026

The May edition of the Thousand Islands Life Magazine is now available to read online. This article is about the Slate and Garnsey Families - both early settlers on Grindstone Island. Both families are honored with a stained-glass window in the Grindstone Island United Methodist Church. The Grindstone Island Heritage Museum exhibit will feature the church this summer when it opens on June 27th.

The Slate and Garnsey families are two families who demonstrate resilience, and their legacies endure within the community.

04/15/2026

The April 2026 edition of Thousand Islands Life Magazine features another story about the historic stained-glass windows in the Grindstone Island United Methodist Church. This article honors the legacy of Emmet Dodge and the incredible gifts he left to the island community.

Emmet was both a talented builder and a schoolteacher at Upper (Red) Schoolhouse additionally he worked as a Customs Inspector . . .

02/25/2026

Great group of former students from Grindstone Island attending the Hashing Over History at Thousand Islands Museum, The History Place

What a pleasure to have these Grindstone Island School alumni at Hashing over History today! Left to Right Linda Brown, Doreen Meeks, Brenda Patch Melissa Patch, Bud Patch, Steve Lashomb

02/25/2026

Great history sessions coming up in Clayton!

Updated Hashing over History schedule.

Hope to see you next week for Dan Haycock's program on the Clayton Lions Roar!

02/25/2026

Today at 10 am in Clayton (Feb. 25)! Don't miss this history session on education on Grindstone Island!

Don’t forget to stop in for Hashing over History tomorrow at 10am on Grindstone Island Schoolhouse Days.

02/04/2026

Sending condolences to the Rusho family during this difficult time of loss.