Clayton

The town of Clayton, located in northern New York State, was established on the shores of the mighty St. Lawrence River. At the turn of the last century, Clayton was in its heyday, and was one of the most famous resort destinations in the northeastern
United States. During this period, Clayton was a place of affluence, its economy and culture built on the timber trade, shipping, boat building, and tourism industries. This book highlights the collection of Lester Corbin. Mr. Corbin, known as the "Dean of the Thousand Islands Photographers," dedicated his life to compiling the photographic
history of Clayton and the surrounding Thousand Islands Region. Whether shooting his own photography or restoring the collections of photographers who went before him, Mr. Corbin was able to develop one of the most extensive collections in the area. Every photograph in this book is taken from an original glass plate or negative found in the collection.

The authors of this book, Verda S. Corbin and Shane A. Hutchinson, are the owners of Corbin’s River Heritage, a photography gallery and bookstore located in downtown Clayton. Verda Corbin, wife of the late Les Corbin, has been involved in the business for over four decades. Verda’s grandson, Shane Hutchinson, moved to Clayton two years ago to help with the operation of the business. This year Verda and Shane are celebrating the 50th anniversary of Corbin’s River Heritage and have compiled Clayton as a tribute to Les Corbin’s collection.