Frederick Frazer Purchases Land On Cherry Island, Builds Nelfred Lodge, Later Known As Win-Lee, In 1918

Another of the stately summer homes on Cherry Island is Nelfred Lodge, located at the head of the island.  Originally called Whortleberry Island and given to the Rev. George Rockwell by Azariah Walton, one of the early developers of the Thousand Islands with Andrew Cornwall, the property was home to Rockwell’s “Sunnyside” cottage.

In 1917 Frederick Frazer of Syracuse purchased the property from Rockwell’s daughter, Mrs. Hannah Townsend.  The following spring the Garlock Bros. completed a beautiful $20,000 for Frazer and his wife, Mrs. Nellie Hier Frazer.  Frederick Frazer, the last name often misspelled as Frazier or Frasier, was a presiding member of the hardware firm of Frazer & Jones in Syracuse while Nellie was the daughter of former Syracuse Mayor George P. Hier.

Depending on which news article is referred to, the summer home, named Nelfred Lodge, contained 15 to 20 rooms.  The couple were fond of entertaining guests at Nelfred Lodge and their James St. residence in Syracuse.  In 1921 alone, guests to Nelfred Lodge included Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Costello of New York; Mr. and Mrs. Thomas H. Wheeler of Wau Winet; Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Hier, M. W. Chapin, M. S. Cook, Charles Cooney and M. M. Henley of Syracuse.

The Watertown Daily Times wrote a lengthy description of Nelfred Lodge in its August 21, 1924 edition which also mentions the new boat house the Frazers had built–

There are a number of acres in the spacious grounds, and those grounds are attractively laid out by nature, and the gardener of the Frazier home has added much of intrinsic beauty by the large number of flower beds, filled with a wealth of fragrant flowers.

This residence has about 15 rooms.  William Gagon, of Syracuse, was the architect, and the house was decorated by Frederick Wenner of Syracuse.

While the interior of this home is artistically furnished and decorated, one is always interested in the summer porches and their furnishings.  Here you will find comfy lounges and swings, upholstered in bright cretonnes and rugs of Japanese grass.

The new boat house which Mr. and Mrs. Frazer have just built, has located on the second floor a large ball room about 100 by 50 feet.  There is an excellent dancing floor here, and it is equipped with billiard and pool rooms adjoining, as well as several rooms which may be used as overflow guest rooms when the main residence is filled to overflowing.

Also described in the article was the dining room as being spacious and finished with California red oak.  The living room continued with California red wood used in the ceiling rafters and and in the panelling of the hall and stairway leading to the second floor.

Unfortunately, the Frazer’s time at Nelfred Lodge was short.  Nellie Frazer passed away at the age of 66 in November of 1927.  The Daily Times wrote of her obituary–

Mrs. Frazer had not been well for the last six months, but her condition was not considered alarming.  Sunday night she entertained guests at her home and seemed in good spirits and health.  Her death Monday morning was sudden.  Her husband, Frederick Frazer, preside of the Frazer & Jones Company, Solvay, arrived at the house half an hour after his wife’s death.  

Mrs. Frazer spent her entire life in this city (Syracuse).  She was the daughter of former Mayor George P. Hier.  Sixty-three years of her life were spent in the James Street home.  She came there to live when she was 3.  

In social circles, both here and at the Thousand Islands, Mrs. Frazer was always prominent.  She was a member of the Onondaga Golf and Country club here and a member of the Thousand Golf and Country club and the Thousand Island Yacht club.  Mr. and Mrs. Frazer’s summer home, “Nelfred,” on Cherry Island, has long been one of the show places of the St. Lawrence River.  

After Mrs. Frazer’s death, Nelfred Lodge was sold to Willet C. Evans of New York City who also happened to have purchased Casa Blanca, also of Cherry Island.  Mr. Evans proved to be indecisive, selling Nelfred and then purchasing it back.

After 1938, ownership changed a couple of times, none of which appear to be reported in the newspapers.  In the 1960s, Nelfred Lodge was renamed Win-Lee (aka Winlee) when Winship “Win” E. Gurney, president of Win Gurney Pontiac, purchased it along with his wife, Shirlee Illingworth Gurney.  

in 1972, a string of thefts from New York to Florida started with Win Gurney’s boat from Win-Lee on Cherry Island.  The boat was later recovered after being sunk in the St. Lawrence River.  A 1970 station wagon also owned by Mr. Gurney was stolen and was later found abandoned in Florida.  A 23-year-old, James William Donithan, and his 16-year-old cousin, Ronald Donithan, were charged in the series of burglaries and grand larcenies.  

Mrs. Gurney passed away in February of 1977, just after the Blizzard of ’77, at the age of 47 in Crouse-Irving Hospital in Syracuse.  She was a member of the Alexandria Bay Women’s Golf League.  

Two years later, the Watertown Daily Times reported Win Gurney, then noted as owner of the Edgewood Resort, had Win-Lee up for sale for the price of $200,000. 

Win-Lee eventually sold in 1982.