We had walked around a while, and we started a conversation with a man who was sitting on one of the porches. He said that the community started as a Methodist campground. People would travel to Wellesley Island, and the owner of the land would allow them to pitch a tent. The same people came back year after year and pitched their tent in the same spot. Then they asked the owner of the land to allow them to build a platform on which to pitch their tent in order to get out of the mud. Then they asked the owner of the land to allow them to build a small house/cabin on the land. An arrangement was made that allowed the people to lease the land but own the house. The owners of the houses have to abide by certain rules set up by the company that owns the land. The homeowners are required to keep up the houses and maintain the lots. Some of the rules limit the colors a house is painted or maintained. If a homeowner doesn't abide by the rules, the landowner can cancel their lease and require the homeowner to sell. If someone is interested in buying a house, they have to be interviewed and accepted by the landowner.
Few people live on the island year round. The wind chill during winter can get to -50F degrees. Ice and snow can make life very difficult, since very few of the houses are far enough away from the island's shore. Of course, being close to the river's edge is an advantage in the summer. Most of the people who are residing on the island during the summer are friends of the homeowner. Few of the homes are available for rental.
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