Misplaced Pages

High Island (Bronx): Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 03:49, 12 December 2004 editRoySmith (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Checkusers, Administrators92,119 edits Merged info from City Island article, edited for style← Previous edit Latest revision as of 18:57, 22 September 2024 edit undoBlueboyLINY (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users14,870 edits Reverting edit(s) by MasterControlMaster13 (talk) to rev. 1243028554 by BlueboyLINY: No reliable source (UV 0.1.5)Tags: Ultraviolet Undo 
(164 intermediate revisions by 91 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|Small island in the Bronx, New York}}
'''High Island''' is a small private island next to ]. It is only an island at high tide, being connected to City Island by a permanent sandbar at low tide. It is also connected to City Island by a bridge.
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2012}}
{{Infobox islands
| name = High Island
| image_name = High Island, New York.JPG
| image_caption = High Island as viewed from nearby ].
| image_size =
| map = USA Bronx
| map_caption = Location of High Island in the Bronx, which is in red
| native_name =
| native_name_link =
| location = ]
| coordinates = {{coord|40.859571|N|73.786159|W|type:city_region:US-NY|display=inline,title}}
| archipelago = ]
| total_islands =
| major_islands =
| area_sqmi = 0.02
| length_mi = 0.7
| width_mi = 0.8
| highest_mount =
| elevation_ft =
| country = {{flag|United States}}
| country_admin_divisions_title = State
| country_admin_divisions = {{flag|New York}}
| country_admin_divisions_title_1 = City
| country_admin_divisions_1 = {{flagicon image|Flag of New York City.svg}} New York City
| country_admin_divisions_title_2 = ]
| country_admin_divisions_2 = {{Flagicon image|Flag of Bronx County, New York.svg}} ]
| country_largest_city =
| country_largest_city_population =
| population = 0
| population_as_of = 2017
| density_sqmi =
| ethnic_groups =
| additional_info =
}}
'''High Island''' is a small, uninhabited, ], part of the ] in ], New York City. It lies east of the north end of ] between ] and ] in ]. It is connected to City Island by a ] that emerges at very ], as well as by a small private bridge.


Previously used as a stone quarry and then a summer resort, the island today is used to support two radio station ]s and ].
130 years ago, High Island was known as Spectacle Island. More recently, it was privately owned with summer rental cottages and a lifesaving station until the late 1950's, when it was purchased to use for radio transmission towers.


==History==
As of 2004, it is owned by Infinity Broadcasting, a division of media giant Viacom International. It houses the transmitters and antenna towers for both WCBS Newsradio 880 AM and WFAN Sportsradio 660 AM (previously known as WNBC). The island is currently uninhabited, but is attended 24 hours a day by workers manning the transmission equipment. Access is restricted by a large security gate which surrounds the bridge roadway and the area in and around the two transmitters.
High Island was once known as Shark Island due to the many ]s which used to swim in the nearby waters of ]. The island is comparatively high with a shape similar to a gumdrop, thus alluding to the origin of its present-day name.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qUfosR3PMQoC&pg=PA106 | last=McNamara | first=John | title=History in asphalt : the origin of Bronx street and place names, Borough of the Bronx, New York City | publisher=Bronx County Historical Society | publication-place=Bronx, N.Y | year=1984 | isbn=978-0-941980-16-6 | oclc=10696584 | page=106}}</ref>


Elisha King purchased the island in 1829 to quarry stones.<ref name="Twomey 2007">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WeVTP3GyFH0C | last=Twomey | first=Bill | title=The Bronx, in bits and pieces | publisher=Rooftop Publishing | publication-place=Bloomington, IN | year=2007 | isbn=978-1-60008-062-3 | oclc=188850377 }}</ref>{{rp|97}}
The taller of the towers is 549 feet. WCBS/WFAN have applied to raise the other tower to the same height, but the local community of City Island is opposed to any such improvements. There are concerns about getting cancer from the radio frequency energy, which is strong enough to power a small flashlight! The case is in litigation.
During the 1920s the Miller family operated a community of summer rental cottages catering to about 40 families.<ref name="Twomey 2007"/>{{rp|111}}


In October 1960, the ] purchased the island and acquired its ], with plans to construct a radio transmission tower. ] later purchased half of NBC's interest, creating a joint venture.<ref>{{cite news|last=Iachetta |first=Michael |title=High Island's summer colony yields to radio transmitters |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/393033003/ |access-date=November 27, 2022 |newspaper=Daily News|location=New York |date=October 16, 1960 |page=145 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://forgotten-ny.com/2000/05/city-island/ |title=City Island |date=May 28, 2000 |access-date=April 12, 2016}}</ref> After over two years of construction, the new tower and supporting structures housing the transmitters for ] (660 AM) and WCBS (880 AM) went into operation in 1963. Prior to High Island the WCBS facility was located on nearby ] in ], and the WNBC transmitter was based in ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gallery.bostonradio.org/2003-01/nyc/100-00882-med.html|title=WFAN/WCBS tower, High Island, Bronx|access-date=April 12, 2016}}</ref>
The island is mostly an outcrop of bedrock with many trees, with a small swamp on its southwest side.


On August 27, 1967, a small private airplane crashed into the radio tower, destroying the antenna and taking WCBS and WNBC off the air, the day before WCBS's all news format launched.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fybush.com/site-030424.html|title=A selection from a decade of visits to tower and studio sites in the Northeast and beyond}}</ref> Both stations were able to borrow nearby transmission facilities for about a week, until an emergency tower could be erected on High Island. The permanent replacement was built with a second (shorter) tower as an emergency backup.
⚫ ==External Links==
[http://www.terraserver.com/imagery/image_gx.asp?cpx=-73.786903&cpy=40.847198&res=8&provider_id=305
Satellite Map of High Island]


The deed to High Island remained with NBC until 1988, when it was transferred to ] as part of the latter company's purchase of WNBC. Emmis owned ], an existing station which moved to WNBC's frequency in October 1988. WFAN was sold by Emmis in 1992 to ], while CBS and WCBS were acquired by ] in 1995. WCBS and WFAN became ] in 1997 when Infinity was purchased by Westinghouse.
⚫ ]

In August 2024, WCBS changed its call letters to ] after ] took over operational control of 880 AM, replacing WCBS's news format with ] sports programming.

==Current use==
{{As of|2022}}, the entire island and two transmitters are owned by ], which through several acquisitions and mergers has owned both WFAN and WCBS (now WHSQ) since 2017.

The taller of the towers is {{convert|548|ft}}. The shorter tower is {{convert|300|ft}} and was built in 2001 to replace the emergency tower erected in 1967. The proximity of these two AM radio stations has, at times, caused interference on telephones and electronic equipment on nearby City Island. High Island is only an AM radio transmission facility. It does not have any studios or tower tenants, other than the two AM radio stations. WFAN broadcasts from studios located at the Hudson Square Broadcast Center in the ] section of ], while WHSQ broadcasts from ]'s facilities on the ]. WHSQ is scheduled to move into new studios in Hudson Square, as part of ]'s relocation of its New York operations to that area in early 2025. Disney is the corporate parent of ESPN and ABC; Good Karma operates ESPN Radio under license from Disney.

A full-time caretaker's residence was in use from 1961 to 2007. The island is currently uninhabited and maintained by the radio stations' engineers and contractors. Advances in broadcast and security technology have made remote monitoring of both the radio equipment and the physical property more feasible than in earlier years where a full-time human presence was required.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

⚫ == External links ==
*
*
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041016043405/http://www.newsradio88.com/ |date=October 16, 2004 }}
*
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060215124814/http://www.cbsradio.com/about/index.php |date=February 15, 2006 }}
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060313174436/http://hawkins.pair.com/wcbs_wfan.html |date=March 13, 2006 }}

{{New York City Islands}}

]
]
⚫ ]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 18:57, 22 September 2024

Small island in the Bronx, New York

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "High Island" Bronx – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (November 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
High Island
High Island as viewed from nearby Orchard Beach.
High Island is located in BronxHigh IslandHigh IslandLocation of High Island in the Bronx, which is in red
Geography
LocationLong Island Sound
Coordinates40°51′34″N 73°47′10″W / 40.859571°N 73.786159°W / 40.859571; -73.786159
ArchipelagoThe Pelham Islands
Area0.02 sq mi (0.052 km)
Length0.7 mi (1.1 km)
Width0.8 mi (1.3 km)
Administration
 United States
State New York
City New York City
Borough The Bronx
Demographics
Population0 (2017)

High Island is a small, uninhabited, privately-owned island, part of the Pelham Islands in the Bronx, New York City. It lies east of the north end of City Island between City Island Harbor and Pelham Bay in Long Island Sound. It is connected to City Island by a sandbar that emerges at very low tide, as well as by a small private bridge.

Previously used as a stone quarry and then a summer resort, the island today is used to support two radio station transmitters and antennas.

History

High Island was once known as Shark Island due to the many sand sharks which used to swim in the nearby waters of Pelham Bay. The island is comparatively high with a shape similar to a gumdrop, thus alluding to the origin of its present-day name.

Elisha King purchased the island in 1829 to quarry stones. During the 1920s the Miller family operated a community of summer rental cottages catering to about 40 families.

In October 1960, the National Broadcasting Company purchased the island and acquired its deed, with plans to construct a radio transmission tower. CBS later purchased half of NBC's interest, creating a joint venture. After over two years of construction, the new tower and supporting structures housing the transmitters for WNBC (660 AM) and WCBS (880 AM) went into operation in 1963. Prior to High Island the WCBS facility was located on nearby Columbia Island in New Rochelle, New York, and the WNBC transmitter was based in Sands Point, New York.

On August 27, 1967, a small private airplane crashed into the radio tower, destroying the antenna and taking WCBS and WNBC off the air, the day before WCBS's all news format launched. Both stations were able to borrow nearby transmission facilities for about a week, until an emergency tower could be erected on High Island. The permanent replacement was built with a second (shorter) tower as an emergency backup.

The deed to High Island remained with NBC until 1988, when it was transferred to Emmis Communications as part of the latter company's purchase of WNBC. Emmis owned WFAN, an existing station which moved to WNBC's frequency in October 1988. WFAN was sold by Emmis in 1992 to Infinity Broadcasting, while CBS and WCBS were acquired by Westinghouse Electric Corporation in 1995. WCBS and WFAN became sister stations in 1997 when Infinity was purchased by Westinghouse.

In August 2024, WCBS changed its call letters to WHSQ after Good Karma Brands took over operational control of 880 AM, replacing WCBS's news format with ESPN Radio sports programming.

Current use

As of 2022, the entire island and two transmitters are owned by Audacy, Inc., which through several acquisitions and mergers has owned both WFAN and WCBS (now WHSQ) since 2017.

The taller of the towers is 548 feet (167 m). The shorter tower is 300 feet (91 m) and was built in 2001 to replace the emergency tower erected in 1967. The proximity of these two AM radio stations has, at times, caused interference on telephones and electronic equipment on nearby City Island. High Island is only an AM radio transmission facility. It does not have any studios or tower tenants, other than the two AM radio stations. WFAN broadcasts from studios located at the Hudson Square Broadcast Center in the Tribeca section of Manhattan, while WHSQ broadcasts from ABC's facilities on the Upper West Side. WHSQ is scheduled to move into new studios in Hudson Square, as part of the Walt Disney Company's relocation of its New York operations to that area in early 2025. Disney is the corporate parent of ESPN and ABC; Good Karma operates ESPN Radio under license from Disney.

A full-time caretaker's residence was in use from 1961 to 2007. The island is currently uninhabited and maintained by the radio stations' engineers and contractors. Advances in broadcast and security technology have made remote monitoring of both the radio equipment and the physical property more feasible than in earlier years where a full-time human presence was required.

References

  1. McNamara, John (1984). History in asphalt : the origin of Bronx street and place names, Borough of the Bronx, New York City. Bronx, N.Y: Bronx County Historical Society. p. 106. ISBN 978-0-941980-16-6. OCLC 10696584.
  2. ^ Twomey, Bill (2007). The Bronx, in bits and pieces. Bloomington, IN: Rooftop Publishing. ISBN 978-1-60008-062-3. OCLC 188850377.
  3. Iachetta, Michael (October 16, 1960). "High Island's summer colony yields to radio transmitters". Daily News. New York. p. 145. Retrieved November 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "City Island". May 28, 2000. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  5. "WFAN/WCBS tower, High Island, Bronx". Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  6. "A selection from a decade of visits to tower and studio sites in the Northeast and beyond".

External links

Islands of New York City
Major islands
Pelham Islands
New York Bay
Entirely in NJ
Jamaica Bay
North River (Hudson River)
Former islands shown in italics
Categories: