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| ==Description== | ==Description== | ||
| The small irregular island is about 2.5 |
The small irregular island is about {{convert|2.5|acre|m2}} - one hectare - in area.<ref name="DN033009" /> It has an odd dual humped appearance and is mostly a lump of ] ]. There is a small channel that cuts into the bedrock on the southern side of the tiny island that was used for launching small boats. This channel is filled with ] shells. There is a purple-bluish "beach" made of mussel shells mixed with bird bones on the west side of the island with some reed grass. The entire island is littered with broken glass from beer bottles. The highest point on the island is usually covered in Gull bird guano and is underwater during high tide storms. The largest inhabitant of the island is usually a ] that sleeps on the island during daytime. | ||
| ==History== | ==History== | ||
| Rat Island was included in the purchase by ] in 1654. During the typhoid fever scares of the 1800s, Rat Island was used by ] as a ] ] hospital for about 40 infected people called the "Pelham Pesthouse".<ref name="NYCGuide"> p.551, ''New York City Guide'', Federal Writers' Project, 1939.</ref> The remains of cobblestone walls and foundations are still there. It was abandoned due to storm floods. Local legends say there was also a ] for a while.{{ |
Rat Island was included in the purchase by ] in 1654. During the typhoid fever scares of the 1800s, Rat Island was used by ] as a ] ] hospital for about 40 infected people called the "Pelham Pesthouse".<ref name="NYCGuide"> p.551, ''New York City Guide'', Federal Writers' Project, 1939.</ref> The remains of cobblestone walls and foundations are still there. It was abandoned due to storm floods. Local legends say there was also a ] for a while.{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}} | ||
| New York City purchased the island in 1888. It became a mini colony for writers and artists in the early 20th Century. It was bought by Dr. H. A. Parmentier in 1908. He subsequently leased the island to the Mount Vernon Club in 1931.<ref name="NYCGuide" /> It was owned by a Brooklyn lawyer until 1972 when it was sold to Edmund "Red" Brennen who still owns it. He said he bought it to do salvage work and store equipment. For many years crane buckets and lattice booms and other equipment were visible. |
New York City purchased the island in 1888. It became a mini colony for writers and artists in the early 20th Century. It was bought by Dr. H. A. Parmentier in 1908. He subsequently leased the island to the Mount Vernon Club in 1931.<ref name="NYCGuide" /> It was owned by a Brooklyn lawyer until 1972 when it was sold to Edmund "Red" Brennen who still owns it. He said he bought it to do salvage work and store equipment. For many years crane buckets and lattice booms and other equipment were visible.<ref name="DN033009" /> It is still privately owned. In March 2009, Brennan, put Rat Island up for sale for $300,000. Many locals still falsely think it is owned by the NYC Department of Parks. In fact they are trespassing on private property. {{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} In summer months, it may have as many as 30 people on it, mostly fishermen. Some can be seen pitching tents. Others swim off the east side. In the Summertime the Parks Department puts waste drums so they may contain their garbage.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} Sometimes, the local first responders use it to practice rescue missions with boats and helicopters.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} | ||
| ==Name== | ==Name== | ||
| It is not known how the island received its name. It has been proposed by Red Brennan and others including former prison workers that prisoners escaping from Hart Island nearby, nicknamed "rats", used the small island to rest before swimming on to City Island and freedom.<ref name="DN033009">{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2009/03/24/2009-03-24_for_enough_cheese_rat_island_is_yours_fa-2.html |title=For enough cheese, Rat Island is yours: Family wants 300G for spot near City Island |last=Samuels |first=Tanyanika |date=March |
It is not known how the island received its name. It has been proposed by Red Brennan and others including former prison workers that prisoners escaping from Hart Island nearby, nicknamed "rats", used the small island to rest before swimming on to City Island and freedom.<ref name="DN033009">{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2009/03/24/2009-03-24_for_enough_cheese_rat_island_is_yours_fa-2.html |title=For enough cheese, Rat Island is yours: Family wants 300G for spot near City Island |last=Samuels |first=Tanyanika |date=March 24 2009 |newspaper=Daily News |location=New York |accessdate=2009-03-30}}</ref><ref name="NYCGuide" /> | ||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| Line 17: | Line 17: | ||
| ==Further reading== | ==Further reading== | ||
| *{{cite book |author=Bill Twomey |title=The Bronx: In Bits and Pieces - Rat Island | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=WeVTP3GyFH0C&pg=PA89 |publisher=Rooftop Publishing |location= |year=2007 |pages=89 |isbn=1-60008-062-6 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate=}} | *{{cite book |author=Bill Twomey |title=The Bronx: In Bits and Pieces - Rat Island | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=WeVTP3GyFH0C&pg=PA89 |publisher=Rooftop Publishing |location= |year=2007 |pages=89 |isbn=1-60008-062-6 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate=}} | ||
| * p.551, ''New York City Guide'', Federal Writers' Project, 1939. | * p. 551, ''New York City Guide'', Federal Writers' Project, 1939. | ||
| {{coord|40|51|18|N|73|46|51|W|display=title|scale:5000}} | {{coord|40|51|18|N|73|46|51|W|display=title|scale:5000}} | ||
| {{New York City Islands}} | {{New York City Islands}} | ||
Revision as of 22:42, 13 September 2010
Rat Island is a tiny island that is privately owned and approximately 2.5 acres (1.0 ha) in size located in City Island Harbor, which is a part of Long Island Sound, near New York City. It is about halfway between City Island and Hart Island and south of High Island. It is one of The Pelham Islands.
Description
The small irregular island is about 2.5 acres (10,000 m) - one hectare - in area. It has an odd dual humped appearance and is mostly a lump of Manhattan schist bedrock. There is a small channel that cuts into the bedrock on the southern side of the tiny island that was used for launching small boats. This channel is filled with mussel shells. There is a purple-bluish "beach" made of mussel shells mixed with bird bones on the west side of the island with some reed grass. The entire island is littered with broken glass from beer bottles. The highest point on the island is usually covered in Gull bird guano and is underwater during high tide storms. The largest inhabitant of the island is usually a Great Blue Heron that sleeps on the island during daytime.
History
Rat Island was included in the purchase by Thomas Pell in 1654. During the typhoid fever scares of the 1800s, Rat Island was used by Pelham, New York as a typhoid quarantine hospital for about 40 infected people called the "Pelham Pesthouse". The remains of cobblestone walls and foundations are still there. It was abandoned due to storm floods. Local legends say there was also a lighthouse for a while. New York City purchased the island in 1888. It became a mini colony for writers and artists in the early 20th Century. It was bought by Dr. H. A. Parmentier in 1908. He subsequently leased the island to the Mount Vernon Club in 1931. It was owned by a Brooklyn lawyer until 1972 when it was sold to Edmund "Red" Brennen who still owns it. He said he bought it to do salvage work and store equipment. For many years crane buckets and lattice booms and other equipment were visible. It is still privately owned. In March 2009, Brennan, put Rat Island up for sale for $300,000. Many locals still falsely think it is owned by the NYC Department of Parks. In fact they are trespassing on private property. In summer months, it may have as many as 30 people on it, mostly fishermen. Some can be seen pitching tents. Others swim off the east side. In the Summertime the Parks Department puts waste drums so they may contain their garbage. Sometimes, the local first responders use it to practice rescue missions with boats and helicopters.
Name
It is not known how the island received its name. It has been proposed by Red Brennan and others including former prison workers that prisoners escaping from Hart Island nearby, nicknamed "rats", used the small island to rest before swimming on to City Island and freedom.
References
- ^ Samuels, Tanyanika (March 24 2009). "For enough cheese, Rat Island is yours: Family wants 300G for spot near City Island". Daily News. New York. Retrieved 2009-03-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Rat Island p.551, New York City Guide, Federal Writers' Project, 1939.
Further reading
- Bill Twomey (2007). The Bronx: In Bits and Pieces - Rat Island. Rooftop Publishing. p. 89. ISBN 1-60008-062-6.
- Rat Island p. 551, New York City Guide, Federal Writers' Project, 1939.
40°51′18″N 73°46′51″W / 40.85500°N 73.78083°W / 40.85500; -73.78083
| Islands of New York City | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major islands |  | ||||
| Pelham Islands | |||||
| New York Bay |
| ||||
| Jamaica Bay | |||||
| North River (Hudson River) | |||||
| Former islands shown in italics | |||||