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Hunter Island (Bronx): Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 40°52′30″N 73°47′25″W / 40.8750278°N 73.7902194°W / 40.8750278; -73.7902194
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{{Infobox Islands
[[File:Pelhambay1.jpg|280px|thumb|Northern tip of Hunter Island, facing Glen Island in [[Westchester County, NY]]]]'''
| name = Hunter Island
'''Hunter Island''' is a small island in northeast [[The Bronx|Bronx]], [[New York]].
| image name = Pelhambay1.jpg
| image caption = View from Hunter Island (foreground) towards Glen Island in [[New Rochelle, New York]]
| image size = 240px
| locator map = {{Location map|New York City|lat=40.8750278|long=-73.7902194}}
| map_custom =
| native name =
| native name link =
| nickname =
| location = [[Long Island Sound]]
| coordinates =
| archipelago =
| total islands =
| major islands =
| area = {{convert|250|acre|km2|abbr=on}}
| length =
| width =
| highest mount =
| elevation =
| country = United States
| country admin divisions title = State
| country admin divisions = {{flag|New York}}
| country admin divisions title 1 = County
| country admin divisions 1 = [[Bronx County, New York|Bronx]]
| country admin divisions title 2 = City
| country admin divisions 2 = [[New York City]]
| country largest city =
| country largest city population =
| population =
| population as of =
| density =
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| additional info =
}}


The lagoon nearby was used for Olympic [[regatta]] training in the 1960s. Hunter Island is now connected to the nearby [[Twin Island (New York)|Twin Island]] and [[Rodman's Neck]] by landfill and sunken barges. These islands were privately owned before the city bought them to create [[Pelham Bay Park]]. Hunter Island was once owned by State Senator [[John Hunter (Westchester County, NY)|John Hunter]], a wealthy auctioneer and farmer.


'''Hunter Island''' is a small island in the [[New York City]] borough of the [[The Bronx|Bronx]]. It is located in the northeast corner of [[Pelham Bay Park]] on [[Long Island Sound]], adjacent to the New York City and [[Westchester County]] border. The island is also part of the [[Pelham Islands]], the historical name for a group of islands in western Long Island Sound that once belonged to Thomas Pell, Lord of Pelham Manor,.
Hunter Island is home to the [[Kazimiroff Nature Trail]].


The island bears the name of former owner [[John Hunter]], a successful businessman and politician, who purchased the property in 1804. Hunter's residence and gardens were constructed and landscaped at great cost. The Mansion was built in the English Georgian style, similar to that of the old City Hall of New York City, and was described as one of the finest mansion of the period. It held a vast art collection valuable art by artists such as Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Dyke and Rafael.<ref>{{cite book|last=Twomey|first=Bill|title=The Bronx: In Bits and Pieces|year=2007|publisher=Rooftop Publishing|isbn=1600080626, 9781600080623|pages=107|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=WeVTP3GyFH0C&pg=PA107&lpg=PA107&dq=hunter+island+bronx&source=bl&ots=Gf6CVwsIsE&sig=LBFqbdHuVd6T4DxdBB_CfsUWiw8&hl=en&ei=1gB5TYL6KfCH0QGhhbnTAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CFgQ6AEwCTgU#v=onepage&q=hunter%20island%20bronx&f=false}}</ref> The home was situated at the highest point on the island (90 feet above sea level) and had wonderful views of [[Long Island Sound]] to the east and the hills and woodlands of the Town of [[Pelham, New York|Pelham]] to the north. Terraced gardens flanked the home and continued down to the waterfront. A stone [[causeway]] and [[bridge]] were also constructed, connecting the island to the mainland. John Hunter lived in the home for more than forty years until his death in 1852.

The City of New York purchased the island in 1889. In 1937, Parks Commissioner [[Robert Moses]] decided to dredge the sand of the Rockaways to fill LeRoy’s Bay during the construction of [[Orchard Beach]]. The Hunter Mansion, which had fallen into disrepair, was also destroyed during construction. When the massive project was finished, Hunter Island was connected to nearby [[Twin Island (New York)|Twin Island]] and [[Rodman's Neck]], becoming part of Pelham Bay Park, originally designated parkland in 1888. The newly created land mass resulted in a one-mile crescent [[beach]], a 6,800-car parking lot, a pavilion, bathhouse complex, and promenades.

In 1967, Hunter Island was declared the 'Hunter Island Marine Zoology and Geology Sanctuary' by local law. The land holds the largest continuous [[oak]] [[forest]] in Pelham Bay Park, including [[white oaks|white]], [[red oaks|red]], and [[black oaks|black ]] oak, as well as [[black cherry]], [[white pines]], [[Norway spruce]], and [[black locust]] trees. One can also find traces of John Hunter’s estate garden, which held grape [[hyacinth]], [[periwinkle]], [[daylily]], and Tartarian [[honeysuckle]]. Much of the island’s natural features are found along the [[Kazimiroff Nature Trail]], named in 1985 for Dr. Theodore Kazimiroff, a Bronx historian and champion of wetlands preservation.

==References==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
== External links ==
{{Portal|New York}}
* {{GNIS|953476|Hunter Island}}
⚫
* Hunter Island is at coordinates {{coord|40.8750278|-73.7902194|format=dms|region:US_type:mountain|display=inline,title}}
* [http://gis.nyc.gov/parks/lc/NYCParkMapIt.do;jsessionid=9D02D903B04AC0008BAAAAF6A741AEB8 Hunter Island Map]
* [http://www.historicpelham.com/AmericanMemories.htm#6 Photographs of the Hunter Mansion]
* [http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailid=HGN209-003 Hunter Island nature trail]
* [http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/vt_pelham_bay_park/vt_pelham_03.html Pelham Bay Park Virtual Tour: Hunter Island]
* [http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/vt_pelham_bay_park/vt_pelham_03.html Pelham Bay Park Virtual Tour: Hunter Island]
* [http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/historical_signs/hs_historical_sign.php?id=11859 History of Hunter Island]
* [http://www.aapra.org/Pugsley/KazimiroffTheodore.html Bio. on Theodore Kazimiroff]


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{{coord|40.8750278|-73.7902194|region:US_type:landmark|display=title}}


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{{New York City Islands}}


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{{NYC-stub}}
[[Category:Islands of New York City]]
[[Category:Islands of New York City]]
[[Category:Long Island Sound]]
[[Category:Long Island Sound]]
[[Category:Geography of the Bronx]]
[[Category:Geography of The Bronx]]
[[Category:Protected areas of the Bronx]]
[[Category:Protected areas of the Bronx]]
[[Category:Islands of Bronx County, New York]]


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{{Bronx-geo-stub}}


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{{New York City Islands}}
[[he:הנטרז (אי)]]
[[he:הנטרז (אי)]]

Revision as of 09:51, 27 September 2012

Hunter Island
Map
Geography
LocationLong Island Sound
Administration
United States


Hunter Island is a small island in the New York City borough of the Bronx. It is located in the northeast corner of Pelham Bay Park on Long Island Sound, adjacent to the New York City and Westchester County border. The island is also part of the Pelham Islands, the historical name for a group of islands in western Long Island Sound that once belonged to Thomas Pell, Lord of Pelham Manor,.

The island bears the name of former owner John Hunter, a successful businessman and politician, who purchased the property in 1804. Hunter's residence and gardens were constructed and landscaped at great cost. The Mansion was built in the English Georgian style, similar to that of the old City Hall of New York City, and was described as one of the finest mansion of the period. It held a vast art collection valuable art by artists such as Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Dyke and Rafael.[1] The home was situated at the highest point on the island (90 feet above sea level) and had wonderful views of Long Island Sound to the east and the hills and woodlands of the Town of Pelham to the north. Terraced gardens flanked the home and continued down to the waterfront. A stone causeway and bridge were also constructed, connecting the island to the mainland. John Hunter lived in the home for more than forty years until his death in 1852.

The City of New York purchased the island in 1889. In 1937, Parks Commissioner Robert Moses decided to dredge the sand of the Rockaways to fill LeRoy’s Bay during the construction of Orchard Beach. The Hunter Mansion, which had fallen into disrepair, was also destroyed during construction. When the massive project was finished, Hunter Island was connected to nearby Twin Island and Rodman's Neck, becoming part of Pelham Bay Park, originally designated parkland in 1888. The newly created land mass resulted in a one-mile crescent beach, a 6,800-car parking lot, a pavilion, bathhouse complex, and promenades.

In 1967, Hunter Island was declared the 'Hunter Island Marine Zoology and Geology Sanctuary' by local law. The land holds the largest continuous oak forest in Pelham Bay Park, including white, red, and black oak, as well as black cherry, white pines, Norway spruce, and black locust trees. One can also find traces of John Hunter’s estate garden, which held grape hyacinth, periwinkle, daylily, and Tartarian honeysuckle. Much of the island’s natural features are found along the Kazimiroff Nature Trail, named in 1985 for Dr. Theodore Kazimiroff, a Bronx historian and champion of wetlands preservation.


References

  1. ^ Twomey, Bill (2007). The Bronx: In Bits and Pieces. Rooftop Publishing. p. 107. ISBN 1600080626, 9781600080623. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)


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