Islands of New York City: High Island

Public Schools - Brooklyn - P.S. 136., Digital ID 732677f, New York Public Library The photograph on the left is of High Island, an 8 acre spit of land between the Pelham Bay and the Long Island Sound, as seen from its more well-known neighbor, City Island. After researching High Island it remains somewhat of a mystery to me. Artifacts have been found on its shores, alluding to a time prior to the arrival of Europeans, but its Siwanoy name is still unknown. Even the origin of its present day name is uncertain. Some would guess that its name describes its physical location in the Northern reach of the city, or perhaps describing the profile of the island which is comparatively high. John McNamara, in History in Asphalt, states that it could be a Dutch name, Haai Eylgant, meaning shark island, due to the warm shallow waters of the Pelham Bay which tend to attract sharks.

Here is a page from the 1920 census. This is the enumeration for High Island, listed as having a population of two. Along the side of the page where street information is recorded is written: No streets on this island, no house number. I wonder what it was like for enumerator, Bourke Donnelly, travelling on a cold January day just to record the names of two people. George Flavin, has demystified some of the island’s past in his article, Summers on High Island, 1913-1925, in the Bronx County Historical Society Journal (1984 v.21:2). Flavin is the nephew of Arnold and Nora Beatty, the island’s caretakers. The Beatty family lived on High Island all year round and in the summer rented out make shift bungalows to about 20 families, some of whom took up permanent residence on the island. By 1925, the island was purchased by a Nan Miller, who later sold it unknowingly to WCBS as a site for transmitter towers around 1960. The two radio towers send out signals so strong that they are transmitted through odd household appliances, producing talking toaster ovens and garbled phone conversations. The island also seems to go against normal trends of New York City population growth. It presently has a population of zero.

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Summers On High Island

Is there anyone who knows how I can contact George Flavin or his relatives regarding his article about Summers On High Island? My grandparents spent summers on High Island around 1919 through the early 1920's. I have wonderful photos of their times there, including the Beatty farm house and members of the "Goodfellows". Unfortunately, my Grandfather didn't caption all his photos, which are numerous and which I cherish, but would love to share with other interested individuals. I'm not sure how I go about this, but would welcome some advice. Thank you, Nancy W.

young men and tents on High Island

I'm trying to track down information on summer tents on High Island, maybe during 1916. My grandfather met my grandmother at his tent. I'm writing a memoir and would like to have some details about the tents and what went on there.

Hi Joyce, The librarians in

Hi Joyce, The librarians in the Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy may be able to help you. You can contact them by email (history@nypl.org) or use our webform (https://www.nypl.org/help/email-a-librarian/milstein).

summers on high island

I know a lot about the summer cottages on High Island as I spent my early childhood there. My Uncle built and maintained a life guard station there. I have many pictures dating back to the 30's.