. The borough of the Bronx, 1639-1913; its marvelous development and historical surroundings. . CHAPTER XVI CITY ISLAND AND EASTCHESTER The Blacksmith Who Refused to Shoe a Horse on Sunday—Scenes That Figure in the Fight for Independence—President John Adams in The Bronx. |ITY ISLAND is a very delightful village, lying off Rod- man's Neck, and comprises 230 acres. Until recently it was connected with the mainland with a wooden bridge, which originally spanned the Harlem River, and some of the timbers of which had been taken from the old frigate North Carolina. This antique bridge was replaced
. The borough of the Bronx, 1639-1913; its marvelous development and historical surroundings. . CHAPTER XVI CITY ISLAND AND EASTCHESTER The Blacksmith Who Refused to Shoe a Horse on Sunday—Scenes That Figure in the Fight for Independence—President John Adams in The Bronx. |ITY ISLAND is a very delightful village, lying off Rod- man's Neck, and comprises 230 acres. Until recently it was connected with the mainland with a wooden bridge, which originally spanned the Harlem River, and some of the timbers of which had been taken from the old frigate North Carolina. This antique bridge was replaced by the present steel structure, which cost $200,000, erected in 1898, and opened to the public July 4th, 1901, In the early days City Island was known as Minnewits, or Great Minnefords, Island, probably after Peter Minuits, the Dutch Governor and purchaser of Manhattan Island. It was a part of Pelham Manor, and was purchased from Thomas Pell by John Smith of Brooklyn. On June 19, 1761, the island came into the possession of Benjamin Palmer, who built the Free Bridge at Spuyten Duyvil. In 1761 the inhabitants of the island launched a scheme to build a city which would surpass New York—whence the name City Island. Several ferries were established to ply between the mainland and the island in order to further this project. The plan was checked by the Revolution, but was revived in 1790. The island was cut up into 4,500 lots of one hundred by twenty-five feet, which were sold at ten pounds each. In 1818 and in 1819 Nicholas Haight, Joshua Hustace and George W. Horton owned nearly all of the island and Rodman's Neck. City Island is said to have been the first place in America where oyster culture was commenced. The old wooden bridge was always crowded on Sunday afternoon with anglers who found fishing in the water below very fruitful. City Island is also noted as a boat-building resort, and a laying-up place for racing craft, particularly of cup defenders of international fame
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