Grenadier Island, New York

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Grenadier Island
Grenadier Island, New York.JPG
View of Grenadier Island in the winter.
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Grenadier Island
Location of Grenadier Island in New York State
Geography
Location St. Lawrence River
Coordinates 44°02′35″N76°21′50″W / 44.043°N 76.364°W / 44.043; -76.364 Coordinates: 44°02′35″N76°21′50″W / 44.043°N 76.364°W / 44.043; -76.364
Area1,290 acres (520 ha)
Length2.3 mi (3.7 km)
Width1.4 mi (2.3 km)
Highest elevation279 ft (85 m)
Administration
United States
State New York
Counties Jefferson
Towns Cape Vincent

Grenadier Island is a 1,290-acre (5.2 km2) island located two miles (3.2 km) out from Mud Bay in the town of Cape Vincent, Jefferson County, New York, United States. [1] The island is 2.3 miles (3.7 km) long and 1.4 miles (2.3 km) wide.

Island Any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water

An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys. An island in a river or a lake island may be called an eyot or ait, and a small island off the coast may be called a holm. A grouping of geographically or geologically related islands is called an archipelago, such as the Philippines.

Cape Vincent, New York Town in New York, United States

Cape Vincent is a town in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 2,777 at the 2010 census.

Jefferson County, New York County in the United States

Jefferson County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 116,229. Its county seat is Watertown. The county is named after Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States of America. It is adjacent to Lake Ontario, southeast from the Canada–US border of Ontario.

Contents

History

Grenadier Island's first official settlement was by John Mitchel in the early 19th century, [2] followed by the Bedford family. [3] At least 14 families had settled upon the island prior to the official grant of a land patent in 1824, and these prior inhabitants were reluctant to give up their holdings as the island's land began to be sold by the new owners. Early industry on the island consisted primarily of fishing, in addition to lumbering and farming. [2]

A land patent is an exclusive land grant made by a sovereign entity with respect to a particular tract of land. To make such a grant "patent", a sovereign must document the land grant, securely sign and seal the document (patent), and openly publish the documents for the public to see. An official land patent is the highest evidence of right, title, and interest to a defined area. It is usually granted by a central, federal, or state government to an individual or to a private company.

It was visited by General James Wilkinson and his troops after retreating from the St. Lawrence River in 1812, when he landed his fleet in Basin Harbor. [4]

James Wilkinson American general

James Wilkinson was an American soldier and statesman, who was associated with several scandals and controversies.

The island was at one time alternately known as Isle aux Chevreuils. [1]

Extant buildings

Grenadier Island schoolhouse Grenadier Island (New York) Schoolhouse.jpg
Grenadier Island schoolhouse

There are three buildings from the 19th century still standing on the island: The Schoolhouse, the Humphrey farm house, and the Stone House. The Stone House is located in the northeast corner of the island, while the Humphrey house and Schoolhouse are both in the middle of the island, closer to the northern shore.

Schoolhouse

The Grenadier Island Schoolhouse is located in the middle of the island. It has a single room with an outhouse situated behind it. In the early 20th century it had around 13 students. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. [5]

Grenadier Island Schoolhouse

Grenadier Island Schoolhouse, also known as School No. 16, is a historic one-room school building located on Grenadier Island, Cape Vincent, Jefferson County, New York. It was built about 1879, and is a one-story, two bay by two bay, frame building on a limestone foundation. The building includes a small entrance vestibule and open main classroom space. Also on the property is a contributing original outhouse. It operated until 1942.

National Register of Historic Places federal list of historic sites in the United States

The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance. A property listed in the National Register, or located within a National Register Historic District, may qualify for tax incentives derived from the total value of expenses incurred preserving the property.

Humphrey farm house

Humphrey farm house Humphrey Farm House, Grenadier Island, New York.JPG
Humphrey farm house

The Humphrey farm house, also known as the "Carbide House", was a two-story home with a basement and an attic. The house has been abandoned for many decades, and has been gradually falling in upon itself for many years (as of 2014).

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References

  1. 1 2 "Grenadier Island". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey . Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  2. 1 2 Emerson, Edgar C., ed. (1898). "The Town of Cape Vincent". Our County and its People. A Descriptive Work on Jefferson County, New York. The Boston History Company. p. 514. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  3. "Pioneer Bedford Family". Jefferson County NYGenWeb. March 15, 2009. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  4. Casler, Nelie Horton (1906). "Grenadier Island". Cape Vincent and Its History. Hungerford-Holbrook Company. pp. 126–137. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  5. "National Register of Historic Places". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 11/19/12 through 11/23/12. National Park Service. 2012-11-30.