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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGI-2 GI-2 HISTORIC AND NATURAL DISTRICTS FOR OFFICE USE ONLY INVENTORY FORM UNIQUE SITE NO.A2310,110I/10 DIVISION FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION QUAD. NEW YORK STATE PARKS AND RECREATION SERIES ALBANY,NEW YORK (518)474-0479 NEG. NO. YOUR NAME: Town of Southold/SPLIA DATE; June 1988 YOUR ADDRESS: Town Hall, Main Rd. TELEPHONE: 516 765 1892 Southold LI NY 11971 ORGANIZATION (if any): Southold Town Community Development Office * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1. NAME OF DISTRICT: Great Gull Island 2. COUNTY:Suffolk TOWN/CITY: Southold VILLAGE: 3. DESCRIPTION: Great Gull Island comprises approximatly 15 acres and is located about midway between Plum Island and Fishers Island in "The Race", a tidal exchange between L.I. Sound and Block Island Sound. Little Gull Island lies to the E/NE. The island contains abandoned buildings, usable buildings, and shrub and tree growth. It is mostly surrounded by a rock rip-rap. A large tern population occupies the island during nesting season.. 4. SIGNIFICANCE: Great Gull Island has c greatly varied history. Its earliest known use was for agricultural/ faaming purposes. Great Gull was sold with Plum Island in -1675,- and remained as a private parcel through successive owners until 1803 when Great and Little Ifull Islands were sold to the Federal Government. A light house was built on Little Gull in 1806, and Great Gull was used by the keeper of that light as a plantation area. Crops and livestock were grown and kept there during the summer months. In 1889, the American Museum of Natural History conducted an expedition to Great Gull Island 5. MAP: -see attachment see attachment HP-2 w 1 GI-2 6. SOURCES: Harwood, Michael. The View From Great Gull, 1976. Headquarters First U.S. Army Information Section. Release No. 15-58, January 14, 1958. (East Hampton Library, File LL207) NY Times, 8/16/87 "Researchers Share an Island With 12,000 Terns". 7 . THREATS TO AREA: None Known BY ZONING 1:1 BY ROADS ❑ BY DEVELOPERS ❑ BY DETERIORATION ❑ OTHER ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: 8. LOCAL ATTITUDES TOWARD THE AREA: 9. PHOTOS. r L 1 GI-2 Great Gull Island 4 - (continued) (reportedly the first such expedition of its kind) to investigate the tern population which had practically disapeared along the shores of Long Island. By 1896, the Museum of Natural History, and other organizations formed to defend wildlife and natural habitats, rescued the dwindling tern population and restored the nesting habitat to Gull Island. In 1898, Great Gull Island became one of several sites for coastal defense facilities in Long Island. Sound. Fort Michie was established, and during the next several decades the War Department constructed gun emplacements, Fire Control Stations, and other defense structures. Fort Michie covered 10 acres and was one of the smallest components of Long Island's Harbor Defense System. The Harbor Defense of Long Island Sound was one of several defense systems that lined the coasts of the United States during the first half of this century to ward against foreign attack. While Great Gull was not as active as other establishments, it was an integral part of the entire defense system. After WWII, the Museum of Natural History acquired Great Gull Island (1949) and, with the Linnaean Society, has successfully restored the tern nesting population. f rr V F•a Q+ 90 49 * t b0thouse •� +� •30 2' �3 Little �3 27 Gull l # � 4 73 + + + + 45 000m 6 , 4 s 65 - 'N � _3a N • . * 3(? • � - � G rent Gull Island 60000 34 2335 .: r ��N EASY lNF oPstevATIGW►067$ aAirFnY }i.0. OE 64 R°vJG WFJr END b Sf'•6UM PIT 1 ; J! y lwLWflA J F T o.P T TN■ "GwV i1lM" ZIMLL$ATYERY TW11 MIAD�l ►wTTi RY M}CO LA/IDIN• GREAT GULL ISLANDrrewfedlro+n IVfVDyN � �J �. i$• PIT • Y I-r � F ��- •, a Vr. .! �".'' landing gal GREAT GULL ISLAND 40`-17-07"North,72'-07-09"Wit sq,r: �•" 1 i✓� TERN NESTING AREAS v,r NorTnal tem nes#ing habitats are scsroe on � } the island However,these terns have suc- ceeded ue needed in adapting to alien mndidmg,uti- al hung exfoliated m4tl8te, greaay edges of ° -a A Paved—I--and under the large boulders . - rArYawr • ' ; w Fi of the rip-na but not nesting highy,Fa ,x grass, ba RP or near the Y�+ry headquarters. .x+, r r'r,*•, �r � �-"` WIM f—ml-tion. .d walks L__j 'anpaved foundations 'r QQv a�aahle twtldurgs cisterns and manholes AVM f. J S l � . �. f ObBer1'9130n � pceLs feet ° Loo 2 0 doe ran Roo v rip-rap d .r. T� A !/e mile .e. i .r..wW,. • t. i ¢ maters � so roo nap. ^.S! 9—and weeds o r G 4 bayberry #!' � Tx'�sfs Now London.' 7z•ap' C) uves _ , i. sand �D w _'-5 ..:r r ;a •. �� � sfa Mehr o Cd f` ' •Mmina.�•tt Pt- ybwPaG r s iT S�F� iI• r sr. tJnw Hkv.n 30 p. destroyed©. � �� ,OAT vQd� 9Lvck ISZQr'td :r r Conq IsIand y far naui. --- — -- za � tv � � v ��r '=' 1 c _' tY 110 PC/ sl' - �•��- .••� ''�-i • 13e`"fYarK iw ardr�ilRr;r Gardirper� � � .r3Wckl. Harwood Michael. The View trland From Great Gull 1976 x� �a �,�ALO CATION Gull., > � P -� Poxns I\4AP Carto,graphy based on an April 1972 airphato with � oorrectwua rod additions from measwomerta in .„� l � 4t•oo' t`-� the field. 0197k Richard Ede.Harrison Ha.w oFrtry f Great Gull Island GT-2 Fort Trumbull, of the acres, rods, poles and linker was originally surveyed and established in 1775 about 1y miles from New London, Connecticut, at the mouth of the Thames River. Two forts were erected, one on each side of the river, designated as Forts Trumbull and Griswold. They were originally described as blockhouses with embankments. The first military action taken at the fort was in 1778 ;when the British sent Benedict Arnold sailing into Nhw London Harbor as a means of divertinv sc of the American forces from the nore important campaign. in Vi_r-Yia. The British took Fort Trumbull with case, and later continued on to take Fort Griswold, killing 120 of the 160 defenders of the post and setting all its buildings on fire. In 1812 the ambankments of Fort Trumbull had worn down to uncared for grasay mounds. The War of 1812 brought about a ha.;ty reactivation of the installation, as ;vcll as tho assignment of troops there. Although Ow London was throgtenod by attack many tions, it was never actually invaded. fi_e >r;Ily to the strong defense o_ tie harbor offered by Foil ?rL-lb which was named after C-,on.i �onnthQn Truzbull, Aide In Coop to General George jashingtoL. :after the Air of 1.x'12 Fort Trumbull ran into cycles of activation ana disuse. In 1861 the Civil ';lar Sava Fort Trus;bu'il renewed importance to the federal govornmont. All casements were readied, now armaments were brought in, the fence surroundinG the insta?1ptic a- was rebuilt, and Fort Trumbull assured a role, in yet another conflict. After the Civil Tar Fort Trumbull arcs deactivated. In 1910 the federal governr..cnt turned over tho grounds and buildings to the Treasury %partnent for use by its Revenue-Cutter Service. The military history of Fort Trumbull ended, but the outer defense ring around the throe notropolitan areas continuol to grow. A!es, tort Michis on Creat Gull Island in Long Island Soun , with 10 of land, was one of the smallest installations in the area. As part of the coastal defense a sten of Long Island- Sound, it lay off the northernmost tip of Lon Bland, with a commanding view of the waters of Block Island and Ong Island S..und. It wis named after 1st Lt. Dennis H. Michie who was killed at San Juan, Puerto Rico during the Spanish-American War. The Military mission of this post was coastal defense. The land where Fort Michie was orectei was purchased in 1803 as a site for a light house. Its geographic importance became evident to the -alar Department in 1696 and it wis taken over as a coastal defense installation. 0a lama 6, 1949 Treat Oull Island was conveyed to the American lusoun of Natural History, which used the land as part of its public program. May the islet_.', is posted as a bird sanctuary. Amon7 the rcnairs of t'oz old fort still stanCiLg arc; the observoKca tc:crs, ' lcekhouses, gun ;mpluccmerts and brick barracks. Also still intact aro the underground tunnels which were used as passageways and ammunition storage points. MORE Great Gull Island _. , 07 HSA DARTERS FIRST U.S. ARITf Information Section, Bldg. A-n Governors Island, New York 4, N.Y. Tel= ,Hitehall 4-7700, Ext. 5136 14 January 1958 RELWE NO. 15•-58 FOR IMEDL4TE RELra' SF LONG ISLAND'S SASTERS'SHIELD GOVERNORS TSTA M.. N.Y., 14 january....About 120 ma les long, with an area oi' square miles, Long Island, New York, has played a vital historical role as one of i:.mcricala most heavily defended areas. Geography has placed Long Island in a position of importance for three metropolitan areas in three statcs. Eger since Ncm York, New Haven and Providonco bccamc important to this country, Long island and its smaller islands have become militarily important to the throe cities. In the outer ring of an clabora:to dcfcnse systcTM around thcso thrco cities wero eight military installations which have boom vital cogs in the :vhecls of the American dofonse effort, and a koy to the changing weapons and missions in tho B.S. dofonso pattorn. Reading from north to south these installations -vorc rich in history, tradition and legend, =d yot often unknown to tho residents ' of the area. In the North, Fort Ylo=fiold, in khodc Island, was 60 acres in size. Fort Trumbull,. Conncctticut, had an aroa of 13 acres, 2 rods, 27 polos and 2 links according to the rocords. Fort Michio, on Groat Gull Island, had an aroa of only 10 acros. Fort H.G. Wright, the 'mothor1° for most of thcso posts had a total arca of 334. acres- most of Fischcrs Island. Fort Tcrr•y, on Flury Island, was tho largest of the aight posts, totaling 797 acres. Fort Tyl-r, on G-ardincre Point totals about 14 acres. Camp Wikoff, which was in the Fort Pond aroa, had the shortest life, but brief national face. Camp Hero, on the south shore of Long Island at Montauk Point vas the most mysterious, the most recently active post and the most heavily camouflaged. Fort Mansfield, situated on Napantree Point, near Watch Hill, Rhode Island, was part of an originc.l coastal defense net-work of Long Islcn.d a rel Long Island Sound, Namod in honor of Major General I.F. Mansfield, a -veteran of the War with Mexico and the Civil War, the fort was built during the period of public concern preceding the Spanish-American War of 1898. Recognizing the importance of coastal dofonse guns at this point the federal government maintained the fort. In the early years of the First World Fear the Army sent Fort Mansfield the largest coastal defense guns it had. Atter World War I, the federal government relaxed some of the vigil along the coasts, and Fort Mansfield was authorized for sale on March 4, 1923. MORE e �� ��Y3S 'r ,�TR'i`•' •�,.>x,s,��,.. ,�'�Y' ��� �__,*-R t ,+sM r•►F,.:: a �%+,'ry,I 5 d.- • ,•. '� nom...'�•a •- *�+ `.�. • 4.�•f - ` • ' •' •w-r.+. - moi, ti T` 1 4 ir - '..�ti. f ..� mot � '��? � ��,�i•' - �, �• ; i �. lkb- ..�. .,•fir '�! � �, '� ,� ti 616 a yy r Researchers Share an IslandWi- CAROLYN BATTISTA IRDS screech overhead,odd- looking plywood structures dot the rocky terrain,and ai3 sign at the narrow wooden rbier warns: "Research Station! DO oT LAND_" r6'rhe boats that do land bring work- supplies and occasionally obsery Jit to a project that has made Great ill Island, eight miles off the Con .r.. 1 ; -' " ticut coast, the site of one of the 4irgest tern colonies in the Northeast, , 11th what is believed to be the largest lWcentration of individually marked s � trds in the world. 4 4 W sOl'he Great Gull Island Project—in- t1y`rded to provide nesting areas for �mmon and roseate terns and to § . tether information on their behavior ` e is sponsored by the American Mu- m of Natural History and directed c f 10 an ornithologist,Helen Hays rom April to September each r Ms. Hays remains on the 17- island, which has no running r t9ter,telephone or electric service. � „x ►�"We should keep the project going �B 2010," said Ms. Hays, who added `r t her study kept raising questions, ' `t1* Ms.Hays lives and works in a clus- k r of dilapidated buildings that are from wintering in South America, ptnong the remains of coastal forti- people also return to the island.They mations datinR rom e` 'Spanish put up the blinds, which overlook Adnerican War fli thers join her, for major nesting sites,and clear vegeta- periods s ranging from several days to tion from nesting areas. several weeks,to help with such tasks Around May 10, Ms. Bays said, i 9s erecting plywood observation Great Gull workers begin finding — i h4nds, trapping and banding birds and recording — eggs in the terns' Od keeping records:-` nests,which are bits of grass on open f"It's primitive here," Donna surfaces. By middle to late June,the 16owaiski said.But Ms,Kowalksi,who workers are weighing and banding worked on the project when she was each tern chick as it hatches. The Crowing up in Niantic,Conn.,now re- workers were most recently checking ` turns on vacations from her job in late nesters'newborns. hsrtnsylvania. The workers also trap and band , ""'It's fun out here; it's peaceful," adult birds — terns especially, but > said a high school student from North other birds also. If the birds have $> _Haven, Conn., Justin Krauss, who is previously been banded, the workers � been there for centuries. ('] ,working for six weeks on the project. get information (like how old the sometimes called "masker Sometimes there are 30 or so work- birds are and where they are from) gave the island its name.) ` ers on the island, which lies, with its from the Nd bands andut on new p However, in the late 194 Mny neighbor, Little Gull Island (the ones. the Army no longer need site of a lighthouse), between Plum The bands are color coded,so those coastal fortifications, the -. and Fishers Islands.On a recent day, who spot them can get considerable are connections between individuals Museum of Natural Hist ,pine were on the island, and most information even at a distance. Ms. that lead to groups within colonies. chased the island.The Linn; were gathered in the project's kitch- Hays likes to recall how a Gull Island On their inspection tours and other ety, a New York-based orf "err. Walls were lined with canned worker went off to Brazil for other or travels around the island, workers devoted to birds, began goods, hanging, tripods and books. nithological studies one winter and tread carefully, so as not to squash areas and trying to bring u PNext door was the office (the one saw terns with what she immediately the speckled eggs or brownish chicks, to the island. room where a recently donated gen- recognized as Gull Island bands out- both hard to see Their initial successes F ,eTaior provides light at night) and side a hotel there. "You learn t.0 keep next to that,a room full of bird bands, In particular, Gull Island workers your mind o❑ way for Ms. Hays to begtr nets,traps and other equipment. trap and band pairs of terns. "We try your feet,"Ms.Hays said. seum's project. The colony "We all cook,wash dishes,go to the to find out whether a pair stays to- Sometimes workers travel to one about 12,000 birds and is cistern to draw water," Mr. Krauss gether, whether they come back, major observat-on area through long, "There are more birds no laid.And all rise at 6 A.M., they said, where they nest,"said Chiu Lun Lee, dark tunnels connecting underground year," said a graduate stud when Ms. Hays sends over a speaker a high school student from New York cambers w e e t e rmv stored City University of New Yor attached to a marine radio such mes- City. munitions during both World Wars. DiCostanzo, who helps I sages as: "No more napping. Time Ms. Hays said they hoped to learn The Army's operations on t tT�e island, project records. for trapping." why some pairs stay together and from the Spanish-American War on- "More of our own birds In the spring,when the birds return why some do not, and whether there ward, wiped out the terns that had hatched here — are c•omn r an Island H12 ,000 ern s r 4-1: A.. -. 1��. Is. a{ %3 rul,n lSntifsiA a5 i] MILES 24 CONNECTICUT ' � � v Now New Haven London 1 Rivart,eatl• �oNGrsL ND The New York Tlm /Aug.16,IM jt been there for centuries. (The terns, Ms. Hays said. She also noted that Helen Hays,an ornitholo- sometimes called "mackerel gulls," meadow voles — vegetation-eating gist and director of the gave the island its name.) rodents introduced to the island a few Great Gull Island.Project, However, in the late 1940's, when years ago -- had helped clear many the Army no longer nee ed small areas, and that those areas were at- at far left,checking tern- coastal fortifications, the American tracting- terns from places where perature readings on the. ?ctions between individuals Museum of Natural History pur- nesting areas have been lost to devel- to groups within colonies. chased the island.The Linnaean Soci- opment or plagued by gulls and night island,top. One of the r inspection tours and other ety, a New York-based organization herons,which prey on tern nests. abandoned fortifications, round the island, workers devoted to birds, began clearing "We have reached a point in above at left 'efully, so as not to squash areas and trying to brink, terns back coastal development where, if we ,On the island led eggs or brownish chicks, to the island. want to safeguard species that nest with sign for boaters. to see. Their initial successes paved the along our coast,we must manage cer- °arn to keep your mind on way for Ms. Hays to begin the mu- tain areas for them," Ms. Hays said The Great Gull Island Project htw,j�` "Ms.Hays said. seum's project. The colony now has in a report on the project in the Lin- an annus].budget of $30,000, mostk nes workers travel to one about 12,000 birds and is thriving. can So ty's newsletter. °°To do Iervation area throughlong, �� ` for supplies, transportation and sOi-.. . g, "There are more birds nesting this this we must know what the species' pends for some of the workers.Abo" ' els connecting underground year,"said a graduate student at the needs are.Through studying the tern $17,000 is raised each year through,a w ere a Army stored City University of New York, Joseph population on Great Gull Island and "Birdathon," an event in which bird- during both World Wars. DiCostanzo, who helps keep the identifying some of its requirements, watchers collect money from sport is opera tons on to island, project records. we will provide data which will be sors for every species they spot; the Spanish-American War on- "More of our own birds — those useful Por future management rest comes from the museum and ted out the terns that had hatched here — are coming back," projects." from donations. ■