City Island in the Bronx – even to New York locals – feels idyllic, a world away from the commercial and cultural hub we tend to envision when we think of “the city.” The small town getaway and resort, located in the northeastern corner of the Bronx, is considered by some to be one of its best kept secrets. Its charm may lie in the fact that it gives off a nautical vibe: you’ll notice the standing boats and the abundance of seafood restaurants available. Or maybe it’s just that the rent is actually affordable. Whatever the reason, City Island has piqued our interest. Here are 10 secrets about this quaint, waterfront neighborhood:
10. City Island Was Meant to Rival Manhattan’s Commercial Center
In 1654, Englishman Thomas Pell purchased a 9,166-acre tract of land, which included what is now City Island, from the Siwanoy Minneford Indians. Between 1700 and 1761, the island – known at the time as Minnewit, Mulberry, or Great Minnefords Island – was sold several times before it was purchased by Benjamin Palmer in 1761. Envisioning a bustling port city, Palmer intended to transform Great Minnefords Island into a commercial center that would rival Manhattan’s. To honor the developmental phase that was to come, the property was renamed New City Island. However, as the island began to acquire its own commercial identity – largely due to the community of oyster fishers and shipbuilders –”New” was eventually dropped from the name.
9. The Island Once Thrived Because of Oysters
It has been stated that City Island is the first place in America to practice oyster culture. It all began in 1830, when Orrin Fordham, a shipbuilder from Connecticut, began breeding oysters from seed caught on artificial bed. This new cultivation system resulted in higher yield and consequently revolutionized the business; many fishermen became reliant on harvesting to earn their income and small yards specifically served oyster boats throughout the 19th century. Unfortunately, due to a number of factors, including over-harvesting, water pollution and destruction by sea stars, the oyster population eventually declined in New York waters, prompting people to turn to the boat building business.
8. You Shouldn’t Eat the Shellfish from there
City Island is known for its seafood restaurants, yet the New York State Department of Health has declared shellfish, specifically “crab or lobster tomalley and cooking liquid” (soft, green stuff), unsafe to eat due to PCBs and other contaminants in the water. By law, the seafood must come from somewhere else. Weakfish, Bluefish, the American eel, and Stripped bass are also recommended in dosages.
7. The Royal Tenenbaum House Location
The summer house from Wes Anderson’s, “The Royal Tenenbaums is located on City Island, at the end of Tier Street just west of William Avenue. This house includes a whale weathervane and a wraparound porch overlooking Eastchester Bay and Pelham Bay Park. The same house was in 1962’s “Long Day’s Journey Into Night starring Katharine Hepburn. The island is also a picturesque backdrop for films in general. The City Island Diner was featured in Solitary Man with Michael Douglas and Susan Sarandon and Jerry Seinfeld’s YouTube series: “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.”
6. City Island Has Produced Seven America’s Cup-winning Yachts
The shipbuilding industry on City Island thrived well into the 20th century beginning with the first major boat builder, David Carll Shipyard, which was established in 1862 on the site of what is now Consolidated Yachts. During the First and Second World Wars, however, the focus of production shifted from yachts to the construction of subchasers, tugboats and landing crafts, which were used for beach invasions.
In the post-war period, yacht production returned and resulted in the creation of several America’s Cup-winning yachts, including Columbia US 12 #16 in 1958, Constellation US 12 #20 in 1964, Intrepid US 12 #22 in 1967 and 1970, Courageous US 12 #26 in 1974 and 1977, and Freedom US 12 #30 in 1980. As a testament to City Island’s nautical background, you can still find yacht clubs there, some over a century old.
5. A “Hellgate Pilot” Was a Necessary Job on the Island
From the mid-1800s until 1967, a Hellgate Pilot served an important role on City Island. Due to dangerous water conditions near Hellgate, characterized by fierce tides, whirlpools, and jagged rocks, Hellgate Pilots were required to board ships and guide them down the East River safely towards Manhattan. The Hellgate Pilot House, which still stands at the Consolidated Boat Yard on Pilot Street, was where men stood to watch for water vessels. It serves as a reminder of the Hellgate Pilot Association before it was absorbed by the Sandy Hook Pilot Association in 1967. Today, the Sandy Hook Pilot Association continues to provide pilotage service for the port of New York, New Jersey, the Hudson River, and of course, Hellgate.
4. City Island’s New Bridge Matches the Small-Town Feel of the Island
Despite its historical significance, the City Island Bridge was demolished due to its deteriorated state. The City of New York originally planned to replace the bridge with a large cable-stayed bridge, but residents have argued that the structure would not be appropriate for the small town community.
The design was consequently changed to a simpler “causeway type” of bridge with vintage-style lampposts, which was completed in 2017. While under construction, a temporary steel bridge was erected to shuttle traffic as the original bridge is being taken down.
3. The New York City DOT Runs the Ferry to Hart Island
To aid in the transfer bodies onto Hart Island. New York City’s mass burial ground, the New York City Department of Transportation Bureau of Ferries currently operates a ferry, which runs from City Island to Hart Island. Thanks to the efforts of the Hart Island Project, the island, now operated by New York City Parks Department, is open to relatives of the deceased, as well as general visitors, who can visit a viewing area. Both visits only occur once a month, however. See photos of our recent visit to Hart Island.
2. City Island Has Gardens Influenced by the English
In the early 1900s, the design of several gardens and properties on City Island were influenced by the English, who favored intricate garden designs, colorful flowers and clipped topiary. The Francis Vail Estate on Paulis Place still stands as an example of City Island’s architectural past.
1. The City Island Nautical Museum Was Once a School
The City Island Nautical Museum, located on 190 Fordham Street, was once the site of P.S. 17 (originally P.S. 102), a school building designed by C.B.J. Snyder and built by the city of New York in 1897–98. From the 1920s to the 1960s, island local Ruby Dill taught kindergarten at the school before it closed down in 1976. To this day, many residents remember her. In recent years, the building has also been designated a landmark because of its “special character and a special historical and aesthetic interest and value as part of the development, heritage and cultural characteristics of New York City.” For more heritage and curios, visit Trader John’s on City Island Avenue, a dream for nautical collectors.
Bonus: There’s an Adorable Lighthouse off City Island Possibly Named After the Devil
Built in 1877, the Devil’s Stepping Stones lighthouse stands at one-and-a-half stories high and lies just south of City Island. It is currently managed by the United States Coast Guard and once served as an important landmark to help ships navigate across dangerous waters. The origins of its name can be traced back to a legend, which claims that the lighthouse was named after the Devil, who threw boulders into the Long Island Sound as stepping stones to escape from the Wescheswer Country Indians, who where trying to capture him. Quite possibly due to the story, Colonial maps of the area refer to the Long Island Sound as “Devil’s Belt” and the rocky reefs as “Devil’s Stepping Stones.”
Next check out The Top 10 Secrets of Hart Island, City Island: The Closest Little Island in NYC You Didn’t Know About and The City Island Nautical Museum. Also step back in time with at the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum.
