Grindstone Island
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- See also Grindstone Island (Ontario), and Grindstone Island, Quebec, Canada.
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Grindstone island.jpg
the island from a satalite veiw |
Grindstone Island is the second largest of the Thousand Islands in the St. Lawrence River. The island lies near Lake Ontario and is part of the United States of America. In particular, the island is in the Town of Clayton in Jefferson County, New York.
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[edit] History
The first known settlement occurred in 1804. The island was once considered to be part of Canada, but, since 1823, has been recognized as part of the United States. Shortly afterwards a dispute over some harvested trees created a brief disturbance called "The Grindstone Island War" in which American militia attempted to prevent the removal of the logs.
Lumber and granite quarries were important in the early economy. The island is a self sustaining environment that operates on an honor system; however, infrastructure such as electricity is provided by the town of Clayton, NY. There are no bridges onto Grindstone (save when the river freezes), or formal ferry services onto Grindstone Island. There is a community dock (the town dock) provided for visitors on Aunt Jane's Bay - some inlanders who live inland on the island park their vehicles along the road. There is a normal US postal service delivery route onto the island Monday through Saturday.
[edit] Geography
The northern part of the island is on the international border between the United States and Canada.
Grindstone Island is in the west end of the St. Lawerence River. It is one of the larger Thousand Islands.
Grindstone Island is 44 degrees, 17 minutes north latitude and 76 degrees, 27 minutes west longitude.
The island is 1.273 miles(closests point) from Clayton, New York.
[edit] Communities and locations on Grindstone Island
- Aunt Janes Bay — A bay on the south shore.
- Canoe-Picnic Point State Park — A state park on the northeast tip of the island, accessible only by boat.
- Cummings Point — The tip of a short peninsula of the island on the southwest end.
- Delaney Bay — A bay at the northeast part of the island.
- Flynn Bay — A bay on the southwest end of the island.
- Grindstone — The hamlet of Grindstone is on the north shore.
- Lower Town Landing — A hamlet on the south shore
- Upper Town Landing — A hamlet on the south shore
- Dodge Hall - A building near the north end of the island, where many social events have been held.
- Thurso - a small cominity reaching from Thurso bay, to the crossroads at the church.
- The cheese factory - a once active factory from when dairy farmers were abundent on the island, it was shut down when the farmers ceased producing milk.
- Rusho Bay - Another bay on the south shore of the island
