Association Island

Association Island is a 65-acre (260,000 m2) island located at the northern tip of Stony Point, a peninsula into the eastern end of Lake Ontario. A part of the Town of Henderson, New York in Jefferson County, the island is about 16 miles (26 km) southwest of Watertown at 43°54′N 76°13′W / 43.90°N 76.21°W. A 1,300-foot (400 m) two-lane causeway connects to the mainland.

History

The island was a landmark for Native American tribes who held war and peace councils in the area.[1] In 1746 the French built a fort on the island, abandoning it in 1758.[2]

In 1905 the National Electric Light Association bought the island, which resulted in the name "Association Island." NELA management used it for meetings. General Electric, after it acquired NELA in 1911. also used the island for company meetings until 1959 when the island was donated to the YMCA. The Elfun Society, a management organization and think-tank within GE was founded on the island in 1928. (The Society's logo is a drawing of a large elm tree from the island [3]). Kurt Vonnegut based some of the material in his book Player Piano, on GE's meetings and activities at the island.[4]

The YMCA ran a boy's summer camp on the island for several years until abandoning it after 1967.

A non-profit group ran sailing and wind boarding competitions on the island in the 1970s. The US sailing team was based there while preparing for the 1976 Montreal Olympics, which held sailing competitions at Kingston, Ontario, about 30 miles (48 km) to the north.

The island became a privately owned RV park and resort in 1999.

References

  1. ↑ Henderson Historical Society
  2. ↑ Elfun Society History - French Canadian Outpost
  3. ↑ Elfun Society History - Founding
  4. ↑ KURT VONNEGUT: Player Piano related Playboy Interview

External links

Coordinates: 43°53′43″N 76°12′53″W / 43.89528°N 76.21472°W