Association Island facts for kids
Association Island
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 Association Island
Location in New York
Location of Association Island in New York State
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Lake Ontario |
| Coordinates | 43°53′42″N 76°12′54″W / 43.895°N 76.215°W |
| Area | 65 acres (26 ha) |
| Highest elevation | 249 ft (75.9 m) |
| Administration | |
| State | New York |
| County | Jefferson |
| Town | Henderson |
Association Island is a 65-acre (about 0.26 square kilometers) island. It sits at the northern tip of Stony Point, which is a piece of land sticking out into Lake Ontario. The island is part of the Town of Henderson, New York in Jefferson County. It is located about 16 miles (26 kilometers) southwest of Watertown. A 1,300-foot (about 400-meter) long road connects the island to the mainland.
Contents
Island History
Early Days and Forts
Association Island was once part of a larger piece of land called Six Town Point. This name came from a survey in 1796. Waves from Lake Ontario slowly wore away the land. This erosion eventually split Six Town Point into several smaller islands before 1898.
A small French fort was built on Six Town Point for a short time in the 1700s. No one is completely sure who built it or exactly when. However, it was likely built in 1756 by General Montcalm. This happened just before the French won the Battle of Fort Oswego in August 1756. The fort was about 70 feet long on each side. It was probably left empty soon after that battle.
New Owners and Uses
In 1905, the National Electric Light Association (NELA) bought the island. This is how the island got its name, "Association Island." NELA used the island for important meetings. Later, General Electric bought NELA in 1911. General Electric also used the island for company meetings.
The Elfun Society was a group for managers at General Electric. It was started on the island in 1928. The group's symbol was a drawing of a large elm tree from the island. In 1959, General Electric gave the island to the YMCA. The Elfun Society was closed down by General Electric in 2014.
Summer Camp and Sailing
After getting the island in 1959, the YMCA ran a summer camp for boys there. The camp operated for several years. However, the YMCA stopped using the island after 1967.
In the 1970s, a non-profit group held sailing and windsurfing races on the island. The U.S. sailing team even trained there. They were getting ready for the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. The sailing events for those Olympics were held in Kingston, Ontario, which is about 30 miles (48 kilometers) north.
Modern Day Resort
In 1999, the island became a privately owned RV park and resort. Today, the RV park is known as "Association Island KOA 1000 Islands." It is located at 15530 Snowshoe Rd. Henderson, NY 13650. It operates as an independently owned KOA franchise.
In Popular Culture
The author Kurt Vonnegut used Association Island as inspiration for his 1952 novel Player Piano. He said that the island was "shut down" after his book became widely read in Schenectady, New York. Schenectady was where General Electric's main offices were located.
