Choate Island facts for kids
Choate Island, also known as Hog Island, is a special piece of land found in the Essex River Estuary in Essex, Massachusetts. It is part of the Crane Wildlife Refuge, which is looked after by The Trustees of Reservations. This 135-acre (0.55 km2) island is a safe place for many different birds and animals. It has a salt marsh around it and a spruce forest. This forest was planted in the 1930s and makes the island easy to spot from far away. People have lived on the island for a long time, including the Native Americans. Early Europeans also visited and started farming there. The Choate House, built around 1730, still looks much like it did back then.
About Choate Island
Choate Island is connected to Long Island by a salt marsh and a small road called a causeway. Long Island has an old farmhouse and a barn. There is a dock on Long Island, which is where boats can land to get to Choate Island. This makes it easy for people to visit and explore.
Crane Wildlife Refuge
The Crane Wildlife Refuge was created by Miné S. Crane. She made it a special place to remember her husband, Cornelius Crane. Both Miné and Cornelius Crane are buried at the highest point of the island. This refuge helps protect the island's natural beauty and its wildlife.
Island History and Filming
Choate Island has a rich history. It was once home to Native American tribes. Later, European settlers used the island for farming.
The island was also used for filming a movie! A lot of the 1996 film The Crucible was filmed here. This movie was based on Arthur Miller's famous play about the Salem witch trials. The actor Daniel Day-Lewis spent a lot of time on the island. He used the quiet setting to get ready for his role in the film.
