Elihu Island facts for kids

Elihu Island is a small, private island located off the coast of Stonington, Connecticut. It sits in Wequetequock Cove, a quiet bay, and is close to Goat Island and Sandy Point Island. Over time, this island has been known by several names, including Ledward Island, Elihu's Island, Elihu Chesebrough's Island, and even Freeman's Island.

Exploring Elihu Island

Elihu Island is a special place because it is privately owned. This means it belongs to a specific family or group, not to the public. The island has a few buildings and has been used for events like weddings. It is connected to the mainland by a road called Elihu Island Road, which crosses a short bridge or causeway.

Island Access and the Train Track

The only way to reach Elihu Island by car is by Elihu Island Road. This road has a very interesting feature: it crosses a train track! This type of crossing, where a road goes directly over train tracks at the same level, is called a "level crossing." It's quite rare to find these on busy train lines like the Northeast Corridor, which is a major railway connecting many cities in the northeastern United States.

Who Owns Elihu Island?

Elihu Island is owned by a group called the Elihu Island Trust. This trust is connected to the Wesson and Benchley families. A famous person who lived on the island was Peter Benchley. He was a well-known author, and he actually wrote his very famous novel, Jaws, while living on Elihu Island. He also wrote several of his other books there.