Gales Ferry, Connecticut facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gales Ferry
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Yale's varsity crew quarters at the Ferry from the dock
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Location in New London County, Connecticut
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| Country | United States |
| State | Connecticut |
| County | New London |
| Town | Ledyard |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.23 sq mi (3.18 km2) |
| • Land | 0.88 sq mi (2.27 km2) |
| • Water | 0.35 sq mi (0.91 km2) |
| Elevation | 26 ft (8 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 1,162 |
| • Density | 945/sq mi (365.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
06335
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| Area code | 860 |
| FIPS code | 09-30190 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2631563 |
Gales Ferry is a small village and a special area defined by the United States Census Bureau in Ledyard, Connecticut. It sits on the eastern side of the Thames River. The village got its name from a ferry that used to cross the river here. In 2010, about 1,162 people lived in Gales Ferry.
The oldest parts of Gales Ferry, where the ferry used to be, are now two historic districts. These areas have old farm buildings from the late 1700s and early 1800s. Some old farmhouses near Gales Ferry are also famous enough to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Nathan Lester House and the Perkins-Bill House.
Contents
Discovering Gales Ferry Village
Gales Ferry is named after Roger Gale, who ran the ferry here a long time ago. Today, this spot is home to a special training camp for the Yale University crew team. Even though it's part of Ledyard, Gales Ferry has its own post office and a branch of the Ledyard library.
The village has several smaller areas, like The Village, Birdland, and Sherwood Forest. It also has its own volunteer fire department and a small place for boats called a marina. A lot of the jobs and activities in Gales Ferry are connected to the Naval Submarine Base New London nearby in Groton.
Schools in Gales Ferry
Gales Ferry has three schools for kids:
- Juliet W. Long School, for grades 3-6.
- The newer Gales Ferry School, for kindergarten to grade 2.
- Ledyard Middle School, for grades 7-8.
These schools are all located close to each other, near the Thames River. An older Gales Ferry School building closed in 2001. Now, the town uses it to help new small businesses get started.
Gales Ferry's Size
Gales Ferry covers about 1.23 square miles (3.18 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 0.88 square miles (2.27 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.35 square miles (0.91 square kilometers), is water.
The Historic Ferry Crossing
The ferry that gave Gales Ferry its name started operating on the Thames River in 1740. John Comstock, Ralph Stoddard Jr., and John Hurlbut were the first people to run the ferry. It became known as Gale's Ferry when Roger Gale owned it from 1759 to 1764.
Today, the old ferry landing is where Yale University has its training camp for the Yale Heavyweight Men's Crew team. This is where they prepare for the famous Harvard–Yale Regatta boat race. The camp has a Varsity House, a Manager's House, and a Boathouse.
Yale's Crew Training Camp
The oldest building at the camp is the front part of the Varsity House. It was built in the late 1700s as a private home and has been made much bigger over time. The Boathouse was designed by a famous architect named James Gamble Rogers. He also designed many of the beautiful old buildings at Yale's campus in New Haven.
The Boathouse is a busy place when the team is there. It stores and repairs the boats. Younger rowers stay on the second floor of the Boathouse. Older rowers stay on the top floor of the Varsity House. The Varsity House also has common rooms, a game room, a dining room, and a kitchen.
This ferry site is very important for history because Yale's crew team is the oldest college sports team in America! The buildings are full of cool items and memories from the team's past. The camp is still used every year for the big race, making it a living piece of sports history. It's a key spot in the story of American college sports.
Historic Areas of Gales Ferry
The main part of the old settlement where the ferry was located is now split into two historic districts. These districts have many farm buildings from the late 1700s and early 1800s. A railroad track and some newer buildings separate the two districts.
Gales Ferry Historic District No. 1
This district is located around the meeting point of Hurlbutt Road and Riverside Place. It features buildings designed by Stephen Gray and shows different styles like Greek Revival and Federal architecture. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. At that time, it included 31 historic buildings spread over 13 acres.
Some important buildings in this district include:
- The Guy Stoddard House
- The Benajah Davis House, built around 1750
- The Daniel Copp House, built around 1796
- The Yale Boathouse, built around 1910
Gales Ferry Historic District No. 2
This is another historic district that runs along Hurlbutt Road, from Allyn Road to Military Highway. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. This area was chosen to include old Colonial and Federal style buildings, while leaving out newer ones. In 2002, it had 44 historic buildings and other important sites over 25 acres. The Gales Ferry Cemetery and the Bishop Seabury Anglican Church are among the important sites in this district.
Education in Gales Ferry
Gales Ferry, like the rest of Ledyard Town, is part of the Ledyard School District.
Notable People
- Casey Neistat, a famous YouTube creator and filmmaker.
See also
In Spanish: Gales Ferry para niños
