Grindstone Island facts for kids
 Grindstone Island
Location in New York
Location of Grindstone Island
in New York State |
|
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | St. Lawrence River |
| Coordinates | 44°16′37″N 76°06′53″W / 44.2769°N 76.1147°W |
| Length | 7 mi (11 km) |
| Width | 3 mi (5 km) |
| Highest elevation | 285 ft (86.9 m) |
| Administration | |
| State | New York |
| County | Jefferson |
| Town | Clayton |
Grindstone Island is a special place located in the St. Lawrence River. It's the fourth largest of the amazing Thousand Islands and the second biggest American island in the river. This island is part of the United States, specifically in the Town of Clayton in Jefferson County, New York.
The island is home to a beautiful spot called Potters Beach and even a private vineyard. You'll find summer gift shops, and a few active beef farms here. There are also historic farmlands that are no longer used. The Thousand Island Land Trust (TILT) owns private lands here to protect nature.
New York State's last one-room schoolhouse used to be on Grindstone Island. It closed in 1989. Only about ten families live on the island all year round. But in the summer, the population grows to about 700 people!
Contents
Island History
The first known people to settle on Grindstone Island arrived in 1804. The island was once thought to be part of Canada. However, since 1823, it has been officially recognized as part of the United States.
Early Island Disputes
Soon after the island became part of the U.S., a small disagreement happened. This was called "The Grindstone Island War." It was a brief conflict over some harvested trees. American soldiers tried to stop the logs from being taken away.
In 1831, a woman named Eliza Evertson bought the entire island for $15,000. Her family, the Evertsons, owned the island for more than 40 years.
Island Life and Buildings
In the early 1900s, enough people lived on the island to build two schoolhouses. The lower schoolhouse is now a private home. The upper schoolhouse is now the Grindstone Island Cultural Center. This center even gives out a scholarship every year.
The island also has a Methodist church, which started in 1899. They still have services on Sundays. Across the street is the Community Center, called Dodge Hall. In the summer, they have dances there on Saturday nights. There was also a Creamery and Cheese Factory, but it no longer operates.
Potter's Beach is one of the few natural beaches in the Thousand Island region that is open to everyone.
Island Economy and Transport
In the early days, cutting down trees for lumber and digging for granite were important jobs on the island. Grindstone Island runs on an "honor system," meaning people trust each other. Electricity is provided by National Grid US.
There are no bridges connecting Grindstone Island to the mainland, except when the river freezes in winter. There are also no regular ferry services. However, there is a community dock in Aunt Jane's Bay for visitors. People who live inland on the island sometimes park their cars along the road. The island even has normal U.S. postal service delivery from Monday to Saturday.
Recently, the island got street signs for its few unpaved roads. The people who live on Grindstone Island are known as "Islanders."
In 2012, the Grindstone Island Upper Schoolhouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site.
Island Geography
Grindstone Island is the fourth largest island in the Thousand Islands area. It is about 7 miles (11 km) long and 3 miles (4.8 km) wide at its widest point. The northern part of the island is very close to the Canada–United States border.
The island is located in the western part of the St. Lawrence River valley. It sits between Wellesley Island (in New York, U.S.) and Wolfe Island (in Ontario, Canada). Grindstone Island is about 1.27 miles (2.04 km) from Clayton on the New York mainland.
Thousand Island Land Trust Lands
A large part of Grindstone Island, about 39%, is owned by the Thousand Island Land Trust (TILT). They own 885 acres (3.58 km²) of private lands that are set aside to protect nature. These lands are spread across different parts of the island.
TILT owns several important areas, including:
- Potter's Beach (20 acres [0.081 km²]) – This is the biggest natural sand beach on the American side of the Thousand Islands.
- Potter's Forest Preserve (200 acres [0.81 km²])
- Mid River Farm Preserve (165 acres [0.67 km²])
- Douglas Howard-Smith Preserve (130 acres [0.53 km²])
- Rusho Farm Preserve (140 acres [0.57 km²])
- Delaney Farm Preserve (80 acres [0.32 km²])
- Heineman Forest Preserve (100 acres [0.40 km²])
- Grindstone Nature Trail (50 acres [0.20 km²])
TILT also helps protect another 900 acres (3.6 km²) of wetlands, forests, and grasslands. They do this through special agreements with private landowners.
Places on Grindstone Island
Here are some of the communities and important spots you can find on Grindstone Island:
- Aunt Janes Bay — A bay on the south shore of the island.
- Canoe-Picnic Point State Park — A state park located on the northeast tip of the island. You can only get there by canoe or other small boats.
- "The cheese factory" — This was once a busy factory when many dairy farmers lived on the island. It closed when farmers stopped producing milk.
- Cummings Point — The tip of a short piece of land sticking out on the southwest end of the island.
- Delaney Bay — A bay located on the northeast part of the island.
- Dodge Hall — A community center found on Northshore Road.
- Flynn Bay — A bay on the southwest end of the island.
- Grindstone — A small community on the north shore.
- Grindstone United Methodist Church — A church that was started in 1890.
- Lower Town Landing — A small community on the south shore.
- Rusho Bay — A bay on the south shore of the island.
- Thurso — A small community that stretches from Thurso Bay to the crossroads near the church.
- Upper Town Landing — Another small community on the south shore.
