Mason's Island facts for kids
 Mason's Island
Location in Connecticut
Mason's Island
Location in the United States
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Long Island Sound |
| Coordinates | 41°19′56″N 71°58′5″W / 41.33222°N 71.96806°W |
| Area | 600 acres (240 ha) |
| Length | 1.2 mi (1.9 km) |
| Width | .8 mi (1.3 km) |
| Administration | |
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United States
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| State | Connecticut |
| County | New London |
| City | Stonington |
Mason's Island is a small island located where the Mystic River meets the sea. It's part of Stonington, Connecticut. The local Algonquin people called it Chippachaug, which means "a separated place."
The island got its name from Major John Mason. He was given the island as a reward for his military service. This was after the 1637 Pequot War, a conflict that happened nearby. The Mason family owned the island for more than 250 years, from 1651 to 1913.
After 1913, the Allyn family took care of the island. Today, most of the island is owned by the Mason's Island Company. Rules for property owners are set by the Mason's Island Property Owners Association (MIPOA). You can find two marinas on the north side of the island: the Mason's Island Marina and the Mystic River Marina. A road called a causeway connects Mason's Island to the mainland.
Exploring Mason's Island
Mason's Island is about 600 acres in size. It is about 1.2 miles long from north to south. It is also about 0.8 miles wide from east to west. The island is built on solid granite rock.
Years ago, there was a quarry on the island. A quarry is a place where stone is dug out of the ground. This quarry was at Pine Hill on the northwest side. It provided rough granite. This granite was used to build breakwaters, like the one in Newport, Rhode Island. Breakwaters are walls built in the water to protect harbors from waves.
Nature and Wildlife
In the middle of the island, there is a 47-acre nature preserve. This special area has a large salt marsh. A salt marsh is a coastal wetland that is flooded by tides. It also has surrounding woods. You can explore this preserve using many trails.
At the southern end of the island, there is a large freshwater pond. Long ago, people used this pond to harvest ice. They would cut large blocks of ice from the frozen pond in winter.
Famous People from Mason's Island
- Mary Wilkinson Streep - She was a talented artist and editor. She was also the mother of the famous actress Meryl Streep.
