Murray Isle facts for kids
Murray Isle is a lovely island located in the St. Lawrence River. This river forms part of the border between the United States and Canada. Murray Isle is found in the "Thousand Islands" area, which is famous for its many islands. It's part of New York State, specifically in Jefferson County. Today, many families enjoy their summers here in cozy cottages.
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A Look Back at Murray Isle
Murray Isle has a long and interesting history. It's believed that the very first cottage on the island was built way back in 1860. This was a simple log cabin. By 1880, there were four cottages, all located on the northern part of the island.
How Murray Isle Got Its Name
The island wasn't always called Murray Isle. It used to be known as Hemlock Island because of the many hemlock trees growing there. Later, in the late 1700s, its name was changed to Murray Hill Park. This new name came from the Murray Hill area in New York City. The idea was to develop the island and sell plots of land, but this plan was never fully completed. Eventually, the name was shortened to its current form, Murray Isle.
The Murray Hill Hotel
In the late 1800s, a large building called the Murray Hill Hotel was built on the island. This hotel welcomed tourists who traveled to the island by steamship from Clayton, New York. The hotel was a popular spot for many years. However, it closed in the early 1900s and was eventually taken down.
Today, where the old hotel once stood, you'll find a community house and a post office. The post office is open every year from June to September, helping island residents send and receive mail. Every summer, on the first Saturday of July, a fun event called the "Fish Fry" is held on the grounds of the community house. It's a great way for everyone on the island to get together!
Island Surroundings
Murray Isle is surrounded by water channels on both its eastern and western sides. The channel on the eastern side is called "The Narrows." This channel separates Murray Isle from a larger island called Wellesley Island.
Just off the southern side of Murray Isle, there's a tiny island known as Wintergreen Island. It used to be called Whippoorwill Island. A small footbridge connects Wintergreen Island to Murray Isle, making it easy to visit.
