Neshobe Island facts for kids
Neshobe Island is a small island located in Lake Bomoseen. You can find it in the town of Castleton, in the U.S. state of Vermont. This island became famous in the 1920s and 1930s because of a writer named Alexander Woollcott. He was part of a well-known group of writers and artists called the Algonquin Round Table.
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How Neshobe Island Got Its Name
Neshobe Island received its current name during a special event on July 4, 1881. At this gathering, people suggested several names for the island. Some of the other names considered were Taghkannuc and Kellowanda. After the name "Neshobe" was chosen, the Rutland County Historical Society shared stories about the event. They even published a series of "colored books of Neshobe," which contained many poems celebrating the island.
The Algonquin Round Table's Island Home
Neshobe Island became very popular in the 1920s and 1930s because of its connection to the Algonquin Round Table. This was a famous group of writers, critics, and actors who met regularly in New York City.
Alexander Woollcott's Island Retreat
In 1924, Alexander Woollcott, a key member of the Algonquin Round Table and a writer for The New Yorker magazine, bought a part of Neshobe Island with six of his friends. By the early 1930s, he had bought most of the island himself. Woollcott built a large stone house there. This house became a favorite spot for his friends from the Algonquin Round Table to visit during the 1930s. Woollcott loved the island so much that he moved there permanently in 1938.
Famous Visitors to Neshobe Island
Many famous people visited Neshobe Island when Alexander Woollcott lived there. Imagine meeting some of these stars!
- Harpo Marx: A famous comedian and actor from the Marx Brothers.
- Noël Coward: A talented English playwright, composer, and actor.
- Ring Lardner: A well-known American sportswriter and short story writer.
- Thornton Wilder: A Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and novelist.
- Robert Benchley: A humorist, actor, and writer.
- Margaret Mitchell: The author of the classic novel Gone with the Wind.
- Laurence Olivier: One of the greatest English actors of all time.
- Helen Hayes: A beloved American actress, often called the "First Lady of American Theatre."
- Vivien Leigh: A famous English actress known for her role in Gone with the Wind.
- Irving Berlin: A highly successful American composer and songwriter.
- Walt Disney: The legendary creator of Mickey Mouse and founder of the Disney company.
The beautiful gardens and outdoor areas on the island were designed by the painter Gerald Murphy. Woollcott even created a special "Neshobe Island Club" with 10 members. It cost $1,000 to be a member and spend the summer on the island.
Neshobe Island in a Book
Life on Neshobe Island during this exciting time inspired a book! A fictional story about the island was written by Charles Brackett in his 1934 novel called Entirely Surrounded.
