Point O' Woods, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Point O' Woods
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| Nickname(s):
POW
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 Point O' Woods
Location in New York
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Suffolk |
| Town | Brookhaven |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern Time Zone) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 |
| Area code(s) | 631, 934 |
Point O' Woods is a small, private vacation spot located on Fire Island, New York, in the United States. It's a special kind of community called a hamlet. Even though it has useful places like a ferry dock, a store, a church, and a fire department, only members and their guests are allowed inside. You can only get in through the hamlet's main gate or by using its private ferry from Bay Shore, New York.
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History of Point O' Woods
Point O' Woods is thought to be one of the first European-American settlements on Fire Island. Another place, Cherry Grove, also claims this title.
The community started in 1894. It was first set up for religious retreats, similar to the Chautauqua gatherings. Around 1898, the original group faced financial trouble. Ownership then went to the Point O' Woods Association. This group still manages the hamlet today.
Today, Point O' Woods is a summer vacation spot. It's mainly for members of the association and their families. Many members come from the East Coast of the U.S. However, some families also visit from the West Coast and even from other countries. The association opens the hamlet in the middle of spring. It then closes it down in early autumn each year.
The Shipwreck of the Elizabeth
On July 19, 1850, a sad event happened near Point O' Woods. An English ship called the Elizabeth sank. It hit a sandbar just off the coast of Fire Island. A famous writer and feminist, Margaret Fuller, died in this shipwreck. Her young child also died.
Three days after the ship sank, Margaret Fuller's friend, Henry David Thoreau, came to Point O' Woods. He searched for her body, but it was never found.
Geography of Point O' Woods
Point O' Woods is located in the Town of Brookhaven. It sits between Ocean Bay Park and Oakleyville. A six-foot chain-link fence, simply called "the Fence," separates the hamlet from Ocean Bay Park to its west.
To the east, a natural barrier protects the hamlet. This is a park called the Sunken Forest. It is located below the average high tide level. Point O' Woods is not a place for tourists. The ferry from Bay Shore is privately owned. If uninvited visitors try to come ashore, a member of the association might meet them. They will then be asked to return to Bay Shore.
Community Life in Point O' Woods
Point O' Woods is like a private club, but it's the size of a small village. It is known for being very private and exclusive. The land where the houses are built is technically owned by the association. The association then offers long-term leases to its members who live in the cottages. Many families have been spending their summers here for many generations.
Education for Residents
Children living in Point O' Woods go to schools in the Fire Island School District. Younger students attend the Woodhull School, which teaches grades from pre-kindergarten to sixth grade. After that, students can choose which high school to attend. They can go to either Bay Shore School District or Islip School District. Their high schools are Bay Shore High School and Islip High School.
How Point O' Woods Works
Just like many other places on Fire Island, cars are not allowed in Point O' Woods. Most people get around using bicycles. The community has its own private railroad. This train line is about half a mile long. It is a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge line. It is used to carry goods and supplies from the dock to important buildings in the community. It does not carry passengers.
Point O' Woods also has a small group of vehicles. These are used for things like maintenance, recycling, and pest control. The community has its own church and a volunteer fire department.
It used to have a federal post office. However, a journalist named Nat Hentoff, who was not a member, complained. He argued that club rules stopped him from using a federally funded post office. To solve this, the hamlet decided to give up its federal post office. Now, it does not have its own separate ZIP Code. Mail is sent to the Bay Shore Post Office by the United States Postal Service. Then, it is brought by ferry to Point O' Woods and given out privately.
Point O' Woods in Pop Culture
- In the TV show Mad Men, during season 2, episode 6, called "Maidenform," a character named Pete and his wife Trudy say they will spend the summer at Point O' Woods. Pete says this is important so he can stay close to his office.
