Star Island (New Hampshire) facts for kids
Star Island is one of the Isles of Shoals. These islands are located near the border between New Hampshire and Maine. Star Island is about 7 miles (11 km) from the mainland. It is the largest of the four islands in New Hampshire, covering 38 acres (15 hectares). It is the second largest island overall, after Appledore Island. Sailors named the island "Star Island" because they thought its shape looked like the points of a star. In 1876, the island became part of the town of Rye, New Hampshire. Since 1915, the Star Island Corporation has owned and managed the island.
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Island History: From Early Settlers to Today
Captain John Smith created a map of the Isles of Shoals in 1614. He called them "Smyth's Isles." There is a monument on Star Island today. It was built in 1864 to remember 250 years since John Smith's visit.
People first settled on these islands in the early 1600s. They were seasonal fishermen who worked along the North Atlantic coast. Many of them came from the colonies of Virginia.
The first permanent settlement on Star Island began in 1677. At that time, the Province of Maine was under the control of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. Maine decided to increase taxes on nearby Hog Island (now Appledore Island). However, Star Island was in New Hampshire, which had lower taxes. Because of this tax difference, many people moved from Hog Island to Star Island. The town of Gosport was then started on Star Island in 1715.
The town and the island grew and did well until the American Revolutionary War. During the war, American leaders ordered people to leave the Shoals. They worried that a group of people with uncertain loyalty so close to the coast could be a danger. Many islanders left their homes. After the war, some people returned to Gosport, but the population never became as large as it was before.
The islands had very few people living on them until the mid-1800s. Then, Thomas Laighton opened a hotel on Smuttynose Island. Later, he opened the Appledore Hotel on Hog Island with Levi Thaxter. He renamed Hog Island to Appledore Island. Laighton's daughter, Celia Thaxter, married Thaxter. She became a famous poet. She created an arts community on the island. Many well-known writers and artists visited her, including Nathaniel Hawthorne, John Greenleaf Whittier, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sarah Orne Jewett, and painter Childe Hassam. Sarah Orne Jewett wrote a story called "On Star Island." It was about her visit to Star Island and the Gosport church. This story was published in Harper's Magazine in September 1881.
In 1896, Thomas Elliott and his wife Lilla started the Shoals Summer Meeting Association. This group created a summer conference center. The Meeting Association bought the hotel and the island in 1945. This is when they formed the Star Island Corporation. Today, people who attend conferences still stay in the Oceanic Hotel. They also use other old buildings, like the stone Gosport Chapel, which was built in 1800.
Star Island Today: Self-Sufficient Living
Star Island has become very good at taking care of itself. In 2015, it had the largest off-grid solar farm in New England. "Off-grid" means it is not connected to the main power lines on the mainland. This solar power system provides all the electricity the island needs during the off-season. It also provides 60 percent of the power during the busy conference season.
The island makes its own water and electricity. It uses solar power and diesel generators. It also has its own special septic treatment plant. This plant is one of the few that can handle salt water. The island also has a reverse osmosis system. This system cleans sea water to make it safe for drinking. There are three different water systems on the island: one for drinking water, one for washing (using water from a cistern), and one for toilet use (using sea water).
The Star Island Corporation
The Star Island Corporation has owned and managed Star Island since 1915. It is a place for families, young people, and individuals to have conferences and retreats. The Star Island Corporation works closely with the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ.
Conferences can last from a few days to a full week. Some conferences focus on religious topics, while others are about non-religious subjects. These include photography, arts, yoga, writing, and science. In 2008, "personal retreats" were started. These allow members of the public to stay on the island for up to one week. In 2015, the Star Island Corporation celebrated its 100th anniversary. They held events on the island and on the mainland, including a ribbon cutting and historical reenactments.
The Star Island Corporation is a non-profit organization. This means it uses any money it earns to support its mission, not to make a profit for owners. It is a membership organization and was started in the state of Massachusetts.
Conferences and Getting There
Star Island hosts many different conferences. They usually last from two days to a full week. Sometimes, different conferences happen at the same time. Many conferences are connected to the Unitarian Universalist faith or the United Church of Christ. Other conferences may not have a specific religious focus.
Several ferry companies provide rides to Star Island. The Isles of Shoals Steamship Company, Island Cruises, and We Like Whales bring visitors. They offer day trips, overnight stays, or tours around Star Island and the other Isles of Shoals.
Gosport Harbor is a safe and deep place for boats. It is formed by the islands and connecting breakwaters. There are places where visiting boats can tie up.
See also
In Spanish: Isla Star para niños
