Stony Creek (Branford) facts for kids
Stony Creek is a small village right on the coast in Branford, Connecticut, United States. It's known for its pretty harbor on Long Island Sound. Stony Creek feels like a classic seaside town. It still has old Victorian hotels and a working granite quarry. People often visit in the summer.
The village is famous for the Thimble Islands. This is a group of rocky islands formed by glaciers. They range from big (about 17 acres) to very small, like stepping stones. These islands are at the mouth of the harbor. Even though they are small, they have many interesting stories and a lot of history. They also make for beautiful scenery. The islands are privately owned. However, you can get a close look at them on boat tours. These tours run in the spring, summer, and autumn. In the past, Stony Creek was known for catching lobsters and oysters. But these fishing jobs have mostly disappeared in recent years.
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Things to See and Do in Stony Creek
Stony Creek has several special places to visit. These include the Thimble Islands, the Stony Creek Legacy Theater, and the Stony Creek Museum. There is also a small public beach where you can relax. The town docks have a boat launch for those with their own boats. Kids can enjoy the playground, and there is a public library too. Three local companies offer boat tours of the Thimble Islands. You can take these tours from March through October.
Stony Creek's Fife & Drum Corps
Stony Creek is home to the all-male Stony Creek Fife & Drum Corps. This group started way back in 1886. The Corps practices every week at the renovated Seaside Hall. Sometimes, on summer evenings, the Corps plays music on the island tour boat. This is a treat for the people living nearby. In the past, the Corps won many awards. They even marched in President Eisenhower's first parade. Stony Creek also has the only all-female fife and drum corps. It is called the Totoket Ancient Fife & Drum Corps. They also practice at Seaside Hall.
The Famous Stony Creek Granite
A large quarry in Stony Creek is still working today. It provides a special pink-orange granite. This unique Stony Creek granite was used to build parts of the Brooklyn Bridge. It was also used for the Stony Creek Library. You can also see it in the newest House Office Building in Washington, D.C.. Other famous places with this granite include the South Station terminal in Boston. It's also in Grand Central Terminal in New York City. The base of the Statue of Liberty is also made from Stony Creek granite.
Notable People from Stony Creek
Many interesting people have connections to Stony Creek.
- Herbert V. Camp (1935–2022) was a representative for Connecticut. He went to Wesleyan University and Columbia Law School.
- Joseph Stamler (1911–1988) was a judge for the New Jersey Superior Court. He was also a professor at Rutgers University.
- Ayn Rand was a famous novelist. She spent a summer in Stony Creek in the late 1930s. Her husband, Frank O'Connor, was doing summer theater there. During that time, she developed important parts of her novel The Fountainhead.
- J. Andre Smith was an American artist.
- Thomas A. Steitz (1940–2018) was a scientist in the late 20th century. He shared a Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work.
- Susan Weil (born 1930) is an American artist.
