Fire Island History Fire Island - History Like other barrier islands, the origin of Fire Island dates back at least thousands of years. However, the first construction on the island was recorded in 1653 when Isaac Stratford of Babylon founded the first whaling station on the Island, under the name of Whalehouse Point, located 5.5 miles east of the actual Davis Park, and 3.5 miles west of Smith's Point. After that early antecedent and the construction of several towers, there is no evidence of another development until the 19th century when the Federal government constructed on the western tip of the Island, dated 1825 for an early construction, but the tower was not built until 1858. This construction remained as the most important development on the island until 1974 when its light was extinguished. With the turn of the century, more and more European immigrants arrived to New York and the Fire Island's lighthouse was the first sight of America's land. Navigational technology improved over time and lighthouses were loosing importance to marine safety. Therefore, Fire Island became a Bohemian retreat attracting numerous artists. The Manhattan theater community began staying frequently on Fire Island in the 1920s. Rum flowed in new saloons established on Fire Island, while frivolity prevailed on the beaches crowded with a number of summer celebrity residents and bohemians, including musicians and writers. The Great Hurricane of 1938 hit Fire Island on rising tides the afternoon of September 21, when then end of the summer season left the island relatively empty. Winds were measured at 120 mph causing destruction in most of Fire Island's communities. In Kismet, 22 houses were lost, 2 were damaged, and only 1 house survived. However, in Ocean Beach 700 houses survived and only 4 were damaged and 4 were lost, promoting the real estate booming in the 1950s, decade in which the rich and famous wanted to make Fire Island New York City's Socialite Retreat, while the small cottages on the island began to turn into the actual communities. In the 1960s, every community began to develop their own characteristics making Fire Island an interesting Lifestyle's tapestry. The historic Whalehouse Point became a small community of 15 houses and guest cottages during 64, housing for a long time the McCarthy family. In 1973, Fire Island Lighthouse was decommissioned by the US Coast Guard, substituting this aid to navigation with a flash tube optic installed at the Robert Moses State Park Water Tower. In 1974, the Coast Guard gave the National Park Service a 5-year permit to use 82 acres of the Lighthouse track.
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Such tract was declared by law as part of the boundaries of the Fire Island National Seashore, and diverse local groups joined efforts to save Fire Island Lighthouse, supporting some projects for its restoration, including the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society formed in 1982. Citizens succeeded raising over 1.2 million dollars for the restoration and preservation of the Fire Island Lighthouse, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places during 1984. On May 28, 1986, the Fire Island Lighthouse was reinstated as an aid to maritime navigation, and its tower was officially relit. The History of Fire Island also includes the name of famous residents that attracted the attention of the world to this barrier island, including these renowned stars: * Carl Reiner, actor * Carson Kressley, TV fashion authority * Claudette Colbert, actress * David Duchovny, actor * Ethan Hawke, actor, novelist * Frank O'Hara, poet, playwright * Harvey Keitel, actor * Louis Alter, songwriter * Mart Crowley, playwright * Mary Martin, Broadway performer * Nat Hentoff, columnist, jazz critic * Paul Krassner, author, editor * Peggy Fears, Broadway performer * Peter Greenberg, TV travel authority * Pola Negri, silent film actress * Rex Harrison, actor * Tedi Thurman, Miss Monitor * Tony Randall, actor * Truman Capote, author * Uma Thurman, actress Fire Island has also written part of its history as scenery of several films such as Frank Perry's "Last Summer" (1969), "Garbo Talks" (1984), "Longtime Companion" (1990), "Returning Mickey Stern" (2002), and "When Ocean Meets Sky" (2003), a documentary detailing the 50-year history of the Fire Island Pines community, This documentary was aired on TV on June 10, 2006, while an ABC's reality show, "One Ocean View", was also shot on Fire Island, promoting the island's as a bachelors' paradise. Fire Island faced the new turn of the century as a protected National Seashore encompassing the following small settlements, commonly known as hamlets: * Atlantique * Bayberry Dunes * Cherry Grove * Corneille Estates * Davis Park/Ocean Ridge * Dunewood * Fair Harbor * Fire Island Pines * Kismet * Lonelyville * Long Cove * Ocean Bay Park * Ocean Beach * Point O'Woods * Robbins Rest * Saltaire * Seaview * Watch Hill * Water Island In addition to these communities, Fire Island has two small island around it: West Fire Island, a small community island with only about five houses, and East Fire Island, an uninhabited island, off Great South Bay. |
