Chopawamsic
Encyclopedia
Chopawamsic Island is the only island in the Potomac River
within the territorial boundaries of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
and need extensive renovation). Electricity is provided via underwater cable. Water is provided by a 280-foot-deep well on the island. The island is for sale.
Some Civil War
documents indicate that the Confederate States of America
controlled the area until the winter of 1861. They had numerous camps at Quantico
, and used the island for rest and recreation. Photographs of the Quantico area on display at Hospital Point on the Marine Corps
base may include historic photographs of Chopawamsic Island.
species include flocks of swans
, geese, and ducks that use the sheltered area for feeding and resting. Migratory
songbirds abound during the temperate months, with intense activity in the spring. Osprey
s and bald eagles settle here, as do waders such as green heron
, great egret
, and great blue heron
.
, or Tayac, Kittamaquund, who led the Piscataway
nation, the most powerful on the north shore of the Potomac and one to which other tribes were tributary. The Piscataway were allied with the Powhatan Confederacy. At the time, they had friendly relations with the English governments in Jamestown
and the colony of Maryland.
An early owner of the island was the Rev. Alexander Scott of the Church of Overwharten (now known as Aquia Church
). He purchased the property from the Brent family in the early 18th century.
During the Civil War, the Stafford County Courthouse was burned. This destroyed all the original deed and documentary records related to the island's settlement. Copies may be found in the Library of Virginia
.
John Lennon
considered purchasing the island for his home.
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
within the territorial boundaries of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Introduction
The 13 acres (52,609.2 m²) Island features a main house, guest house, caretaker’s house, and other structures. (All were constructed prior to World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and need extensive renovation). Electricity is provided via underwater cable. Water is provided by a 280-foot-deep well on the island. The island is for sale.
Some Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
documents indicate that the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
controlled the area until the winter of 1861. They had numerous camps at Quantico
Quantico, Virginia
- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there are 561 people, 295 households, and 107 families living in the town. The population density is . There are 359 housing units at an average density of .-Racial composition:...
, and used the island for rest and recreation. Photographs of the Quantico area on display at Hospital Point on the Marine Corps
Marine corps
A marine is a member of a force that specializes in expeditionary operations such as amphibious assault and occupation. The marines traditionally have strong links with the country's navy...
base may include historic photographs of Chopawamsic Island.
Rare Plants & Wildlife
The island is home to a mix of different wildlife habitats. WetlandWetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
species include flocks of swans
Mute Swan
The Mute Swan is a species of swan, and thus a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae. It is native to much of Europe and Asia, and the far north of Africa. It is also an introduced species in North America, Australasia and southern Africa. The name 'mute' derives from it being less...
, geese, and ducks that use the sheltered area for feeding and resting. Migratory
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
songbirds abound during the temperate months, with intense activity in the spring. Osprey
Osprey
The Osprey , sometimes known as the sea hawk or fish eagle, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than in length and across the wings...
s and bald eagles settle here, as do waders such as green heron
Green Heron
The Green Heron is a small heron of North and Central America. It was long considered conspecific with its sister species the Striated Heron , and together they were called "Green-backed Heron"...
, great egret
Great Egret
The Great Egret , also known as the Great White Egret or Common Egret, White Heron, or Great White Heron, is a large, widely-distributed egret. Distributed across most of the tropical and warmer temperate regions of the world, in southern Europe it is rather localized...
, and great blue heron
Great Blue Heron
The Great Blue Heron is a large wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North and Central America as well as the West Indies and the Galápagos Islands. It is a rare vagrant to Europe, with records from Spain, the Azores and England...
.
Owners
The first English resident of the island was Giles Brent, who settled here in 1649 with his wife, Mary Kittamaquund. She was the daughter of the paramount chiefParamount chief
A paramount chief is the highest-level traditional chief or political leader in a regional or local polity or country typically administered politically with a chief-based system. This definition is used occasionally in anthropological and archaeological theory to refer to the rulers of multiple...
, or Tayac, Kittamaquund, who led the Piscataway
Piscataway Indian Nation
The Piscataway Indian Nation and Tayac Territory is an unrecognized Native American tribe in Maryland that is related to the historic Piscataway tribe. At the time of European encounter, the Piscataway was one of the most populous and powerful Native polities of the Chesapeake Bay region, with a...
nation, the most powerful on the north shore of the Potomac and one to which other tribes were tributary. The Piscataway were allied with the Powhatan Confederacy. At the time, they had friendly relations with the English governments in Jamestown
Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestown was a settlement in the Colony of Virginia. Established by the Virginia Company of London as "James Fort" on May 14, 1607 , it was the first permanent English settlement in what is now the United States, following several earlier failed attempts, including the Lost Colony of Roanoke...
and the colony of Maryland.
An early owner of the island was the Rev. Alexander Scott of the Church of Overwharten (now known as Aquia Church
Aquia Church
Aquia Church , in Stafford, Virginia, USA, is an Episcopal church that has been designated a National Historic Landmark since 1991. It maintains an active congregation with a variety of programs and outreach to the community....
). He purchased the property from the Brent family in the early 18th century.
During the Civil War, the Stafford County Courthouse was burned. This destroyed all the original deed and documentary records related to the island's settlement. Copies may be found in the Library of Virginia
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia, is the library agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia, its archival agency, and the reference library at the seat of government. The Library moved into a new building in 1997 and is located at 800 East Broad Street, 2 blocks from the Virginia State...
.
- June 5, 1878 - E.A. Hore sold the island to Levi Woodbury of Washington DC.
- June 24, 1887 - He sold the property to the Mount VernonMount Vernon, VirginiaMount Vernon is a census-designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Nearby CDPs are Fort Belvoir , Groveton, Virginia and Hybla Valley, Virginia , and Fort Hunt, Virginia...
Ducking Society, of which Theodore RooseveltTheodore RooseveltTheodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
was a member. - October 11, 1903 - Samuel Langley conducted a manned flight experiment. One of the 1896 (source? conflicts with previous date) test planes, launched near Chopawamsic Island, covered a distance of about three-quarters of a mile and achieved a speed of more than 25 mi/h. Langley's model planes for those experiments had a wingspan of about 14 feet (4.3 m) and were powered by a small steam engine. The 1896 tests were witnessed by Langley's friend and colleague, Alexander Graham BellAlexander Graham BellAlexander Graham Bell was an eminent scientist, inventor, engineer and innovator who is credited with inventing the first practical telephone....
. - The National Geographic SocietyNational Geographic SocietyThe National Geographic Society , headquartered in Washington, D.C. in the United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions in the world. Its interests include geography, archaeology and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical...
owned the Island for a time. - November 3, 1915 - Charles H. Pardoe sold the island to Charles J. Butler.
- July 29, 1958 - Wilson & Lucy Fisher sold the property to Wesley & Dee Fry.
- June 14, 1983 - Columbia Tours International bought the island.
John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
considered purchasing the island for his home.
External links
- Langley Aerodome A
- Main content copied with permission from: http://www.chopawamsic.com/