Mason's Island
Encyclopedia
Mason's Island; an inhabited island at the mouth of the Mystic River
, in Stonington, Connecticut
; part of the region of Mystic, Connecticut
. The island was named after Major John Mason
who was granted the island in recognition of his leadership of English troops and neighboring tribal nations in the brutal defeat of the Pequod nation at Mystic. It is connected to the mainland by a causeway. Fishing is permitted from the causeway connecting Mason's Island to Mystic. Some of the island is owned by the Mason's Island Company and is regulated by property deeds. A quarry supplying rough granite for breakwaters (e.g. at Newport, Rhode Island
) was located on the western side of the island. The Mason's Island Marina and the Mystic River Marina are located on the north end of the island.
Mystic River (Connecticut)
The Mystic River is a estuary in the southeast corner of the U. S. state of Connecticut. Its main tributary is Whitford Brook. It empties into Fishers Island Sound, dividing the village of Mystic between the towns of Groton and Stonington. Much of the river is tidal...
, in Stonington, Connecticut
Stonington, Connecticut
The Town of Stonington is located in New London County, Connecticut, in the state's southeastern corner. It includes the borough of Stonington, the villages of Pawcatuck, Lords Point, Wequetequock, the eastern halves of the villages of Mystic and Old Mystic...
; part of the region of Mystic, Connecticut
Mystic, Connecticut
Mystic is a village and census-designated place in New London County, Connecticut, in the United States. The population was 4,001 at the 2000 census. A historic locality, Mystic has no independent government because it is not a legally recognized municipality in the state of Connecticut...
. The island was named after Major John Mason
John Mason (c.1600-1672)
John Mason was an English Army Major who immigrated to New England in 1632. Within five years he had joined those moving west from the Massachusetts Bay Colony to the nascent settlements along the Connecticut River that would become the Connecticut Colony...
who was granted the island in recognition of his leadership of English troops and neighboring tribal nations in the brutal defeat of the Pequod nation at Mystic. It is connected to the mainland by a causeway. Fishing is permitted from the causeway connecting Mason's Island to Mystic. Some of the island is owned by the Mason's Island Company and is regulated by property deeds. A quarry supplying rough granite for breakwaters (e.g. at Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
) was located on the western side of the island. The Mason's Island Marina and the Mystic River Marina are located on the north end of the island.
Geography
The island is approximately 1.2 miles (2 km) in length North-South and 0.8 miles (1.2 km) in width East-West and is formed by solid granite bedrock. There is a 47 acres (190,202.4 m²) nature preserve located in about the middle of the island. This nature preserve features a large salt marsh with surrounding woods that can be accessed by multiple trails. In the southern end of the island there is a large pond that was formerly used for harvesting ice.See also
- Ram Island is an island located close to Mason's Island.
- Enders IslandEnders IslandEnders Island an inhabited island located in Stonington, Connecticut and used as a Catholic retreat center, owned and operated by the Society of Saint Edmund...
is an island connected to Mason's Island by a causeway.