Notes from the Old Noank Jail by Ed Johnson
Fisher’s Island – “The Prize that Got Away”
An illustrated lecture presentation was made to the Noank Historical Society on June 21, 2017 by Mr. Pierce Rafferty of the Fisher’s Island Henry L. Ferguson Museum. It chronicled a tangled relationship to our Connecticut (CT) mainland, including border disputes, secession, annexation and “lobster wars.”
As a younger person frequently visiting Stonington during the late 1950’s, I viewed Fisher’s Island (FI) as a “rich man’s retreat” that had a convenient restaurant/bar near West Harbor. Those of us age 18 or older could pop over to NY State from CT in private boats to legally purchase alcoholic drinks at the “Pequot House.” Such was our narrow focus of youth at that time…
As to previous history, from 1644 to 1646, an Englishman named John Winthrop found the Island primarily deserted, and began keeping some livestock there, treating it simply as farmland. There was subsequent confusion involving a 1662 Charter from England and a 1664 Duke of York claim involving Long Island (LI) and FI, but still recognizing John Winthrop as the New York (NY) owner of FI.
However, boundary disputes between CT & NY lasted over 200 years. In 1679, CT tried to claim it outright largely because of proximity. During the war of 1812, the English forces occupied FI and it was considered “enemy controlled territory” by the Revolutionaries. Finally, in 1863, FI was purchased from the Winthop estate by a Robert Fox who operated it as a gentleman farmer and considered the island “off limits” to visitors.
In the 1870’s there were several of “illegal prizefights” on FI. Attempts to establish some form of FI transportation “trolley” system failed. In 1876, Robert Fox sold small land lots on the West end of FI, some existing today. And in 1880, there was a nautical boundary line arbitrarily established by NY between CT & FI in essentially the middle of FI sound. CT objected with bitterness and Stonington even tried to acquire FI on its own, to no avail.
In 1884, a large gun club leased a portion of the East end. Then in 1889, Henry Ferguson purchased a 9/10 portion of FI from the Robert Fox estate toward the East end. Attempts were made to exclude steamers and seaweed fisherman from approaching FI and in 1900 CT lobster boats were detained for invading NY waters. Legal battles ensued in 1902 and these continued with little resolution.
During the 1920’s, the Ferguson family sold properties for private estates on the East end and in 1926 a private clubhouse was created which exists today. Following the stock market crash in 1929 into the 1940’s, the HG Wright Militay Fort was established near the south shore. Following WWII, from 1945 to 1949, there were major debates again concerning the annexation of FI by CT involving Groton. Proponents felt it would be convenient but negatives leaned away from more police presence on FI. And during 1947, there were major fears of CT lobster boats taking over FI territory.
More lobster disputes surfaced in 1967 to 1971 concerning protected zones and dropping lobster pots in unprotected waters. Then, during 1976, when the Thames River was being dredged for submarine usage, environmental issues arose concerning an off-shore dumping site West of FI. Years later, the FI Ferry service was charged after their boats had constantly dumped sewage into LI sound while traversing West Harbor and New London.
Today, in 2017, FI is still primarily a private enclave and the lifestyle tends to be quiet; celebrities and unbridled development are discouraged. Population varies between 250 people in winter to 3000 in summer. The 50 acre Military installation still quietly exists and there is a small airport at the West end.
There is no Mayor, but a Judge along with Planning & Zoning Board members are available, along with a Doctor and volunteer Fire& EMS services. The school population is circa 75 students, including a few from the CT mainland. Currently, there is no active hotel on FI, following the closing of the Pequot House. Electric utilities are provided from the Groton shore.
The Ferguson Museum itself specializes in Archeology, Birds, Local History, FI Land Trusts along with Trail Maintenance and maintains strong relationships to the Pequot – Sepos nature organization in Stonington.
“What is past, is prologue.” CT still looks at FI as the prize it lost, for now.
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