Norwalk

The "East Rocks" springs gave value to the Camp estate of former times. The new New York City St. Mary's Hospital for children, now in process of erection, has found water of fine quality upon that portion of said estate which has this year become the prop- erty of that institution. The "Rocks Bending Ground" (of spring origin) is a present curiosity. Indian Brook wound near the Saugatuck portion of Ludlow's purchase, and Ralph's Brook near Rusco Creek in the (South Norwalk) Partrick purchase. Daniel Lockwood's Brook received the water as it trickled down the north side of Grumman's Hill, and the west side of what might now be termed the Morgan Woods, (anciently Hanford's uplands,) at the head of the 1896 "Morgan Avenue."1 From the " Lockwood boggs," a small stream issued, and took for a few rods a northerly and then westerly direction. It formed a small " basin," (immediately north of residence to-day be- longing to the estate of James H. Bailey) whence it proceeded across the lower portion of Norwalk Green, and running down "Knapp's," afterwards " Hubbell's Hill," it emptied into Norwalk river. Dry and Stony Hill brooks are of old mention. There was a fountain of pure water on "Longe" (Norwalk) island. Rev. Thomas Hanford's well of cooling water, and the well of Thomas Barnum (an- cestor, so believed, of all the Barnum's in America) stand to this day. NORWALK SALT WATER ESTUARIES, CHANNELS AND EM BRACINGS. Between Compo (Sherwood) and Noewanton creeks were a number of sea-water inlets, among which the Saugatuck and the Norwalk were the largest. The " hithermost wading place," west of " Bluff" Point,"2 was well known by the first settlers, whose visits to the "Great Marsh" at Saugatuck were frequent. Adjoining the 'Named in 1896 by the Common Council of the City of Norwalk, in honor of the late Henry T. Mor- gan of New York City, who married a daughter of Col. Buckingham St. John Lockwood of Norwalk. 'From this Point to Cockenos Island, one in for- mer times and at perigee tides, could almost wade. NORWALK. southeast Enos place of 1896, was Duck Pond.1 This pond and Stephen's Island were acces- sible from a small creek in the vicinity of Campfield's Island, which was separated from Half-' Mile Island by Campfield creek, through which, at certain states of the tide, passage was had to Fruitful Spring. In the days of Gregory's pottery, (page 51, note 3) this creek was of business service. Round-Beach channel afforded a short cut to the inner harbor. Charles Creek, known from early days as such, made of Gregory's Point a promontory, and Greg- ory's Creek was kept free from boggy growth by the current flowing from Mill-Brook '*<• through the Cove (tide-mill pond.) Hayes' Creek was a little north of Gregory's Point. Pine Island and Rusco Creeks were on the west side of the channel, between "Old Well" and " The Bridge." Barren Marsh creek2 set innerward from near Judah's (Peach) Island, and Barren Marsh channel, formed said island. Cockenoes passage on the east, Mamachi- mons in the center and Roaton's on the west, connected the harbor with the Sound. Pam- paskeshanke formed the modern Belden's or Wilson Cove, while "Noewanton" marked the westward Norwalk Creek limits. Its diverse salt-water-bordered beaches and banks have long been Norwalk features. Compo was a coveted Indian point, a fact which the whites were not slow in recognizinc. Robert Beacham, of Jessup connection, was an early fortunate possessor of a portion of it. The Hayes's, of old Scotch ancestry, there staid until coast invaders drove them to The Oblong. Its marine vista probably drew the Kent blood to that part of Compo now known as Hendricks Point. " There is much in the setting of a precious stone," and its sea-setting unquestionably adds to the loveliness of this east Saugatuck estate picture. On the last evening but one of 1770, a "blessed mother," the parent of the world-eminent Chancellor James Kent, passed from that to the thither shore. Above Hendricks-on-Saugatuck lies Point Imperial, a picturesque promontory, which deserves to remain as God made it. So charming to Manhattanville cruisers did the late Noah Bradley section of "Saugatuck Playne " appear, that they (see page 53) then and there quit their vessel and founded a habitation. 'A creek put into Duck Pond, and permission and seize sometimes several wild ducks, which fox was gtven, in 1677, to Francis Bushnell and jas. Bene- I captors and their captured birds would be shot upon diet ,0 there erect a dam "to stop out the tide." I the former's appearance again, above water. Pleasure or profit lav at the base of the petition, but w„ v. the dam must be built within seven years! or the pro- | in Z rsT^ 77 , '° pe-rtv would revert back to the town.-Norwalk Town I I 35' d recently married a Raymond Rt.t.0rds. norwalk lown daughter, and himself and wife distinctly saw, as they approached their new Norwalk home, the sky car- Duck Pond, the eastern upland of which was mine streakings of that month's " great fire " in that recently a Ketchum site, but now the site of the lower citv' Enos place, was anciently infested with game. Jos. Duck Island, mentioned by Goodrich as "near Lockwood Marvin, son of Capt. Ozias Marvin of ' w«stport," was at the eastern end of Long Island Westport, and the father of the late William Marvin s»«nd. of East Norwalk, was wont to mention to his child- Elbow Creek was the name of a small estuarv ren and grand-children that foxes would watch at in the vicinity of Duck Pond Duck Pond for their game-prey, and that these slv .ti , , animals wouid there dfve into L under ,, " titer, . nic g™unrVe"m°Uth °' ^ ^ *" " °M ^ NORWALK 65 Not a jot of the original beauty of Saugatuck Point has been sacrificed by the Eno changes, which in late years have there been made. The eye, in roving over the locality, falls on the same blue waters that the fathers' saw, but it rests upon a water-side, the delightful desirability of which has been highly enhanced by modern liberality and taste. The border-mentions in the last three paragraphs, however, can hardly be considered as salt-water " embracings." These, strictly speaking, refer to the Beaches, Hammocks, Islands, Rocks, Reefs, etc., which are sea - surrounded. These, alphabetically enumerated, are as follows : BELL ISLAND. 1 BETTS BOUTON " Otherwise known as Raymond, Comstock and Keyser Island. BUTLER ISLAND,' CALF PASTURE ISLAND, CAMPFIELD CEDAR HAMMOCK, Between Bonton (Keyser) and Tavern Islands. CHIMMONS ISLAND, (Mamachimons.) COCKENOES ISLAND, CONTENTMENT ISLAND, COFP CROW DOG HAMMOCK,.! EAST WHITE ROCK, FISH ISLAND, GOOSE ISLAND, GRASSY HAMMOCK, GREEN S REEF, 4 HALF-MILE ISLAND, HAY ISLAND, JUDAII ISLAND,; Modernlv Peach Island. KITTS ISLAND, In Saugatuck harbor. L'HAMMOCK,6 LITTLE L'HAMMOCK, LITTLE TAVERN ISLAND, LONG BEACH, 7 LONGE ISLAND, s Otherwise known as Smith's, Sheffield and Norwalk Island. MIDDLE GROUND, At the head of Norwalk Creek. OAK KNOLL, 9 Vicinity of Tinker s Point, N. E. of Pine Island. PINE ISLAND, RACE ROCKS, Off Calf Pasture. RAM'S ISLAND, " Big " and " Little." RAYMOND REEFS, Oft Betts' Island. ROUND BEACH, SENSION BEACH, An island at extreme tides. SEYMOUR ROCK, Mouth of Saugatuck harbor. SHEEP ROCK, Vicinity of East White Rock. SOUND REEF,10 Submerged. SPRITES ISLAND, STEPHEN'S ISLAND, STUART ISLAND, TAVERN ISLAND, u WEST WHITE ROCK, WOOD ISLAND. 'Its original name was Roaton (afterward Ray- moni) Point. The hotel at what, in 1896, is known as Roton Point, stands on the old Round Rock Point, and the present wharl at said Point occupies old Pine Point. 'West entrance to Five Mile River harbor. 3 In Ram's Island Bay, where are also Great Hammock and Harriett Island. 4Extends one mile from high-water mark, west by south from Norwalk Island. Has both spar and bell buoys at its extreme end, the object of the latter being to give warning at night and in foggy weather. The U. S. Government has had in recent contem- plation the removal of the present lighthouse on Norwalk Island to the further extremity of Green's Reef, expecting the lantern thereat to serve the pur- pose of the Norwalk harbor as well as Long Island Sound light. Norwalk Island and Eaton's Neck, L.I. lighthouses are five and six-tenths nautical miles apart. SBore this name as late as the sale of the same for $100 on Dec. 29, 1803, by Josiah Smith to Absalom Day. Mr. Smith bought the island on Feb. 3 pre- viously, of the executors of Eliakim Raymond, and he received for its three acres tivrntv-five rents more than he paid for it. On the day of Josiah Smith's purchase Mr. Raymond's executors sold the " sedge flats" at the island to Thomas Benedict, for $5.50. 6This and Little L' Hammock are located in Ram's Island Bay. /Site of the Government beacon. sI)escrihed in a deed executed Jan. 24, 1804, as "Little Long Island," and also " White's Island." "There were twin knolls at this place. At the time of the late LeGrand Lockwrood West Avenue acreage purchase, a bridge scheme (to Earl's East Avenue hill) from a point near these knolls, was entertained. '°In Long Island Sound and within the limits of the State of New York. "An old designation. Capt. Nathan Roberts, born Oct. 8, iSls. a still living Norwalk pilot, built in 1S48, with Oliver W. Weed, the house on Tavern Island now tenanted bv pilot Joseph Merrill, the tim- ber and lumber having been purchased of Charles Thomas, at Norwalk Bridge." The island was at first leased by Capt. Roberts from, in part, Moses Bvxbee. A well was there found in 1848. The new- occupants subdued about one-third of an acre, using the Wilson estate oxen for breaking-up purpose. 66 NORWALK.