Chimney Sweeps Islands

The Chimney Sweeps Islands are a pair of small islands located within New York City in the northern part of City Island Harbor in the borough of The Bronx. The islands, along with High Island, New York, divide City Island Harbor from Pelham Bay. The islands are entirely made out of bedrock. The islands are uninhabited, but are home to many birds, such as gulls, skuas, and great blue herons. The islands are owned by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and are a part of Pelham Bay Park.[1]

There are two local legends about the origin of the islands' name. One is that from a distance the two islands look like Chimney Sweeps, which were brooms or tools used to clean and sweep out chimneys. The other was that a person that became rich sweeping chimneys bought the islands.[1][2][3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "The Islands of Pelham Bay". New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  2. ↑ McNamara, John (1984). History in Asphalt: The Origin of Bronx Street and Place Names (3rd ed.). Bronx Historical Society. pp. 42–43. ISBN 0-941980-16-2.
  3. ↑ "Islet Lore: Soldiers, Prisoners, the Rich, the Dead and, Perhaps, the Devil". The New York Times. July 9, 1995. Retrieved 2010-02-14.

External links

Coordinates: 40°51′46″N 73°47′02″W / 40.862803°N 73.783855°W / 40.862803; -73.783855

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