When I was a young man I sang in the choir at St. Luke's Episcopal church. We practiced every saturday morning and did the family service at nine o'clock. That was the junior choir and I enjoyed that very much. Soon my voice changed, and it wasn't for the better, my singing career was over. Truth be told, it never really began, somehow my vocal chords never did get tuned.
A Mr. Gardiner attended our church. His ancestors settled what was first called , the Isle of Wight, and later changed to Gardiner's Island. The first Gardiner was a man named Lion. His effigy lies in the cemetery on a table of stone, not far from the Church. He is dressed in armor. He purchased the land in 1639 from the local Indians. The Island has remained in the possession of his ancestors ever since. Every year Mr. Gardiner would graciously host the St. Luke's junior choir on his island. This was a rare and special treat. The Island is privately owned and trespass upon it is not allowed. Not many get to see this island other than from the coastline, or I suppose in today's world, google earth.
This would have been in the 1960's. My memory of details is getting a little fuzzy so if there any inaccuracies it is not my fault. I remember we would meet at the Three Mile Harbor dock. There Mr. Gardiner had a large wooden boat waiting to transport us to the island. His personal boat was a black runabout named the " Rumrunner. " It was reputed to be very fast. It was only a short ride out to the Island. Most of us on board had seen it many times while out on the bay. A windmill could be seen and inviting beaches. We had all been warned about trespassing on that Island. Local tales told of men being beheaded for that offense. We were told that the Island was under it's own jurisdiction and local laws did not apply. The Gardiners could do as they pleased with trespassers. At least that what was said.
When we arrived at the island two pick up trucks were waiting for us. We all jumped in the back of those trucks to begin the tour of the Island. By today's standards I expect every rule was broken. No seat belts in the back of the truck, or I guess just riding in the back of a pick truck ! No one ever fell out or got hurt that I can recall. We rode up a dirt lane and would stop at certain points. Mr. Gardiner would tell us the history and importance of each spot. I remember the " hanging " tree. A large white oak with a thick branch sticking out nearly parallel to the ground. There were grooves in it were I could only assume the rope had worn it. We stopped in a small valley and there was a marker there. It was in this valley that the famous Captain Kidd had left treasure in 1699. Mr. Gardiner told us of that and how Captain Kidd never made it back to the island. He was hanged in England. His family recovered the treasure and returned it to the Queen.
We went to the Manor House. It was an impressive structure. I remember seeing gold plated faucets in the bathroom. I was impressed ! Their was a gun room as well. Rifles of all types in cases lining the walls. Underneath were drawers full of pistols. Everything from ancient flintlocks to the latest in weaponry
Other than a building full of batteries, for powering the home and a well, were we were told, the family silver had been hidden from pirates, a different bunch, not Kidd, I don't remember a whole lot.
I remember the island being a beautiful place. Open meadows and dense forest. Back in the old days it had been farmed and worked as a Manor. The Island remained active in that capacity for many years. Later in life I was to learn my own Grandmother had worked on that Island. Sadly she passed away before I knew that and could ask her about it.
Gardiners Island remains in the care of the family. It is still private. I feel privileged to have been given the chance,several times, to visit this special little place. The Island is about five square miles in area. and is possibly the most pristine five acres of old land in America. It has a fascinating history. And I got that by singing in the choir. I can't imagine what else I may have received if I had continued my singing career. LOL
Probably the dog pound.
A Mr. Gardiner attended our church. His ancestors settled what was first called , the Isle of Wight, and later changed to Gardiner's Island. The first Gardiner was a man named Lion. His effigy lies in the cemetery on a table of stone, not far from the Church. He is dressed in armor. He purchased the land in 1639 from the local Indians. The Island has remained in the possession of his ancestors ever since. Every year Mr. Gardiner would graciously host the St. Luke's junior choir on his island. This was a rare and special treat. The Island is privately owned and trespass upon it is not allowed. Not many get to see this island other than from the coastline, or I suppose in today's world, google earth.
This would have been in the 1960's. My memory of details is getting a little fuzzy so if there any inaccuracies it is not my fault. I remember we would meet at the Three Mile Harbor dock. There Mr. Gardiner had a large wooden boat waiting to transport us to the island. His personal boat was a black runabout named the " Rumrunner. " It was reputed to be very fast. It was only a short ride out to the Island. Most of us on board had seen it many times while out on the bay. A windmill could be seen and inviting beaches. We had all been warned about trespassing on that Island. Local tales told of men being beheaded for that offense. We were told that the Island was under it's own jurisdiction and local laws did not apply. The Gardiners could do as they pleased with trespassers. At least that what was said.
When we arrived at the island two pick up trucks were waiting for us. We all jumped in the back of those trucks to begin the tour of the Island. By today's standards I expect every rule was broken. No seat belts in the back of the truck, or I guess just riding in the back of a pick truck ! No one ever fell out or got hurt that I can recall. We rode up a dirt lane and would stop at certain points. Mr. Gardiner would tell us the history and importance of each spot. I remember the " hanging " tree. A large white oak with a thick branch sticking out nearly parallel to the ground. There were grooves in it were I could only assume the rope had worn it. We stopped in a small valley and there was a marker there. It was in this valley that the famous Captain Kidd had left treasure in 1699. Mr. Gardiner told us of that and how Captain Kidd never made it back to the island. He was hanged in England. His family recovered the treasure and returned it to the Queen.
We went to the Manor House. It was an impressive structure. I remember seeing gold plated faucets in the bathroom. I was impressed ! Their was a gun room as well. Rifles of all types in cases lining the walls. Underneath were drawers full of pistols. Everything from ancient flintlocks to the latest in weaponry
Other than a building full of batteries, for powering the home and a well, were we were told, the family silver had been hidden from pirates, a different bunch, not Kidd, I don't remember a whole lot.
I remember the island being a beautiful place. Open meadows and dense forest. Back in the old days it had been farmed and worked as a Manor. The Island remained active in that capacity for many years. Later in life I was to learn my own Grandmother had worked on that Island. Sadly she passed away before I knew that and could ask her about it.
Gardiners Island remains in the care of the family. It is still private. I feel privileged to have been given the chance,several times, to visit this special little place. The Island is about five square miles in area. and is possibly the most pristine five acres of old land in America. It has a fascinating history. And I got that by singing in the choir. I can't imagine what else I may have received if I had continued my singing career. LOL
Probably the dog pound.
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