Many Westporters — but probably not enough — know and enjoy Sherwood Island.
Some — but definitely not enough — know that it was Connecticut’s first-ever state park.
The beach and surrounding area was some of the first property the 5 “Bankside Farmers” occupied, when they settled in what was then Fairfield in 1639.
The Native Americans called it Machamux (“The Beautiful Land”). The farmers named part of it Fox Island, because it was shaped like a fox.
In the 1700s the area was renamed Green’s Farms, for one of the founding Bankside families.
The Sherwood family settled on Fox Island, and acquired the nearby gristmill. They shipped kiln-dried cornmeal to the West Indies. Oysters were harvested from the Mill Pond.
An early view of the Sherwood Mill Pond gristmill.
Their Fox Island farm, meanwhile, produced onions and potatoes, which were shipped to New York.
In the 1900s, the state tried to acquire land for the park. Wealthy landowners in the area fought against it.
The first parcel of park land was acquired in 1914. But it took 23 years for the entire park to be assembled, and open to the public.
But why did the early settlers call it “Fox Island”?
Because it was shaped like a fox. (Hat tip: Friends of Sherwood Island State Park History)
Here’s how it looked in 1934 — 3 years before the state park opened — in a fascinating aerial view, found and shared by alert “06880” reader Mary Gai:
Fox Island (now Sherwood Island State Park). Burying Hill Beach is at the right, beyond the brook.
But that raises an important — and probably unasnwerable — question: How did farmers in the 1600s know what it looked like from the air?!
Eight-five years later — in 2019 — both Sherwood Island and Burying Hill had changed.
The state park no longer looked like a fox, as this second aerial image (also discovered by Mary Gai) shows:
Meanwhile, here’s one more bit of trivia: What is the official name of the Sherwood Island State Park beach?
If you know, click “Comments” below.
(Friday Flashback is one of “06880”‘s many regular features. If you enjoy this — or anything else on our website — please consider a tax-deductible contribution. Just click here. Thank you!)
