BUFFALO, Jan. 25.–White’s Island, in Niagara River, opposite Tonawanda, has been sold to James R. Smith, of Smith, Fassett Co., for $45,000.
I wonder what’s going to happen to it? That’d be sweet to have a house on your own island in Buffalo.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C07EFDF123BE033A25755C2A9679C94639FD7CF
that would be interesting
Uhhhh 1882?:picard:
That would be awesome to own an island.
lol 1882
:mamoru:
When I saw the size of the island I was like WHAT? $45,000?!?
I’m so confused reading this. It says it’s 100 acres and has 12000 feet of waterfront, but somehow according to the article that’s double the waterfront of Tonawanda and more than Buffalo? Doesn’t Tonawanda’s waterfront go pretty much from the Huntley Plant almost to Niagara Falls? That’s way more than 12000 feet.
Grand Island is 17,381 acres by comparison.
Plus the whole 1882 thing.
Yeah, it’s Tonawanda Island now.
I’m pretty sure Tonawanda has more than 2 miles of waterfront?
100 acres! 12000 feet of waterfront for 45k? wow.
Yeah, that’s why I was confused. Maybe they measured differently in 1882. 
LOL :chronofail:
lolwut?
Maybe the city limits were different then. A lot different.
Didnt we learn anything from the dyno debate about standards of measure???
:mamoru:
The Island became known as “White’s Island.” By 1840, the oak trees were all cut down, and East Boston Timber Company - and Stephen White - left the area. White died in 1841 and the island was left to heirs who sold it to William Wilkeson in 1869. Wilkeson was from Buffalo. By this time, the original stateliness and elegant beauty of the island had been lost. Wilkeson, however, turned the island into a bit of Eden by planting orchards and vineyards. The island became known as “Wilkeson’s Island.”
By 1870, the island was officially known as “Tonawanda Island.” In the 20th century, many local residents also referred to it as “Little Island.”
In 1882, another lumber company, Smith, Fassett and Company, purchased the island from Wilkeson. Their lumber company had been established ten years earlier in 1872.
Tonawanda Island is 85 acres in size. Over the years several large industries and North Toanwanda’s pumping station were located there.
Also:
Excerpts from an Archaeological Survey performed for the Placid Harbour Marina Development on Tonawanda Island:
The earliest recorded settlement on Tonawanda Island was in 1819 by James Carney and his father Edward (Sanford 1878: 377). There is no documentation as to the location or extent of his residence. Carney’s goal was to obtain the pre-emption rights once title to the area had been determined. In 1824 the State of New York assessed the value of the land at $4.50 per acre and ordered to be sold at public auction in Albany. Carney attempted to purchase the island with the aid of Judge Samuel Wilkenson but was outbid by a New York City speculator who purchased it at $23 per acre. Carney went on to become both the Wheatfield and Tonawanda town supervisor as well as justice of the peace in the latter
http://www.nthistorymuseum.org/Collections/tonawandaisland.html
Also google map for the lazy:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ei=K1_7SdZnisQyq8a4yQQ&resnum=1&q=tonawanda+Island&um=1&ie=UTF-8&split=0&gl=us&ei=LF_7SZTzNJPoMN-_tMUE&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1
flawless thread topic, lol. nice one.
Sounds like a good deal until you realize it’s in Tonawanda. :mamoru: