For a hundred dollars. That’s how much Mathew Ruppert and his wife Mary Eva sold Ruppert Island. This seemingly insignificant transaction in 1889 holds the key to Ruppert Island’s story. It’s a story intertwined with the Montgomery Sycamore Island Club. The club’s founders had already organized in 1885. They envisioned a retreat on the Potomac. Ruppert Island and nearby Sycamore Island became their idyllic escape.
Ruppert Island wasn’t always known by its current name. Before the sale Mathew Ruppert himself had obtained the land patents from the State of Maryland. These patents were signed by Governor Elihu E. Jackson. One patent for Sycamore Island described it as “Barry’s Island”. The other was for Ruppert’s Island. Both islands are situated opposite the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal between Locks 2 and 3. The patents detail precise boundaries using perches and bounded trees. They reveal meticulous surveying. This meticulous detail showcases the era’s land ownership practices.
The island’s history stretches far back. Long before the Rupperts it housed the Nacotchtank people. They temporarily resided on the island in 1668. It was then called “Anacostine Island”. Captain Randolph Brandt patented it in 1682. He left it to his daughter Margaret Hammersley. Records indicate the Nacotchtank were still present in 1711. By 1751 they disappeared from records possibly merging with other tribes.
Before becoming a recreational haven Ruppert Island served various purposes. It was part of the extensive defensive works around Washington D.C during the Civil War. Camp Greene a training facility housed as many as 1200 formerly enslaved people. They trained as soldiers for the Union Army. The island became a test site later. Experiments in electrical ignition of explosives occurred there. These were conducted secretly following the declaration of war against Spain in 1898. Later the Washington Gas Light Company owned Ruppert Island. They allowed nature to reclaim it.
Today Ruppert Island remains part of Montgomery County Maryland. It’s part of a larger legacy. A legacy that blends early indigenous settlements land ownership disputes military history and conservation efforts. The island stands as a testament to the Potomac’s rich tapestry. It represents a small yet significant piece of the D.C area’s past. Visiting Ruppert Island is like stepping into a historical time capsule. A time capsule encompassing centuries of stories waiting to be discovered.