“Quiet, please,” I whisper. Picture, if you will, a hidden gem where the city’s clamor fades. This is Hammond Cove. It is a peaceful inlet separating Throggs Neck from Locust Point.
Hammond Cove marks the southeastern edge of the Bronx. Here, the Long Island Sound kisses the borough’s curve. Single-family homes and quiet define this suburban part of the Bronx. It is a world away from the city’s frantic pace.
Back in 1872, a map called it Hammond’s Creek. It was just one of many creeks feeding into the shoreline. These creeks snaked inland. A nearby land feature, Locust Point, once appeared as Wright’s Island.
Storm surges sometimes separated Captain George Wright’s property. To keep his land connected, Wright built a causeway. But there’s a twist. In 1839, legislation authorized Ogden and Mary Hammond to build a similar structure. Was Wright’s causeway the same as the Hammonds’ dam? Maps of Hammond Creek don’t show a dam with the Hammond name. Perhaps it was never built.
Let’s jump back even further. An earlier map from 1776 labels Locust Point as a marsh. Dry land sat at its center. This historical map highlights the route of Tremont Avenue.
Fast forward. Urbanization began creeping closer to Hammond Cove. By 1924, the road to Locust Point looked narrow on surveys. In 1951, East 177th Street stretched eastward, reaching Locust Point. This street later became part of the Cross-Bronx Expressway. The construction of the Throgs Neck Bridge interrupted Longstreet Avenue. Pennyfield Avenue became the only road to Throgs Neck’s tip.
Unlike Manhattan, the Bronx’s East River mimics Long Island Sound. It features many inlets and points. After annexation by New York City in 1895, planners wanted to straighten the shoreline. They envisioned Shore Drive, running from Baxter Creek Inlet to Weir Creek. A 1915 map shows paper streets crossing Hammond Creek. This hinted at its planned disappearance.
After the Throgs Neck Bridge was completed in 1961, a map showed streets curving toward Throgs Neck. These streets covered the erased path of Hammond Creek. But the creek wasn’t filled. It was perhaps too costly and far from the city center. This saved its suburban charm.
From Throgs Neck, Hammond Cove narrows into a tidal creek. The Locust Point Yacht Club sits at its mouth. On the left, the Schuyler Hill Civic Association has a private beach. Upstream is the Locust Point Marina. New York City Parks protects most of this waterway as a 22-acre wetland preserve.
This private beach is accessible only to members of Schuyler Hill Civic Association. It is one of three private beaches in the Bronx. The city checks the water quality to ensure it’s safe for swimming.
After Hurricane Sandy’s devastating floods, a plan emerged in 2014. It proposed a raised earth berm with a walkway for Hammond Creek. Retention ponds behind it would store floodwater. The state would build the berm. New York City Parks would manage it.
As planes fly toward LaGuardia Airport, they reveal Hammond Creek’s role as a safe harbor. Locust Point and Throgs Neck shield small boats. The nearby bridge is the easternmost crossing on the East River.
Hammond Cove has a marina. Hammonds Cove Marina is a full-service, family-owned business. The Icehouse Cafe was located here. It was a popular spot at the marina for two decades. It closed in April 2023. A new vendor won a contract from the city.
Busters Bronx Marina Service plans to invest $5 million. The new restaurant will bring new programming.
Hammond Cove is a story of resilience. It’s a blend of natural beauty and urban encroachment. It is a quiet escape within the bustling Bronx. The echoes of history resonate here. They whisper tales of causeways, bridges, and community spirit. Take a moment. Breathe in the salty air. Reflect on the past and present of this unique place.