Off the coast of Davids Island, nestled in the Long Island Sound, sits a curious little landmark. It’s known as Columbia Island. Don’t let its size fool you. This two-acre islet boasts a history as big as the nearby New York City skyline. Columbia Island wasn’t always called Columbia Island. It was once known as Little Pea Island, a rather unassuming name for a place with such a vibrant past. In 1939, the Columbia Broadcasting System, or CBS, purchased the island. They were looking for the perfect spot to build a powerful radio transmitter to reach the bustling metropolis of New York. And so, Little Pea Island became Columbia Island.
CBS invested a significant amount of money, around $500,000, to transform the island. They erected a 410-foot broadcast tower and a transmitter building. This building was no ordinary structure. It housed a 50,000-watt transmitter within its copper walls and even had emergency housing for ten workers. Two submarine cables, connected to separate power plants, supplied electricity to ensure uninterrupted service. They even drilled through bedrock to a depth of 910 feet to find a source of fresh water. Imagine the dedication and ingenuity involved in this undertaking.
The island’s story took another turn in 1963. The transmitter became obsolete, and the station moved to High Island. Columbia Island then found itself in the hands of entertainers Peter Lind Hayes and Mary Healy. They used the island as their home, even broadcasting a breakfast conversation show from there. The island was part of a larger package that included waterfront property, a speedboat, and a tugboat. Later, they generously donated Columbia Island to the College of New Rochelle.
Fast forward to 2007, pathologist Al Sutton bought Columbia Island. He had a vision of sustainable living. He converted the old concrete transmitter building into an off-the-grid, “green” home powered by solar panels. The island, once a hub of broadcasting power, now stood as a testament to eco-conscious living. But island life, even a self-sufficient one, proved costly. In 2019, Sutton put Columbia Island and nearby Pea Island up for sale for $13 million, calling the property a “money pit”. He had reportedly spent $8 million on the property’s upkeep.
So, as you look out at Columbia Island, remember its journey. From a small, nameless islet to a broadcasting powerhouse, to a celebrity home, and finally, to a unique, off-grid residence, Columbia Island stands as a symbol of adaptation and reinvention.