Mill Rock

Mill Rock. A name whispered on the tides, a stubborn little island nestled in the churning waters of Hell Gate. Now a haven for birds, this unassuming isle holds a surprisingly explosive past. Mill Rock wasn’t always one island. It began as two, Great Mill Rock and Little Mill Rock, purchased in 1664 by William Hallet. A mill, built in the early 1700s by John Marsh, gave the islands their shared name. During the War of 1812, Great Mill Rock became a strategic point of defense. The War Department erected a blockhouse, armed with two cannons, to protect New York Harbor and Long Island Sound. Sadly, this fortification met an untimely end, consumed by fire in 1821. The island then became a refuge for squatters, like John Clark who cleverly provisioned passing ships. The late 19th century brought the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to Mill Rock. They weren’t there for sightseeing. Their mission was to tame the treacherous Hell Gate, a navigational nightmare for ships. In 1885, they orchestrated a monumental explosion on nearby Flood Rock. The blast, the largest planned detonation before the atomic age, was felt as far as Princeton, New Jersey. The rubble from this explosion wasn’t wasted. It was used to bridge the gap between Great Mill Rock and Little Mill Rock, creating the single island we see today. Mill Rock continued to serve the Army Corps of Engineers until 1949. Their last resident, superintendent John Smith, witnessed the island’s transition to a new chapter. In 1953, Mill Rock was sold to the New York City Parks Department for $25,000. The remaining structures were demolished, a new dock was built, and the island was fortified against erosion. Trees and shrubs were planted, transforming Mill Rock into a park. For a brief time, the island hosted educational programs and festivals. The 1969 Avant Garde Festival, with its hot air balloon ascension and light displays, was a final burst of human activity. Since then, Mill Rock has been left to nature, a quiet sanctuary for birds amidst the bustling city.