Cattus Island Park
Encyclopedia
Cattus Island Park, also known as Cattus Island is a 530 acre (2 km²) passive recreational park located in Toms River
, New Jersey
. Cattus Island is a park of the Ocean County Department of Parks and Recreation. Cattus Island is home to the Cooper Environmental Center, an educational center which displays collections of local wildlife including snakes, reptiles and aquatic animals. The center also provides educational programs and presentations to the public and organized groups.
and located the 300 acres (1.2 km²) Cattus Island. William Dockwra
, Secretary and Registrar for the Board of Proprietors in England, bought Cattus Island. The "island" has remained a single parcel since 1690 when the Board of Proprietors of the Province of East Jersey divided this coastal region.
In 1758 Joseph Page purchased Cattus Island. On Page's Island farm, sheep, flax
and corn
crops were raised. The Page family first settled the island in 1763. Timothy Page, born on the island during that year, served in the local militia during the American Revolution. During the American Revolutionary War
, local residents used the area to bring captured British vessels into the Toms River
in order to offload their cargoes. Homesteaders also used the island for farming. Timothy Page was likely a privateer
, essentially a pirate licensed by the Continental Congress. During the war, British ships were lured into Barnegat Bay through the Cranberry Inlet, only to be attacked and their cargo was sold for profit. Cranberry Inlet, an opening to the Atlantic near present-day Ortley
Beach, existed between 1750 and 1812. It was opened and closed by strong storms.
After the death of Timothy Page, the family house burned down, and the property was sold to Lewis Applegate. He moved there in 1842 and developed the southeastern section of the island, now named for him. He built a sawmill
and a port for lumber boats. The island was sold again in 1867 and was slated to be developed as a resort
, but the 1873 depression canceled the project.
John V. A. Cattus, a New York importer and Olympic class athlete, bought the land and developed it as a retreat in 1895. Hunting
and fishing
were the favorite sports of Cattus and his friends. He built a hunting lodge on the island, along with a farm, boat house and boat dock. When Cattus died, the land was sold in 1964 by his sons to developers.
In the 1970s, new state laws passed limiting development in wetlands and along the coast. In 1973 Ocean County purchased this 497 acres (2 km²) land. The property was acquired with county tax money and state "Green Acres" funds. In 1980 the park opened to the public with the county's first Environmental Center.
s and pine trees, such as the pitch pine
s and the short leaf pines. Even though Cattus Island Park is a maritime forest, within its pine/oak forest, one can find many of the same shrubs and animal species that are native to the Pine Barrens
of New Jersey.
Cattus Island Park also contains freshwater wetlands. These wetlands are dominated by hardwood trees such as Red Maple
or Swamp Maple, Sour Gum or Tupelo and a wide variety of others. There are a few small stands of living Atlantic White Cedar located in some of the wetland areas. However, in this area, large stands of dead Atlantic white cedar also exist. They have been standing dead since the 1930s. Prior to the 1930s, the northern part of the Barnegat Bay, where Cattus Island is located, was mainly fresh water. After the Point Pleasant Canal was constructed and the Manasquan inlet improved, saltwater from the ocean infiltrated into the Northern portion of the bay. As a result, the Atlantic white cedar, which is an obligate freshwater species, was killed.
Another ecosystem that thrives within the park is a vast track of salt marsh
, which contains several species of Spartina grasses. It is from these salt marshes that Cattus Island gets part of its name. Several times a year, the marshes flood, as a result of snowmelt, spring/summer storms or high tides. During the floods, the second bit of upland is completely inaccessible. Hence, it becomes an 'island'.
Toms River, NJ 08753
Phone: 732-270-6960
Fax: 732-831-0406
Director: Christopher Claus, Chief Park Naturalist
Toms River, New Jersey
Toms River is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Toms River Township and is the county seat of Ocean County, New Jersey. It is part of a larger Toms River Township...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. Cattus Island is a park of the Ocean County Department of Parks and Recreation. Cattus Island is home to the Cooper Environmental Center, an educational center which displays collections of local wildlife including snakes, reptiles and aquatic animals. The center also provides educational programs and presentations to the public and organized groups.
History
The first European explorer to set foot on what became Ocean County soil was Captain Cornelius Hendrickson, who in 1614 explored the New Jersey coast in the Onrust (or Restless) between the latitudes 38 and 40 degrees. He sailed down Barnegat BayBarnegat Bay
Barnegat Bay is a small brackish arm of the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 30 miles long, along the coast of Ocean County, New Jersey in the United States. It is a long barrier peninsula, as well as by the north end of Long Beach Island...
and located the 300 acres (1.2 km²) Cattus Island. William Dockwra
William Dockwra
William Dockwra was an English merchant who along with his partner Robert Murry created the first Penny Post in London in 1680. In latter 17th century London there was no official postal system for mail delivery within the city of London and its suburbs. Dockwra's London Penny Post was a mail...
, Secretary and Registrar for the Board of Proprietors in England, bought Cattus Island. The "island" has remained a single parcel since 1690 when the Board of Proprietors of the Province of East Jersey divided this coastal region.
In 1758 Joseph Page purchased Cattus Island. On Page's Island farm, sheep, flax
Flax
Flax is a member of the genus Linum in the family Linaceae. It is native to the region extending from the eastern Mediterranean to India and was probably first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent...
and corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
crops were raised. The Page family first settled the island in 1763. Timothy Page, born on the island during that year, served in the local militia during the American Revolution. During the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, local residents used the area to bring captured British vessels into the Toms River
Toms River
The Toms River, formerly Tom's River, is a freshwater river and estuary in Ocean County, New Jersey in the United States.The Toms River rises in the Pine Barrens of northern Ocean County and flows southeast and east, fed by several branches, in a meandering course through wetland area and empties...
in order to offload their cargoes. Homesteaders also used the island for farming. Timothy Page was likely a privateer
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
, essentially a pirate licensed by the Continental Congress. During the war, British ships were lured into Barnegat Bay through the Cranberry Inlet, only to be attacked and their cargo was sold for profit. Cranberry Inlet, an opening to the Atlantic near present-day Ortley
Ortley
Ortley is a variety of apple, medium in size, and light green to yellow in color. Usually ripening for a late fall harvest, it was developed in New Jersey, and was first commercially produced in 1825....
Beach, existed between 1750 and 1812. It was opened and closed by strong storms.
After the death of Timothy Page, the family house burned down, and the property was sold to Lewis Applegate. He moved there in 1842 and developed the southeastern section of the island, now named for him. He built a sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
and a port for lumber boats. The island was sold again in 1867 and was slated to be developed as a resort
Resort
A resort is a place used for relaxation or recreation, attracting visitors for holidays or vacations. Resorts are places, towns or sometimes commercial establishment operated by a single company....
, but the 1873 depression canceled the project.
John V. A. Cattus, a New York importer and Olympic class athlete, bought the land and developed it as a retreat in 1895. Hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
and fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
were the favorite sports of Cattus and his friends. He built a hunting lodge on the island, along with a farm, boat house and boat dock. When Cattus died, the land was sold in 1964 by his sons to developers.
In the 1970s, new state laws passed limiting development in wetlands and along the coast. In 1973 Ocean County purchased this 497 acres (2 km²) land. The property was acquired with county tax money and state "Green Acres" funds. In 1980 the park opened to the public with the county's first Environmental Center.
Park Ecosystems
One ecosystem, located in Cattus Island Park, is a maritime upland pine/oak forest, which consists mostly of oak treeOak Tree
Oak Tree may refer to:*Oak, the tree*Oak Tree, County Durham, a village in County Durham, England*The Oaktree Foundation, a youth-run aid and development agency*Oak Tree National, golf club in Edmond, Oklahoma...
s and pine trees, such as the pitch pine
Pitch Pine
The Pitch Pine, Pinus rigida, is a small-to-medium sized pine, native to eastern North America. This species occasionally hybridizes with other pine species such as Loblolly Pine , Shortleaf Pine , and Pond Pine The Pitch Pine, Pinus rigida, is a small-to-medium sized (6-30 meters or 20-100 feet)...
s and the short leaf pines. Even though Cattus Island Park is a maritime forest, within its pine/oak forest, one can find many of the same shrubs and animal species that are native to the Pine Barrens
Pine barrens
Pine barrens, pine plains, sand plains, or pinelands occur throughout the northeastern U.S. from New Jersey to Maine as well as the Midwest and Canada....
of New Jersey.
Cattus Island Park also contains freshwater wetlands. These wetlands are dominated by hardwood trees such as Red Maple
Red Maple
Acer rubrum , is one of the most common and widespread deciduous trees of eastern North America. It ranges from the Lake of the Woods on the border between Ontario and Minnesota, east to Newfoundland, south to near Miami, Florida, and southwest to east Texas...
or Swamp Maple, Sour Gum or Tupelo and a wide variety of others. There are a few small stands of living Atlantic White Cedar located in some of the wetland areas. However, in this area, large stands of dead Atlantic white cedar also exist. They have been standing dead since the 1930s. Prior to the 1930s, the northern part of the Barnegat Bay, where Cattus Island is located, was mainly fresh water. After the Point Pleasant Canal was constructed and the Manasquan inlet improved, saltwater from the ocean infiltrated into the Northern portion of the bay. As a result, the Atlantic white cedar, which is an obligate freshwater species, was killed.
Another ecosystem that thrives within the park is a vast track of salt marsh
Salt marsh
A salt marsh is an environment in the upper coastal intertidal zone between land and salt water or brackish water, it is dominated by dense stands of halophytic plants such as herbs, grasses, or low shrubs. These plants are terrestrial in origin and are essential to the stability of the salt marsh...
, which contains several species of Spartina grasses. It is from these salt marshes that Cattus Island gets part of its name. Several times a year, the marshes flood, as a result of snowmelt, spring/summer storms or high tides. During the floods, the second bit of upland is completely inaccessible. Hence, it becomes an 'island'.
Cooper Environmental Center
The Cooper Environmental Center is a major resource for conservation and education, featuring a 5,000 square foot (500 m²) building with an eighty seat meeting room, major exhibit area, and various work areas. It features many exhibits and activities.Location / Contact Information
1170 Cattus Island Blvd.Toms River, NJ 08753
Phone: 732-270-6960
Fax: 732-831-0406
Director: Christopher Claus, Chief Park Naturalist
External links
- Cattus Island History - NY/NJ/CT Botany Website
- Official Website
- Photo Gallery
- http://facebook.com/Cattus.Island.County.Park