High Island, New York
Encyclopedia
High Island is a small private island, part of The Pelham Islands
group in the New York City
borough
of the Bronx
. It lies east of the north end of City Island between City Island Harbor
and Pelham Bay
in Long Island Sound
. It is an island at most times, but is connected to City Island by a sandbar that emerges at very low tide. It is also connected to City Island by a small private bridge.
High Island was once known as Shark Island due to the many sand shark
s which used to swim in the nearby waters of Pelham Bay
. The island is comparatively high with a shape similar to a gumdrop, thus alluding to the origin of its present day name. In the early 20th Century it was privately owned with a community of summer rental cottages catering to approximately 40 families. In 1961, it was purchased to use for radio
transmission towers.
As of 2010, the entire island and two transmitters are owned by CBS Radio
, a division of CBS Corporation
. It houses the transmitters and antenna towers for WCBS
(880 AM) and WFAN
(660 AM; previously known as WNBC), both of which are owned by CBS. Previous to being on High Island, the WCBS facility was located on nearby manmade Columbia Island
in Westchester County, New York
.
On August 27, 1967, a small private airplane crashed into the radio tower, destroying the antenna and taking WCBS and WNBC off the air, the day before WCBS's all news format launched. Both stations were able to borrow nearby transmission facilities for about a week, until an emergency tower could be erected on High Island. The permanent replacement was built with a second (shorter) tower as an emergency backup.
The taller of the towers is 549 feet (167 meters). The shorter tower is 300 feet (91.4 meters) and was built in 2001 to replace the emergency tower erected in 1967. The proximity of these two AM radio stations has, at times, caused interference on telephones and electronic equipment on nearby City Island.
High Island is only an AM radio transmission facility. It does not have any studios or tower tenants, other than the two AM radio stations. Both WCBS-AM and WFAN broadcast from studios located in Manhattan
.
The island is currently uninhabited. A full-time caretaker's residence was in use from 1961 to 2007. The island is currently maintained by the radio stations' engineers and contractors. Advances in broadcast and security technology have made remote monitoring of both the radio equipment and the physical property more feasible than in earlier years where a fulltime human presence was required.
The Pelham Islands
The Pelham Islands is a historical name for a group of islands in western Long Island Sound that once belonged to Thomas Pell. The main islands in the group are City Island, Hart Island, Hunters Island, Twin Island, Goose Island, Davids' Island, High Island, Rat Island, the Chimney Sweeps, the...
group in the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
borough
Borough (New York City)
New York City, one of the largest cities in the world, is composed of five boroughs. Each borough now has the same boundaries as the county it is in. County governments were dissolved when the city consolidated in 1898, along with all city, town, and village governments within each county...
of the Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
. It lies east of the north end of City Island between City Island Harbor
City Island Harbor
City Island Harbor is the protected body of water between City Island and Hart Island in New York, open to Long Island Sound at its northern and southern extremities. It is not a true harbor, but a Sound. Other minor islands in and around City Island Harbor include the Chimney Sweeps, The Blauzes,...
and Pelham Bay
Pelham Bay
Pelham Bay is a small bay, between City Island and Orchard Beach in the Bronx, New York.Technically, it is a sound, not a bay, since it is open to larger bodies of water at both ends. It connects to Eastchester Bay at the south, and opens onto Long Island Sound and City Island Harbor at the...
in Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
. It is an island at most times, but is connected to City Island by a sandbar that emerges at very low tide. It is also connected to City Island by a small private bridge.
High Island was once known as Shark Island due to the many sand shark
Sand shark
Sand sharks, also known as sand tiger sharks or ragged tooth sharks, are lamniform sharks of the family Odontaspididae . They are found worldwide in temperate and tropical waters, including on both sides of the Atlantic coast, but most notably in the Western Indian Ocean and in the Gulf of Maine...
s which used to swim in the nearby waters of Pelham Bay
Pelham Bay
Pelham Bay is a small bay, between City Island and Orchard Beach in the Bronx, New York.Technically, it is a sound, not a bay, since it is open to larger bodies of water at both ends. It connects to Eastchester Bay at the south, and opens onto Long Island Sound and City Island Harbor at the...
. The island is comparatively high with a shape similar to a gumdrop, thus alluding to the origin of its present day name. In the early 20th Century it was privately owned with a community of summer rental cottages catering to approximately 40 families. In 1961, it was purchased to use for radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
transmission towers.
As of 2010, the entire island and two transmitters are owned by CBS Radio
CBS Radio
CBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
, a division of CBS Corporation
CBS Corporation
CBS Corporation is an American media conglomerate focused on commercial broadcasting, publishing, billboards and television production, with most of its operations in the United States. The President and CEO of the company is Leslie Moonves. Sumner Redstone, owner of National Amusements, is CBS's...
. It houses the transmitters and antenna towers for WCBS
WCBS (AM)
WCBS , often referred to as "WCBS Newsradio 880" , is a radio station in New York City. Owned by CBS Radio, the station broadcasts on a clear channel and is the flagship station of the CBS Radio Network...
(880 AM) and WFAN
WFAN
WFAN , also known as "Sports Radio 66" or "The FAN", is a radio station in New York City. The station broadcasts on a clear channel and is owned by CBS Radio...
(660 AM; previously known as WNBC), both of which are owned by CBS. Previous to being on High Island, the WCBS facility was located on nearby manmade Columbia Island
Columbia Island (New York)
Columbia Island, known before 1941 as Little Pea Island, is an island in Long Island Sound and part of New Rochelle, New York. It is about 150 ft square. It is situated between Davids' Island and Pea Island...
in Westchester County, New York
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
.
On August 27, 1967, a small private airplane crashed into the radio tower, destroying the antenna and taking WCBS and WNBC off the air, the day before WCBS's all news format launched. Both stations were able to borrow nearby transmission facilities for about a week, until an emergency tower could be erected on High Island. The permanent replacement was built with a second (shorter) tower as an emergency backup.
The taller of the towers is 549 feet (167 meters). The shorter tower is 300 feet (91.4 meters) and was built in 2001 to replace the emergency tower erected in 1967. The proximity of these two AM radio stations has, at times, caused interference on telephones and electronic equipment on nearby City Island.
High Island is only an AM radio transmission facility. It does not have any studios or tower tenants, other than the two AM radio stations. Both WCBS-AM and WFAN broadcast from studios located in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
.
The island is currently uninhabited. A full-time caretaker's residence was in use from 1961 to 2007. The island is currently maintained by the radio stations' engineers and contractors. Advances in broadcast and security technology have made remote monitoring of both the radio equipment and the physical property more feasible than in earlier years where a fulltime human presence was required.