History

Hiawatha Island: Jewel of the Susquehanna

Hiawatha Island: Jewel of the Susquehanna focuses on the history of a quiet island near the town of Owego, New York. Written by the county historian Emma Sedore, this book relates the different chapters in the life of what is now a 112-acre nature preserve. Now it’s a quiet place, wooded, and inhabited by wildlife, including a family of bald eagles. It’s open to the public to explore, and occasionally guided tours are given.

But it has not always been this quiet. In different seasons of its history, it has been roamed by native Americans; a recreation site that boasted a large hotel and an international clientele in the summers, when people came from all over the world to dance, bowl, and partake of the unique ambience of island life; a farm that provided meat and vegetables for a local restaurant; and a privately owned getaway. This book relates the details large and small of each respective era.

I find the story most interesting as an account of an emerging ecological ethic. Throughout its history, the people of Owego had certain ideas about what the island should, and shouldn’t, be used for. They had no objection to its use as a resort and recreation center in the 1870’s. There was a general sense that the island belonged to all, regardless of whose name was on the documents of ownership. There was a pride, and a feeling of responsibility for it. But it wasn’t until a strip miner proposed to buy the property in the 1980’s that these values rose into articulate form. Galvanized by the prospect of losing the island and its history, people banded together and took out a loan to buy the island, worked for several years to pay it off, and transferred it to a local conservation and education center. It stands as both a reminder of human history and a wild habitat in its own right with a diverse population of plants and animals.

I like this story of a local problem, locally solved. And I find it encouraging that in an age when the behavior and ethics of industry often display such an indifference to the natural world on which they depend, we can see examples like this of ordinary people who value their place on earth and are willing to fight for its preservation.