Momauguin and Half Mile Island: An Historical Journey - Part V
CHAPTER 10: From Tribal Lands to Luxury Condos
Our journey through time began more than 400 years ago when Half-Mile Island was the home of the Momauguin tribes.
We witnessed the arrival of the English settlers (Puritans), the demise of the Momauguin, the Industrial Revolution, the evolution of automotive and mass transportation, and the evolving character of the East Haven shore.
In the previous chapter of this story, we explored how humans and nature conspired to bring both fortune and failure to the people and the land. We also witnessed a failure of developers, investors and government to create, fund and implement shoreline development in the most cost effective and sustainable ways. Half-Mile Island changed ownership multiple times, beginning with the 1800s ground-breaking of the shore resort by Dennis and Caroline Mansfield, and ending with sales to developers in 1973.
It was the mid-1980s before construction of Four Beaches began and units were ready for sale. The complex was featured in a New York Times article on September 13, 1987:
Nolan Kerschner, one of Connecticut’s best-known condominium developers, is building waterfront homes for a new kind of buyer: the affluent elderly.
Such buyers are increasingly attracting the attention of residential developers and builders in Connecticut. It is a market made up not only of successful local people…but also of New York residents…eager to enjoy a more leisurely living environment while retaining easy access to business endeavors in New York City.
There was a shortage of similar properties “as the result of a white-hot residential market that had prevailed, until recently, for all types of properties through-out the state for more than four years – the outcome of an economic boom that began in the early 80’s, is still continuing and shows no signs of slowing down.”
Click the title above to read complete New York Times feature article.
That last statement is a bit misleading, as The Times goes on to say: “By this spring, however, the market had settled down, dampened somewhat by a buildup of inventory”. The Tax Reform Act of 1986, which encouraged investors to sell vacation and rental properties, rising interest rates, higher prices, and the leveling off of peak demand, created a slowing market and more competition for sales.
When Building 1 was completed, model units were furnished, open houses scheduled, and a sales office was open seven days a week.
The economic slowdown was not kind to the Four Beaches complex. As was the case with many other projects, developer and builder bankruptcies brought construction to a halt. In 1989, on a warm and sunny Sunday afternoon in late June, 35 new, two- and three-bedroom units were sold during a real estate auction.
Twenty-six years later, time and weather had taken their toll, and the complex was in an advanced state of disrepair. The long-term decline was not lost on the Four Beaches Association Board of Directors. As early as 2012 architectural and engineering studies were drawn up creating a vision and pathway to comprehensive improvements to the complex. By 2015 these plans had been put out to bid, financing secured, and at a Special Meeting of the owners, the improvements were approved.
Today, the visions of various developers as far back as 1973 have been realized and exceeded. Perhaps The New York Times said it best: “Set between the East Haven salt marshes and the Thimble Islands is a rocky 10-acre peninsula that cuts deeply into the choppy waters of Long Island Sound. On this outcropping, bounded by sandy beaches and festooned with dune grass…” are “waterfront homes for a new kind of buyer.”
Thank you for joining us on this historical journey. We hope you have enjoyed it as much as we have enjoyed bringing it to life.
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to the East Haven Historical Society for full access to their archives and museum. Special thanks to Melanie Johnson, Curator, and Paul Garneau, Treasurer, for sharing their expansive knowledge, patiently responding to our endless stream of research requests. Thanks also to Society members George B. Uihlein, Cliff Nitchke, and Bill Ward for their writings. For more information click on the photo to the left.
Thanks to The Shore Line Trolley Museum, and Executive Director John Proto, for contributing expertise, photography and related materials essential to this historical project. Click on the photo to the right for more information.
Thanks to the Hagaman Memorial Library, and Chris Hemingway, Circulation Librarian, for access to the library’s archived files. Click on the photo to the left for more information.
Athey, Mary. “Residents Create Magical Summers...” Patch, 18 Jan. 2012.
Brooks, Andree. “Connecticut: In East Haven, Waterfront Condos Are Designed for the Affluent Elderly.” The New York Times, 13 Sep. 1987.
Leeney, Robert J. An article regarding “…the history of the Mansfield Grove Campers Association…” New Haven Register, 15 Sep. 2001.
Mingrone, Bill. “Momauguin rejuvenation plan…” The New Haven Register, 23 Oct. 1973.
Merritt, Grace. “Condo on the Sound outweighs the risks.” The New Haven Register, Undated.
McNulty, William. “Momauguin: A Brief History.” The Momauguin School, 8 th Grade school project, circa 1951.
“Life of the Quinnipiac tribe.” The Quinnipiac Chronicle, 28 Nov. 2002.
WS-ADMIN. “Dark Hollow and other Spooky Tales.” newhavenmuseum.org. 30 Oct. 2020
Information, most notably the “Simplified Timeline of the Property Owners of Mansfield Grove,” included in the Blue Book, published by the Mansfield Grove Campers Association, Inc.
Project Manual “Exterior Renovations at Four Beaches Association.” Community Planners, LLC, 17 Dec. 2012.
Project Manual “Building Envelope Study for the Four Beaches,” Community Planners, LLC, 24 Jun. 2012
Various Four Beaches sales materials (1986-87) and auction packages (1989) were retrieved from the Association archives.
We would like to express our appreciation to the many Four Beaches residents who provided information, pointed us to various resources, or offered valuable insights which influenced the completion of this project. With apologies to anyone omitted in error, special thanks to Rick Perachio, Elizabeth Stein, Jack & Leslie Loehmann, Robert Baldini, Barbara Natarajan, Joan DeFosses, Barbara Vietzke, and Linda Esposito.
LaMar, Maribeth, and Justin