Ram Island has been home to hospital, hotel, prize fight

Carol W. Kimball

History of Ram Island or Mystic Island

Kim07-038b

Scrapbook

8: Communication Artifact

Documentary Artifact

The Day

New London, CT

11/05/1998

Carol W. Kimball

In 1651 Ram Island was noted as Mr. Winthrop's and named Ram-Goat island. In 1860 it was known as Bradford's Island but today most people call it Mystic Island. In 1799 Daniel Lee used the iisland for an inoculation hospital for smallpox. By 1850 it was a summer resort. In 1870 it was the site of an illegal prize fight. In 1886 Norwich merchant Charles Osgood bought the island. Later Mary L. Jobe, proprietor of Camp Mystic for girls, would buy the island. Since 1976 the island has served as the private home of the Ragsdale family. A recent (1998) article cleared way for the sale of the island to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of a National Wildlife Refuge.

Winthrop, John
Ragsdale, family
Lee, Daniel
McCune, William
Brewer, Frederick
Osgood, Charles
Edwards, Billy
Collyer, Sam
Osgood, Charles
Clarke, Helen
Jobe, Mary L.

Ram-Goat Island
Mystic Island
Wildlife Refuge
inoculation hospital
smallpox
summer resort
Bradford House
Nauyayg House
Mystic Island Hotel
lightweight championship fight
Bock Island (steamer)
Ella (steamer)
Narwhal (yacht)
hotel
ram goates island
Camp Mystic for girls
boatel