Captain Joshua Leviness Defies the New York Legislature and Dredges Oysters with a Steamer in 1878

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I recently have enjoyed researching the 19th century oyster industry in waters off City Island.  It seems apparent that Joshua Leviness was the "Dean" of City Island oystermen who consistently was involved in each and every development that affected the industry

Discovery of "The Great Oyster Bed" in Long Island Sound in 1859

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I have written before of the discovery of "The Great Oyster Bed" in Long Island Sound in 1859.  See Fri., July 27, 2007:  Possible Origins of the Oyster Feud Between City Islanders and Huntington, Long Island.  During the fall of 1859, five fishermen from Darien

The Oyster War of 1884 Between Glen Cove and City Island Intensifies

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Yesterday I posted an item about the 1884 "Oyster War" during which Glen Cove, Long Island feuded with City Island and Connecticut oystermen over ownership of oyster beds off its shores.  See Tue., March 23, 2010:  Yet Another "Oyster War" in 1884; Glen Cove

Yet Another "Oyster War" in 1884; Glen Cove Officials Feud with City Island and Connecticut Oystermen

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During the 19th century, many with dollar signs in their eyes flooded into the Long Island Sound oyster industry just as pollution, garbage dumping and over-harvesting was reducing oystering opportunities.  One consequence was an ongoing battle over whether

77-Year Old City Island Oysterman Joshua Leviness Reminisces in Testimony Provided in 1884

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In late 1884, the New York State Commissioner of Fisheries, Eugene G. Blackford, conducted an investigation of the state of the oyster industry.  He held a hearing on Monday, November 24 of that year in Pelham to hear from City Island oystermen regarding the

The New York Legislature Stepped Into the Oyster War on Long Island Sound in 1895

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Regular readers of the Historic Pelham Blog know that I recently have been collecting research regarding the oystering industry off the waters of City Island in the Town of Pelham during the 19th century.  Recent postings on the topic are collected at the end of

1859 Town of Huntington Record Reflecting Dispute with City Island Oystermen

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Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog continues the recent series that collects research regarding the oystering industry in the waters off City Island when it was part of the Town of Pelham in the 19th century.  In 1859, the Board of Trustees of the Town

Report of September 13, 1884 Tour of Oyster Beds by Captain Joshua Leviness of City Island

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On September 13, 1884, City Island oysterman Joshua Leviness served as pilot of the steamer "Lookout" that carried Eugene G. Blackford on a tour of the oyster beds owned by Captain Leviness.  Mr. Blackford subsequently published a brief report of the tour.  I

The "Great Oyster War" Between City Island and Tarrytown in 1877 and 1878

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A "war" of epic proportions erupted between the Oystermen of City Island and the Oystermen of Tarrytown in 1878.  I previously have written on the Historic Pelham Blog about the oystering industry on City Island during the 19th century.  (Indeed, one such

1878 Article Describing the "Attractions of Little-Known City Island" in the Town of Pelham

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web SiteLocated at http://www.historicpelham.com/.Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.On August 25, 1878, The New York Times published an interesting article describing the "Attractions of Little-Known City Island" in the Town of Pelham. The article provides a lovely snapshot of an important part of the Town of Pelham at the time -- a part of the Town

1885 Report Notes Decline of Oyster Industry Near City Island in the Town of Pelham

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web SiteLocated at http://www.historicpelham.com/.Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.In 1885, the Commissioner of Fisheries of the State of New York issued a gloomy report about the decline of oysters in New York waters. The report focused on the area around City Island in the Town of Pelham as "typical" of such declining oyster beds.A news account

Possible Origins of the Oyster Feud Between City Islanders and Huntington, Long Island

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web SiteLocated at http://www.historicpelham.com/.Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.Yesterday I posted to the Historic Pelham Blog a small item published in 1869 describing a dispute among the oystermen of City Island in the Town of Pelham and those of Huntington, Long Island. There is an intriguing legend that sheds light on the likely origins of

Pelham's City Island Oystermen Feud with Long Islanders in 1869

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web SiteLocated at http://www.historicpelham.com/.Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.In 1869, a feud arose among City Island oystermen in the Town of Pelham and Long Island oystermen who plied the waters of Huntington Bay. A number of ugly incidents arose as a result. Today's Historic Pelham Blog contains the text of an early article about the