Ryer Island in 1873 may have been
called
Merrill Island or Schoolcraft Island until Dr. Ryer started the
first major reclamation effort for the island. |
The links to PDF's below give
some historical facts about Ryer Island and the people who reclaimed
it. The current levee was not built until the "Project Levee"
construction phase of the 1930's. Prior to that time the levee
was built by the land owners. The island is reported to have
flooded in 1904 and 1907, BEFORE the current levee was built.
The development
of Ryer as a unique island within the California Delta can be seen
by viewing the
Historic Maps page or the
Photos and Sketches
page.
The earliest maps indicate the island was referred to
as "Merrill" and "Schoolcraft Island" at one time, but was then purchased or land granted to the
Dr. Ryer family. Over the last 150 years, Ryer Island was the
site of a school district, a railroad, a fish canning operation,
many types of farming, recreational resorts, housing communities,
stores and restaurants, and a small RV resort called Snug Harbor,
which was named the "Best Small Park of California" in 2001 by the
California Travel Park Association. (Actually, Snug Harbor is
technically a peninsula attached to Ryer Island and is not Ryer
Island land itself) |
Last
Modified :11/25/09 10:28 AM
