Preserving Greenwich History on the Sound

Visible from  the Byram shore and  the town ferry, the 60-foot tall Shell Island Tower creates a memorable image from every vantage point, due to its striking silhouette on a 5-acre offshore island owned and managed by the Greenwich Land Trust (GLT).  It is the only tall tower remaining on Greenwich’s coastal horizon. In 2008, the Historic Preservation Council of the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism placed Shell Island Tower on the state registry of historic buildings.

Shell Island.

Tower Project

Over the past several decades, water has begun seeping between the stones and under the roof, loosening mortar and compromising the structure.  To protect the magnificent landmark and navigational aid, the GLT has been raising money for several years to do repairs to assure its long-term stability.  Please make a donation to protect this historic treasure in Long Island Sound.

Contribute today!

The GLT has recently begun roof repairs and other work to the preserve the external structure.  Valley Restoration, a Connecticut-based steeplejack company, is patching the copper roof, replacing mortar, and pinning original stones securely in place.  Using ropes and block and tackles, the steeplejacks are able to repair the roof without the need for costly scaffolding.

August 2010.  Steeplejacks begin work to restore Shell Island Tower.

Shell Island History

In the early 1900's, Shell Island served as a summer family compound of the Eimer family.  Several cottages, a tennis court, gardens, and docks were part of this popular vacation spot.  Shell Island Tower was constructed in 1925 in memory of Gus Eimer II, the family's eldest son.  The tower is a replica of the Summerfield Methodist Church tower in Port Chester, New York. The tower stone is Byram Blue Point Granite from a local quarry and is the same stone used to build the Empire State Building. The tower originally served two purposes: as a memorial to Gus and as a family museum.  Today the Shell Island tower is empty and retains only the iron staircase and railing.

The island was sold by the Eimer family in 1961 to Mr. Julius Silver, who then donated Shell Island to the Greenwich Land Trust in 1990.  By that time, the tower was the only structurally sound building on the island.  Mr. Silver wanted Shell Island preserved forever as a wildlife sanctuary and for educational and scientific purposes. 

The GLT invites our members to explore Shell Island during annual kayak and picnic events on its shorelines.  Once there, the GLT engages families in the rich history of the Island, the Tower, and the role GLT plays in their permanent preservation.