Coordinates: 41°14′05″N 72°59′28″W / 41.2346°N 72.9910°W / 41.2346; -72.9910
For other rivers with the same name, see Oyster River (disambiguation).The Oyster River is a 4.1-mile-long (6.6 km) stream located in the state of Connecticut in New Haven County. It flows south through Orange and forms the boundary of West Haven and Orange and further downstream the boundary of West Haven and Milford. It empties into Long Island Sound, just south of Route 162 at Oyster River Point. Swans, box turtles and many other animals call this area home.
In colonial times the area was also known as Clarke’s Point. About 1840, Peter Aims purchased the land from the Clark Family and the area become Aimes Point. The Aimes’ family home, Martinstow, an impressive Gothic structure designed by James Renwick, overlooked the Oyster River and Sound. After the family sold the property in 1949, the name “Aimes Point” slowly went out of common usage and the area became more commonly known as “Oyster River Point”.
The river has dealt with issues of flooding and pollution in recent years. In 2007 a movement was put together by local residents to gain aid from the local government to help with these issues.
Famous quotes containing the words oyster and/or river:
“But I am not tragically colored. There is no great sorrow dammed up in my soul, nor lurking behind my eyes. I do not mind at all. I do not belong to the sobbing school of negrohood who hold that nature somehow has given them a lowdown dirty deal.... No, I do not weep at the world—I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife.”
—Zora Neale Hurston (1907–1960)
“The river’s tent is broken; the last fingers of leaf
Clutch and sink into the wet bank. The wind
Crosses the brown land, unheard. The nymphs are departed.
Sweet Thames, run softly, till I end my song.
The river bears no empty bottles, sandwich papers,
Silk handkerchiefs, cardboard boxes, cigarette ends
Or other testimony of summer nights.”
—T.S. (Thomas Stearns)