A clear view of High Island is seen from Orchard Beach. This is a small, uninhabited island northeast of City Island that is owned by CBS Radio; its most prominent features are a pair of radio transmission towers for CBS’ primary NYC properties, WCBS-AM 880 and SportsRadio 66 WFAN. Prior to 1961 it was home to a group of summer rental cottages. A private plane crashed into WCBS’ tower on 8/27/67, the day before WCBS’ new all-news format was set to debut, which was delayed for a week until a temporary tower could be erected.
Though it’s connected to City Island via a footbridge, High Island is currently uninhabited since the transmitters are unmanned. WFAN’s and WCBS’s engineers monitor the towers from remote locations. Mike Bierman was the island’s caretaker between 1997 and 2007, and the farmhouse where he and his family lived is still standing.
8/15/14