1947 Map of Howells Point

About this map

The coastal interface of Long Island's South Shore is captured here just after the war, showcasing the residential clusters of Brookhaven near the mouth of Howell Creek. This 1947 revision, based on 1942 aerial photography, documents the narrow, unprotected expanse of Great South Beach as it buffers the mainland from the Atlantic Ocean. The map provides a high-resolution view of the shifting sandbars and marshy outcrops within the estuarine waters, including Ridge Island and Pelican Island situated between Bellport Bay and the open sea. This era of surveying predates much of the modern stabilization of the barrier beach system, reflecting a more fluid landscape of inlets and coves like Long Cove. The detail focuses heavily on the hydrography and shoreline morphology, essential for navigating the shallow reaches of Great South Bay and Patchogue Bay at Howell Pt.