Musings: Rename Manhasset Bay
The Port Washington town dock overlooks Manhasset Bay. Credit: Dawn McCormick
As the changing of the names of various bodies of water apparently is now in vogue, let me make a suggestion.
The Gulf of America seems to be becoming an accepted name by many, even by mapmakers. Delaware Bay may be next to go.
Long Island also has a bay that many have long felt was misnamed — it’s Manhasset Bay.
Port Washington’s shoreline dominates the bay, followed by the shore of Great Neck.
Why the bay was named after a local town with a minuscule presence on the water around 1907 is a mystery.
The name can be changed. In fact, it already has been in the past. It was called Cow Bay more than a century ago because of cattle raising in the area.
It’s time to correct the mistake made around the turn of the 20th century. I can’t wait to go sailing on Port Washington Bay!
— John Otruba, Huntington
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