Charles Island has captured the imaginations of Milford residents and visitors for many years. The island's rich history gradually blurs as memories fade with time and eventually only the highlights are passed down from one generation to the next. An Historical Account of Charles Island seeks to accurately restore the island's history from its European discovery by Adriaen Block in 1614 to the 20th century. Included are the historical facts surrounding the mapping of Long Island Sound, legend of Captain Kidd's treasure, summer resorts in the mid-19th century, a prize fight gone out-of-control, the Aquinas Retreat, nearby shipwrecks, the island's place in naval and aviation history, a proposed nudist colony, and other forgotten stories. Seventy maps, woodcuts, old advertisements, manuscripts, portraits, and photographs provide a visual perspective of the island's history.