Farmers, Fishers, and Facility Keepers Life on the Boston Harbor Islands

Farmers, Fishers, and Facility Keepers

Life on the Boston Harbor Islands

Archeological evidence shows that Native Americans lived on

and used the Boston Harbor Islands for at least 8000 years

These First People came to the harbor islands to:

•Fish

•Plant crops of corn, beans, and squash

•Gather plants for food and medicine

•Hunt for animals and fowl

•Make Tools

•Social and Ceremonial Activities

Throughout the 17th Century, Europeans began to explore the Boston Harbor

The Native Americans way of life did not fit with the American Colonist way of life

In 1675 a war between the American colonists and the Native Americans broke out

This war became known as the King Phillips war and resulted in the death and enslavement of many

Native Americans

During the King Phillips War, Native Americans friendly to the colonists were forced into shackles

and moved to the Boston Harbor Islands with very little food, water, clothing, and shelter

When the European Colonists began to make the Boston area their home they used the islands to graze livestock, grow hay, hunt, and fish… In much the same way the Native Americans had.

However, over time the number of colonists grew and their use of the islands began to change…

Boston Harbor became an important commercial port, more ships began to bring goods and people into the area.

With all this new activity the islands began to play an important role in the safety of

Boston, as a place for…

Forts to protect the city and shipsAids to Navigation

(Lighthouses)Lifesaving stations

Boston Light Station is completed in 1716, becoming the first Light Station in America

George Worthylake, and his family, move to Little Brewster Island to become the first Light Keeper of

Boston Light

As Boston grew and the population increased the islands were used to house quarantine hospitals for immigrants and

people with incurable diseases.

Gallops Island Doctors Quarters

Rainsford Island mid 1800s

Bug Light – Great Brewster Spit

Long Island Light

Spectacle Island Range LightsMore ships in Boston Harbor meant an increase in the Light houses of

Boston, and an increase in the number of Light house Keepers.

Keeper’s House at Lovell’s Island Range Lights

Keeper’s House at Spectacle Island Range Lights

In the early 1800s Boston’s Harbor Defenses were updated and increased.

Fort Warren on George’s Island was built from 1833-1850.

Fort Warren was active from the Civil War through World War II

During the Civil War, Fort Warren was home to Union Soldiers and Confederate

Prisoners of War

Once the Civil War Ended Boston Harbor was once again a place for

people to get away from life in the city. During times of peace, hotels were operated on many of the islands.

The Island Inn, Peddocks Island

Different classes and cultures of people made their home on the Boston Harbor Islands

A Farmhouse on Grape Island

Portuguese Fishermen on:

Summer Residents on Middle Brewster and Calf Islands

Great Brewster Islandand Peddocks Island

Beginning in 1898, on the East Head of Peddocks Island, the US Army built a new Coastal Defense

Fort called Fort Andrews

Fort Andrews was to become the social center of military life for all of the Harbor Island Forts, in

addition to military training facilities, gun emplacements, and barracks, Fort Andrews was

home to many dances, baseball games, and a movie theatre.

Only families of the highest ranking Commissioned Officers were allowed to live on the forts of the Boston

Harbor Islands…

Except at Fort Andrews where certain lower ranking Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) were allowed to own

homes inside the fort and live with their families. One of these NCOs was Matilda Silvia’s father, Alex Bies.

Matilda Silvia recorded her life on Peddocks Island in her memoirs,

Once Upon an Island

During this time, Peddocks was not the only island that had year round and

seasonal residents

Another Island that did was Spectacle IslandPeddocks Island

Spectacle Island

In 1857, Spectacle began being used for horse rendering to turn dead horses into

glue… the factory workers and their families lived on the island.

The Horse Rendering plant closed in 1910, but two years later the City of Boston turned Spectacle Island into the city dump. Again the workers

and their families lived on the island…

The dump remained in operation until 1959

On the opposite side of the island from the dump, residents lived in comfort.

In 1937, the Snetind drifted onto the shore of Spectacle Island and became the home of Ms. Ann

Winsor Sherwin and her son

In 1968, the US Coast Guard began fully automating all lighthouses. Fully

automated lighthouses did not need light keepers…

Graves Light

In 1989, as a tribute to light keepers and American maritime history, the US congress

declares that Boston Light will remain “forever manned.” This makes Boston Light the last

manned lighthouse in the country.

Deer Island Light

After WWII many of the Forts in Boston Harbor were decommissioned and sold as

Army surplus. Some, such as Fort Andrews were sold to private developers while others, such as Fort Warren were sold to the State.

With the sale of Fort Warren to the State, Georges Island became the first state

managed island open to the public in 1958.

In the 1970s, the State began to purchase the islands of Boston Harbor for public

use and recreation.The Boston Harbor Islands became a

national park area in 1996.

Year Round and Seasonal Residents remain on Peddocks…

And Park Rangers live on the islands during the summer months…

The forts have all closed, most light keepers have gone, the farmers have left, and the Native

Americans no longer live off the islands…

But life does remain on the Boston Harbor Islands

Boston Light still has a Keeper…Thompson Island Outward Bound employees live on the island…

As Public Land the Boston Harbor Islands are owned by all citizens

What do you think life on the islands will look like when you have kids in middle school?