Introduction llshed on Thompson Island. Here encamped on the Island. Yankee Boston Harbor, part of the so-called Indians exchanged beaver furs for privateers with batteries on Long Is­ Boston Basin, is a geological phe­ The Islands of Boston Harbor have articles of European civilization. land destroyed one of the King's nomenon c reated by a shift in the long been recognized as badly mis­ In the early days of the colony, transports. earth 's crust millions of years before used natural resources of great po­ most of the Islands were occupied by the glaciers. In a later geologic tential. Pollution, institutional abuse, Boston saw little action during the one or more fam ilies as farms. The period, glaciers covered the Boston land fill, and a variety of military and War of 1812, although some of the Islands were originally covered by area, grinding down the ridges and private uses have pre-empted the Islands had fortifications. However, forests, but gradually the settlers cut leaving new hill formations behind, public enjoyment of one of New Eng­ the British amphibious attacks down the trees for firewood for the called drumlins. A subsequent grad­ land's finest natural resources. Nu­ launched against other east coast nearby towns and for shipbuilding. ual sinking of th e land produced merous proposals for the future use cities stimu lated construction of forti­ Cultivated fruit trees were p lanted on flooding. The easternmost drumlins, of the Islands have been advanced fications by the United States to pro­ Governor's Island by Governor Win­ isolated by the rising water, became over the years. These proposals tect the shores. Fort Independence throp in 1632. Deer Island was a on Castle Island and Fort Warren on the Boston Harbor Islands. The outer ranged from intensive residential and famous hunting island, the deer swim­ George's Island were built at th is time. Islands, like the Brewsters, have been recreational development to conser­ ming to the island to seek refuge from exposed to rough seas and have been vation and restoration of the Islands' Fort Warren had its greatest use dur­ the wolves on the mainland. ing the Civil War when it served as a worn away through the action of wind natural beauty. In time, many of the Islands were and water. They consist of exposed The Massachusetts Legislature, by prisoner of war center. granted to Boston and the other sur­ The Harbor was considered to be sections of eroded rock. enacting Chapter 742 of the Acts of rou nding communities. The settlers of strategic significance throughout 1970, brought to a close these years Vast amounts of raw and treated on the Islands paid rent to the re­ World Wars I and II. Deer Island, Long of public debate. sewage along with some industrial spective towns, the rentals were often Island, Lovell's Island, Outer Brewster This act specified that the privately wastes are discharged into Boston used for support of free schools and held islands of Boston Harbor should and Great Brewster were fortified and Harbor to be disposed of by tidal teachers. The settlers used the land still have the remains. be acquired by the Massachusetts flushing. Parts of the Inner Harbor are for farming and grazing cattle and During the nineteenth century, many Department of Natural Resources g rossly polluted and water quality in sheep. Many of the Islands were of the Islands were provided with and, together with the islands already some areas is so marg inal that it famous clamming areas for mainland piers and were used as summer re­ under public control, developed for threatens to close beaches and re­ settlements. Slate, from Slate Island, sorts and residences. Sunday excur­ conservation and recreation purposes. stricts shellfishing. was used in the construction of many sions were made for picnics and The landmark act specified that the homes. clamming. During th is time many of The Harbor still contains almost six Islands be developed in accordance As early as 1679, there was some the Islands were used for penal insti­ square miles of shellfish growing prepared for with a Comprehensive Plan for the kind of beacon at the entrance to the tutions, homes for the poor or aged, beds, containing a good supply of proposed recreation and conserva­ Massachusetts Department of Natural Resources Harbor. Bales of pitch were burned and homes for children. soft shell clams. The linfish supply tion purposes. in the Harbor consists mostly of in a basket or iron grate. In 1713, the Many of the Islands have become flounder and cod. by first lighthouse on the continent was ignored or misused in the twentieth Boston Harbor History & Present Metropolitan Area Planning Council built on Little Brewster Island. This century. Piers have deteriorated and The Boston Harbor Islands are phy­ Condition ma pc lighthouse stood until 1776, when most of the Islands are now inacces­ sically outstanding because of th e The existence of a large well-pro­ it was blown up by the retreating sible, poorly vegetated, and badly variety of landform s and landscapes. tected harbor was the original reason British. The present structure was littered. Each Island has a special character for settling Boston. The Harbor of­ erected in 1783. fered safe channels for travel and the The military significance of the surrounding hills diminished the Islands began in colonial times. The northwest winds. The Islands and the first military post built in the North­ numerous peninsulas and hills offered east was on Castle Island. The Har­ easily defensible locations for com­ bor, its Islands and hills had military munities around the Harbor. significance during the Revolution. Use of many of the Islands was A raiding party of American infantry­ continuous from the beginning of the men raided a loyalist farm on Ped­ Massachusetts Bay Colony. Even be­ dock's Island and carried off eight fore the first colonial settlers arrived, hundred cattle and sheep to the main­ in 1619, a trading post was estab- land. A year later, British militia were of its own and each is naturally suited required utilities by locating them Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, and and children's playground - Develop THOMPSON ISLAND - Develop three " clambake pits," each pit area to crowned night heron rookery and en­ to a different function. away from important natural areas. Somerville, which have limited open a three-mile system of bicycle trails Model Farm designed to handle accommodate up to 100 people. Create courage other wild life. 5. Minimize the alteration of natural spaces for recreational activities. and extensive walking trails - Ex­ 100,000 visitors annually - Develop open grass area for playfield - Re­ BUMPKIN & GRAPE ISLANDS - landforms and topography by locat­ 14. Emphasize public, water-borne pand present beach to accommodate the salt-marsh as a major wildlife quire full-time resident administrator Construct small dock for ferry, pri­ Summary of Comprehensive ing facilities in areas that are topo­ transportation to the Islands in order 200 people - Develop picnic areas sanctuary with trails, floating board­ during peak season of Island use. vate boat traffic - Develop g roup Plan Policies graphically suited. to minimize traffic impacts on local - Develop mooring area and dock walks, viewing platforms, and towers LOVELL'S ISLAND - Develop beach campsite for 50-75 people, with c hem­ 6. Provide for the planned manage­ shoreline neighborhoods and elemi­ space for 50 small boats - Construct - Develop a large beach for 300 The Boston Harbor Islands, if properly areas on both sides of Island with a ical toilet, each campsite equipped ment of the natural resources of the nate the need for unnecessary and a fishing pier bathers with bathhouse and picnic developed, can realize their potential Islands to prevent their exploitation, expensive road and bridge improve­ area central bathhouse and two picnic with wooden tent platforms fo r 10 as a maior conservation and recrea­ LONG ISLAND - Construct a major destruction, or neglect by concen­ ments. Make every effort to minimize areas - Develop 30 individual camp­ campers with fireplaces -Create tion resource for the metropolitan trating intensive-use activities and automobile access to Islands that are Visitor Center adjacent to ferry pier, SPECTACLE ISLAND - Reclaim sites, with central comfort station, for walking trails - Improve potential area. Scattered across Boston Har­ with dock facility for small boat land­ facilities in areas that can support connected to the mainland by cause­ dump area by per1od1c compaction tenting, equipped with wooden tent swimm ing beaches. bor, the more than 30 islands, total­ large numbers of visitors, and by pro­ way or bridge ings, and fishing - Relocate road to - Establish trail system - Construct platform, stone fireplace picnic tab le, ling an approximate 1200 acres, lie SLATE - Institute program of selec­ viding only limited access to fragile facilitate Island developement wall to retain litter within dump areas and isolated by screen planting - within a 25 mile radius of a population tive clearing for walking trails ad­ ecosystems. Build a launching ramp for small - Develop 300 acres of prime moor­ Partially rehabilitate military fortifica­ in excess of three million people. The Summary of Transportation iacent to natural areas and historic 7. Protect salt-marsh areas on the boats with parking for 40 cars with ing areas for 500 small boats, a tions - Require full-time resident ad­ Islands' potential for boating, swim­ slate quarries - Provide interpretive Islands because of their value as es­ System trailers - Renovate Fort Strong for manna, dock space for 100 boats, ministrator during peak season of ming, fishing, and other forms of out­ markers to describe Island's geology, tuary nurseries for marine and other h1stor1c interpretation - Encourage locker and winter storage facilities for Island use. door activity, while an asset, is also history and wildlife- Maintain Island. wildlife. Protect rare or unusual forms The Harbor Islands Park System de­ wildlife activity with limited nature boats - Develop informal playfields a challenge for the people of the THE BREWSTER ISLANDS - Create of animal and plant life which con­ pends upon a ferry system that pro­ trails in freshwater wetlands area - and swimming beach at center and HINGHAM HARBOR ISLANDS - Commonwealth to conserve and pro­ Boston Harbor Outer Sanctuary com­ tribute greatly to the special char­ vides frequent, inexpensive access. Develop two group campsites to ac­ southern end of Island. Maintain Islands as small natural pre­ tect as well as develop this great posed of the Islands, adjacent water, acter of the Harbor Islands. The proposed ferry system consists of commodate 150 campers each - De­ serves-Develop walking trails, plant­ natural resource. CASTLE ISLAND - Restore Fort In­ rocks and flats to assure preserva­ B. Provide a wide range of recrea­ four interconnected and complemen­ velop a perimeter bicycle trail and ing and selective c learing program. In order to best preserve the na­ dependence as historical museum - tion and management of th is resource tion alternatives which reflects the tary routes. The Boston to Nantasket extensive walking trails - Develop a Rehabilitate and expand present MDC - Develop 27 " primitive" campsites, NUT ISLAND -Construct small fish­ tural characteristics of the Islands spine begins at Long Wharf and stops swimming beach for 400 bathers on demand for such facilities in the facilities for swimming, fishing, pic­ no water, wood; chemical toilets only while developing their recreational the south shore - Create two large ing pier and landscape Island. Boston Metropolitan Area. at Long, George's, and Peddock's Is­ potential, the Metropolitan Area Plan­ open grass areas both with playfields, nrcking - Establish bicycle rental on Outer Brewster, Middle Brewster 9. Improve and manage the histor­ lands and Hull. The second, the Dor­ water park for recreational diving for SHEEP & RACCOON ISLANDS - ning Council makes the following facilities - Landscape grounds. and Calf Islands - Establish under- ical resources of the Islands to chester Bay Loop, connects Long one with a swimming pool - Develop shipwrecks, marine habitat study - Maintain Islands with conservation recommendations: achieve their maximum enjoyment as Wharf with Deer, Long, Spectacle, and picnic areas - Phase out (with ap­ Encourage sanctuary emphasizing program . propriate replacement of facilities on 1. Develop a ferry system which recreational and educational facilities. Thompson Islands and South Boston. marine-dominated environment. the mainland) Long Island Chronic provides frequent and inexpensive 1 O Provide facilities for fishermen Both routes utilize conventional 300 Quincy Bay-Outer Harbor Sub-System access to the Islands. A publicly-reg­ including fishing piers, fish cleaning passenger ferries.The third and fourth Disease Hospital and reuse area for ulated, privately-operated ferry serv­ facilities, boat launching sites, and intensive recreational development; GEORGE'S ISLAND-Renovate army routes consist of smal I boat loops Hingham Bay Sub-System ice using conventional craft will best equipment rental centers wherever serving the Brewster Islands and the indoor athletic center, restaurant, building near ferry site as major Is­ fufill the goals and policies estab­ possible. Islands of Hingham Bay from George's public functions building, museum, land Visitor Ce nter for Quincy Bay PEDDOCK'S ISLAND - Rehabilitate lished for Island access. 11. Locate private recreational boat­ and Paddock's Islands. and a children's playground. Sub-System - Restore Fort Warren Fort Andrews for multipurpose con­ 2. Recognize the unique character ing facilities throughout the Islands as historical site comparable to Na­ ference/ recreation center including RA INSFORD ISLAND - Construct of each Island by emphasizing its his­ Park System and relate them to the tional Park Service program for mili­ dormitory, meeting, living, dining pier for maximum of five small boats torical and natural attributes in the amount of use that each Island can Summary of Proposed tary fortifications such as Fort Sumter space for 350-500 people, adm inis­ to facilitate maintenance - Create park system development. properly support. Improvements in South Carolina - Add Island to tration center, library, offices, craft walking trails, and informal swim­ 3. Limit future uses of the Islands to 12. Provide appropriately located Freedom Trail - Require full-time Is­ center, Harbor Island Inn, rental hous­ Dorchester Bay-Inner Harbor Sub­ ming beach - Build day use shelter. such facilities as derive an immediate and designed facilities for swimmers, land administrator during peak sea­ Photograp h Credits System ing, gymnasium, field research sta­ benefit from, or make a direct con­ picnickers, campers, and other per­ MOON ISLAND - Develop hill-top son of Island use. tion -Renovate guardhouse for Cover Photo: tribution to, their waterfront location, sons seeking a variety of forms of DEER ISLAND - Relocate existing p1cn1c area, with gravel walking trails Visitor Center with display and audi­ View of City of Boston Skyline as seen from Outer Brewster Island Elissa M Landre, and use materials indigenous to the passive and active recreation. House of Correction to mainland site - Develop fish hatchery to replace GALLOP'S ISLAND - Rehabilitate toriu m space, year-round educational MAPC Staff Islands when designing facilities 13 Emphasize the Boston Harbor - Utilize southern end of Island as sewage reservoir - Construct road existing dock to accommodate ferries activities - Develop beach area for wherever possible Islands Park System as a recreation large, informal park and initiate plant­ as access to facilities - Rebuild and charter boats - Construct land­ 300 bathers, with picnic site - Create Photo This Pag e: View across Peddock's Island to the Islands of 4 Minimize the potential adverse area for the Commonwealth and par­ ing program to reforest Island and to large fishing pier at north end of Is­ scaped quay with multi-purpose pavil­ three group campsites to accommo­ QU1ncy Bay .. Reprinted, with permission, environmental impacts of the devel­ ticularly for the metropolitan core screen sewage treatment plant - land with picnic area, bus stop, park­ llon - Develop beach for 100 bathers date 150 campers - Create managed from Yankee Magazine. published in Dublin. opment of recreational facilities and communities of Boston, Brookline, Create open grass areas for playfields ing lot, comfort station. and picnic area east of dock - Build wildlife area to maintain black N H Copyright 1972. MEDFORD 0

Sh0r1 BROAD SOUND

EV ERETT , Summary Map

Boston Harbor Islands Com prehensive Plan

SOMERVILLE Winthrop 8eech

WINfH RO P

Route 90 S.E. E)(pressway

LOGAN INTERNATI ONAL ' The Grev.. ~, AIRPORT ~ Smell Boat Moorage

CAMBRIDGE Futu re Major Ferry Terminal

Existing Major Ferry Terminal

90 ...... Minor F=e rry Terminal

• L•UI• can 1111nd

Boston to Nantaske1 Spine Outer 8r1w11er

Dorchester Bay Loop South Boston

Small Ferry loops :' • sh1gRooh ' -- .,,liUle Brew11er '' ,, ------' ' -- ' ' Specuc11 l1l1nd 1 H1stor1ca1 Area :' ,_ I / ' ...... , I """' ,,--" OORCHE,TER 8AY ...... J. 1 --- l r ...... f ----- ,' G1or091 1111nc1 I ·-·-•' , D Intensive Use Area I' I ' I / I ,,,.,, ( ,, Thompson lsl•nd .... __/ ,,' ,• LJ Moderate Use Area ,,,• Ro11bury ,,.··· • Natural Environment Areas

0 2000 .cioo 1 I I ! ! 1c1l1 1 n feet

HULL BAY • Hongmon Island

Do rchester SOURCE U.S. Coast & G1tO~l 1 c Survey

QUINCY BAY HINGHAM BAY

\ ...... __ _ Slit• llllnd prepared tor Massachusetts Department of Natural Resou rces

m3P.C Metropolitan Area Planning Council

QUINCY

October, 1972 HINGHAM

WEYMOUTH