Transcript Document 7178194

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
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
the
Throughout the 17th Century, Europeans
began
to
explore
the
Boston
Harbor
During
the
King
Phillips
War,
Native
Americans
In 1675 a war between the American colonists
and
friendly
to
colonists
were
into
The
Native Americans
way
of life
did forced
not
fit with
theshackles
American
thethe
Native
Americans
broke
out
Colonist
way Harbor
of life Islands with
and moved to the
Boston
This
warlittle
became
the King
Phillips
very
food,known
water, as
clothing,
and
shelterwar
and resulted in the death and enslavement of many
Native Americans
Boston Harbor became an important commercial port,
When the European Colonists began to make the Boston
more ships began to bring goods and people into the area.
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…
With all this new activity the islands began
to play an important role in the safety of
Boston, as a place for…
Aids to Navigation
(Lighthouses)
Forts to protect the city Lifesaving
and ships 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
Gallops
BostonIsland
grew Doctors
and the population
Quarters
increased the islands were used to house
quarantine hospitals for immigrants and
people with incurable diseases.
Rainsford Island mid 1800s
Bug Light – Great Brewster Spit
Keeper’s House at Spectacle Island Range Lights
More ships in Boston Harbor meant
Spectacle Island Range Lights
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
Long Island Light
During
Civil
War,
Fort Warren
In thethe
early
1800s
Boston’s
Harbor was
Defenses
were
updated
and
increased.
home
to
Union
and
Confederate
Fort
Warren
wasSoldiers
active from
the
Civil War
through
World
War
II
Prisoners
of
War
Fort Warren on George’s Island was built
from 1833-1850.
Portuguese Fishermen on:
Great
and and
Peddocks
Brewster
Island
Island
Different classes
cultures
of people made
their home on the Boston Harbor Islands
Once the Civil War Ended Boston
Harbor was once again a place for
people to get away from life in the city.
The Island Inn, Peddocks Island
During
times of peace, hotels were
operated on many of the islands.
Summer Residents on Middle
A Farmhouse
onCalf
Grape
Island
Brewster and
Islands
Only families of the highest ranking Commissioned
Fort Andrews
was totobecome
of
Officers
were allowed
live on the social
forts ofcenter
the Boston
Silvia
recorded
her
life
militaryMatilda
life
all on
of the
Harbor
Island
Forts, in
Harbor
Islands…
Beginning
in for
1898,
the
East Head
of on
Peddocks
Peddocks
Island
ina her
memoirs,
addition
to Army
military
training
facilities,
gun
Island,
the
US
built
new
Coastal
Defense
Except
at Fort Andrews
where
certain
lower
ranking
NonOnce
Upon
an
Island
emplacements,
and
barracks,
Fort
Andrews
was
Fort
called(NCOs)
Fort Andrews
Commissioned
Officers
were
allowed
to
own
home to many dances, baseball games, and a
homes inside the fortmovie
and live
with their families. One of
theatre.
these NCOs was Matilda Silvia’s father, Alex Bies.
Another Island that did was
Spectacle IslandPeddocks Island
During this time,
Peddocks was not
Spectacle Island
the only island that had year round and
seasonal residents
In 1857, Spectacle began being used for
horse rendering to turn dead horses into
The Horse
Rendering
plant
closed
glue…
the factory
workers
and
their in
1910,
but two
years
later
the City of
families
lived
on the
island.
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
keepers…
In 1989, as alight
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
Graves Light
In the 1970s, the State began to purchase
Theislands
BostonofHarbor
a
the
BostonIslands
Harborbecame
for public
national
parkrecreation.
area in 1996.
use and
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.
As Public Land the Boston Harbor Islands are
And Park
Rangers
live
theremain
islands
during
Year
Round
Butowned
life
andon
does
Seasonal
Residents
on
by all citizensthe remain
the summer months…
Boston
on Peddocks…
Harbor Islands
The
forts
closed, most light keepers
Boston
Light
stillhave
has aall
Keeper…
have gone,
theOutward
farmersBound
have left, and the Native
Thompson
Island
Americans
employees
live on no
the longer
island…live off the islands…
What do you think life on the islands will look
like when you have kids in middle school?