Hingham Adventures: Peddlocks Island

Lesley, Amelia and I continued our island adventures with a visit to Peddocks Island in late August, again in search of monarch eggs.

Peddocks lies across Hull Gut and the Pemberton neighborhood of Hull to the north and across West Gut to Nut Island and Hough's Neck to the west. The island is one of the larger islands in Boston Harbor at 210.4 acres and has the longest island shoreline. Peddocks Island comprises four headlands connected by gravel or sand bars known as tombolos.

Peddocks Island looking northeast into Hull Bay
Hull Gut is to the left. The West Gut and Hough's Neck is to the right

Looking east across Hull Gut to Pemberton Point

Peddocks is One of many Boston Harbor Islands that was inhabited by Native Americans prior to European settlement in America and was was primarily used for farming since 1634. Its closeness to mainland Boston enabled its use for military purposes as well. During the Revolutionary War more than 600 militiamen were stationed on the island to guard against the return of British troops following their evacuation of Boston by the hand of Gen. George Washington on March 17, 1776. A patriot infantrymen's raid on a Loyalist (Tory) farm is also believed to have taken place on the island.^[4]

In 1904, Fort Andrews was built on the island, and it served as an active harbor defense fort until the end of WWII. As of 2008, 26 of the original buildings of Fort Andrews were still standing — guardhouses, prisoner-of-war barracks, stables, a gymnasium, a firehouse, etc. — although most of them were in decrepit shape and were closed to the public for safety reasons.

It is still inhabited today although by only 17 people.  The island has no electricity or running water.  We met one of the residents and he told us that theState of Massachusetts had deliberately destroyed a water main that ran to the island from Hough's Neck in an attempt to force residents off the island. According to his account, the State nearly succeeded but was prevented from evicting the residents due to the manner in which titled had been conveyed to the properties.

Lesley, Amelia and I walked from one end of the island to the other by the central path that connects the headlands.  Then we walked back along the northeast shoreline.  In total we walked over 3 miles. I'll let the photos tell the story.

A building from Fort Andrews with parade field to the left

A photo showing a now demolished building and the one in the above photo

Our dingy anchored off the ferry dock

Stairs leading to a camp ground on the drumlin

Cicada

One of the houses on the island

View of the west headland with cottages visibile

Houses on the west side of the islands.  Some in very good shape

Yes, they really have out houses.  No running water

Long abandoned cottage

Rain barrel to collect water

Remnants of a dock

One of the island's 17 residents

View of the Ranger station

National Park Service Rangers

Historic photos

 

Lesley captures me pulling up the anchor

We had a great visit but alas, we did not find a single monarch egg. We will definitely return next summer.

Written by Les.