Rainsford Island
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Rainsford Island is a 21 acre island in the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, situated between Long Island and Peddocks Island. The island is composed of two drumlins, reaching an elevation of 49 feet above sea level. The shoreline is predominantly rocky with a sandy cove in the south side, and a variety of wildflowers abound. Access is by private boat only.[1]
The island is known to have been used by Native American Indians and, during the colonial period, was occupied, farmed and grazed. Between 1737 and 1925 the island has served as a quarantine hospital, almshouse, veterans hospital, reform school and resort. However only foundations and a delapidated seawall still survive from these uses.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Rainsford Island Factsheet. Boston Harbor Islands Partnership. Retrieved on July 29, 2006.
[edit] Bibliography
- "Rainsford Island: Resort to Reformatory", lecture by Ellen Berkland, Boston City Archeologist, Boston Landmarks Commission, and Elizabeth Carella, curator, Archives for Historical Documentation, Wednesday, May 14, 2003, held at the Old South Meeting House, Boston, Massachusetts.
"From a farm, summer resort, quarantine hospital, almshouse and a boy's reformatory to eventually an abandoned eleven acres, Rainsford Island in Boston Harbor has served many since its 1636 occupation by Edward Rainsford. Ellen P. Berkland, Boston City Archeologist, and Elizabeth Carella, Curator of Photography, present how one archeological field season and extensive documentary research shed light on the fascinating history of Rainsford Island. This slide lecture reviews the archeological and historic evidence and examines the ways in which the island has served the marginalized populations of Boston for decades."
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