Peddocks Island is one of Boston's larger harbor islands. Peddocks has a number of Lost stories, but this episode covers the U.S. Army Artillery base, Fort Andrew, first created during the Spanish-American War as a defensive position that was updated for World War I and World War II. Many buildings from the old base are still standing and the locations of the canons or mortars can still be seen. But, there are more hidden histories to be found....The island is available for day hikes and overnight camping by permit.
Show Notes and References
"At 184 acres, Peddocks is one of the largest, most diverse islands in the harbor. With the longest shoreline of any harbor island, Peddocks is composed of four headlands, connected by sand or gravel bars called tombolos. Total acreage at low tide is 288. Peddocks features a new pier and hiking trails that pass a marsh, a pond and coastal forests. These varied environments allow visitors to experience a wide range of natural beauty. Since the mid-1990s renewable energy has been highlighted with photovoltaic installations on the island." (nps.gov)
Experience the islands of Boston Harbor in an entirely new light by enjoying a camping adventure with friends or family (bostonharborislands.org)
"The troops whom the Army began moving to Ft. Andrews in June, 1944, were part of an "Italian Service Unit" (ISU). After Italy signed an armistice with the Allies on September 3, 1943, Italian POWs held in the U.S. who took an oath of allegiance to the United States and were "screened for Fascist tendencies" by the Army, were formed into ISUs and put to work doing various non-combat jobs. In Boston, this generally meant working on the docks at the Port of Embarcation at the Boston Army Base in South Boston, loading and unloading ships for $.09 per hour (the standard ISU wage rate)." (coastdefense.com)
An Island Neighborhood; People and Stories of Peddocks Island (nps.gov)
"Robert Paddock was probably a relative of Captain Leonard Peddock who was master of one of the ships that came to Plymouth in 1622, it being frequently the case in those times that names were mis-spelled. This is the origin of the name of Peddock's Island at the entrance of Boston Harbor." (geni.com)
He's Lived His Life On A Boston Harbor Island That's About To Get More Visitors (wgbh.org)
The prisoners of Peddocks Island (vitabrevis.americanancestors.org)
POW Camps in Massachusetts (gentracer.org)
National Park Service Cultural Landscapes Inventory 2018 (bostonharbornow.org)
HARBOR DEFENSES of BOSTON (northamericanforts.com)
More... (lostmassachusetts.com)
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