Rainsford Island, formerly known Hospital Island, Pest House Island, and Quarantine Island,[1] is a 11-acre (45,000 m2)[2]island in the Boston Harbor, situated between Long Island and Peddocks Island. The island is composed of two drumlins, reaching an elevation of 49 feet (15 m) 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.[3] Since 1996 it has been part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area.
Rainsford Island
View from the water
Quarantine Hospital on Rainsford Island, built in 1832 by Josiah Rogers
This island was named for its earliest known European settler, Edward Rainsford (brother of Richard Raynsford), who may have been granted rights to the island in 1636 to make a farm to keep the cattle of Owen Rowe.[4][5]
The island is known to have been used by Native Americans and, during the colonial period, was occupied, farmed and grazed. Between 1737 and 1925 the island served at different times as a quarantine hospital, unmarked burial ground for the diseased and criminals,[1][6]almshouse, veterans hospital, reform school, and resort. However only foundations and a dilapidated seawall still survive from these uses.[3]
Rainsford Island hospital facilities were expanded and improved in the early 19th century. A huge Greek Revival-style building, the Stone Hospital or Greek Temple,[7] was built in 1832 by Josiah Rogers. The Stone Hospital may have been designed by his brother, the American architect Isaiah Rogers, who was celebrated for his designs of the Boston and New York Merchants' Exchange, the U.S. Treasury Building in Washington, D.C., and the Tremont Hotel in Boston.[8]
On August 19, 1899, A group of boys escaped after setting fire to part of the reformatory, and many left the island on stolen boats and improvised rafts. Most were eventually captured.[9]
Cemetery
At least 1,777 people were buried on Rainsford Island between the 1730s and 1898,[10] but as of 2020 there is no surviving monument, fence or other marker denoting the cemetery. Most people interred were poor or had died after treatment in the island's hospitals and many were buried in mass graves. Over 100 Civil War veterans are buried there including at least one from the 54th Massachusetts Regiment.[11]
^Owen, Ryan (27 August 2012). "Jailbreak at Rainsford Island – Boston Harbor: August 1899". Retrieved March 9, 2020.
^McEvoy, Bill Jr. "Rainsford Island Cemetery". Findagrave.com. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
^MacQuarrie, Brian (March 7, 2020). "Newton veteran documents neglected Rainsford Island graves of 1,700 of Boston's unwanted". The Boston Globe.
Bibliography
, 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."
, "Rainsford Island Archaeological Survey", Institute of Maritime History, 2001-2002.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rainsford Island.
rainsford, island, formerly, known, hospital, island, pest, house, island, quarantine, island, acre, island, boston, harbor, situated, between, long, island, peddocks, island, island, composed, drumlins, reaching, elevation, feet, above, level, shoreline, pred. Rainsford Island formerly known Hospital Island Pest House Island and Quarantine Island 1 is a 11 acre 45 000 m2 2 island in the Boston Harbor situated between Long Island and Peddocks Island The island is composed of two drumlins reaching an elevation of 49 feet 15 m 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 3 Since 1996 it has been part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area Rainsford Island View from the water Quarantine Hospital on Rainsford Island built in 1832 by Josiah Rogers Rainsford Island reformatory 1897 Boys at the Rainsford Island reformatory 1897 Contents 1 History 2 Cemetery 3 References 4 Bibliography 5 External linksHistory EditThis island was named for its earliest known European settler Edward Rainsford brother of Richard Raynsford who may have been granted rights to the island in 1636 to make a farm to keep the cattle of Owen Rowe 4 5 The island is known to have been used by Native Americans and during the colonial period was occupied farmed and grazed Between 1737 and 1925 the island served at different times as a quarantine hospital unmarked burial ground for the diseased and criminals 1 6 almshouse veterans hospital reform school and resort However only foundations and a dilapidated seawall still survive from these uses 3 Rainsford Island hospital facilities were expanded and improved in the early 19th century A huge Greek Revival style building the Stone Hospital or Greek Temple 7 was built in 1832 by Josiah Rogers The Stone Hospital may have been designed by his brother the American architect Isaiah Rogers who was celebrated for his designs of the Boston and New York Merchants Exchange the U S Treasury Building in Washington D C and the Tremont Hotel in Boston 8 On August 19 1899 A group of boys escaped after setting fire to part of the reformatory and many left the island on stolen boats and improvised rafts Most were eventually captured 9 Cemetery EditAt least 1 777 people were buried on Rainsford Island between the 1730s and 1898 10 but as of 2020 there is no surviving monument fence or other marker denoting the cemetery Most people interred were poor or had died after treatment in the island s hospitals and many were buried in mass graves Over 100 Civil War veterans are buried there including at least one from the 54th Massachusetts Regiment 11 References Edit a b Digging Up Our Past Radio Boston Homepage a b Rainsford Island Factsheet Boston Harbor Islands Partnership Archived from the original on September 5 2006 Retrieved July 29 2006 Winthrop Papers Volume III 1631 1637 The Massachusetts Historical Society 1943 p 226 M F Sweetser King s Handbook of Boston Harbor A Brief History of Rainsford Island Moses King 1882 p 179 http genforum genealogy com ransford messages 63 html Boston Globe article on Rainsford Island Grecian Temple on Rainsford Island cf Claesson 2001 Owen Ryan 27 August 2012 Jailbreak at Rainsford Island Boston Harbor August 1899 Retrieved March 9 2020 McEvoy Bill Jr Rainsford Island Cemetery Findagrave com Retrieved March 9 2020 MacQuarrie Brian March 7 2020 Newton veteran documents neglected Rainsford Island graves of 1 700 of Boston s unwanted The Boston Globe Bibliography Edit 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 Claesson Stefan Rainsford Island Archaeological Survey Institute of Maritime History 2001 2002 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rainsford Island http www nps gov boha historyculture facts rain htmCoordinates 42 18 43 10 N 70 57 15 30 W 42 3119722 N 70 9542500 W 42 3119722 70 9542500 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rainsford Island amp oldid 1114175652, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
