Peddocks Island is one of the
islands in the
Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. The island is located at 42° 17' 32.6" North
longitude and 70° 56' 21.6" West
latitude. The
area of the island is . The island is managed by the
Department of Conservation and Recreation.
The island is home to the now-defunct
Fort Andrews on its eastern end, and a group of privately-owned
cottages on its western end. There are also
campsites on the eastern end of the island.
Ferry service between Peddocks and
Georges Island is provided on a seasonal basis.
History
Principally used for
farming since the early 1600s, Peddocks Island has also served military purposes. During the
American Revolutionary War, over 600
militiamen were stationed on the island. In
1904, Fort Andrews was built on the island, and it served as an active
harbor defense
fort until the end of
World War II. As of 2008, 26 of the original buildings of Fort Andrews still stand, although most of them are in decrepit shape and are closed to the public for safety reasons.
In 2008, Peddocks Island was used for filming a scene in the
Martin Scorsese film
Shutter Island, starring
Leonardo DiCaprio.
Natural resources
There is a
freshwater marsh on the southern end of Peddocks Island.
Predominant
tree and
shrub species on the island include
Maple,
Birch,
Oak,
Pine,
Poplar,
Sumac, and
Apple. The island is also populated with wild
roses and
poison ivy.