Webb Memorial Park: A Boston Harbor Island feel without being on an island

Weymouth’s Webb Memorial Park: In addition to being a former NIKE missile launch sight during the Cold War, and the location of a Revolutionary War battle in 1775, this is a park offers sweeping views of the southwest corner of Boston Harbor. The park was named for a Weymouth police officer, William K. Webb and has a history dating back over three centuries. Much like Deer Island, this park offers a way to get a beautiful view of the harbor while feeling like you are on an island without actually being on an island!

webb 80th try

Looking west at the peninsula of Webb Memorial Park in Weymouth at dusk:

web park boat

Complete with walking trails through dense scrubby bushes and sand dunes giving way to beaches- This peninsula feels just like any Boston Harbor Island:

webb memorial park

A view of Quincy Bay from the Western side of Webb Park on a late fall day, after the leaves have fallen from the sumac plants.

webb 4

The Eastern side of Webb Memorial Park looking east toward Hewitt’s Cove on a bright winter day. Its hard to believe that this area was once a NIKE missile silo, part of a network of missile defense systems that guarded Boston during the cold war.

webb memorial park

Looking North: Slate Island in the foreground, with Bumpkin Island in the middle, and Allerton Point in Hull in the far background:

boston harbor

The Rocky Coastline of the North side of the peninsula at low tide:

webb memorial park

A wintertime view toward the city from Webb Park, with a fishing boat passing through the Western Way:

DSC_1896

A big piece of beach rubbish (an old dock?) washed up on shore, which is fairly typical of these Boston Harbor Islands. In the background: Grape Island on the left, Slate Island and Bumpkin Island in the distance:

boston harbor

A view of the park on a calm summer morning, looking toward the city:

weymouth boston view

A wintertime view of the Western side of Webb Park, with the Fore River and Weymouth neck visible through the brush:

DSC_1907

A monument to The “Grape Island Alarm” a Revolutionary War battle in which the British Navy was defeated. The battle occurred in May of 1775, shortly after the battle of Lexington and Concord, the fight broke out when colonial militiamen tried to thwart the efforts of the loyalist owner of Grape Island, Elisha Leavitt to permit the British military forces to use hay from the island to feed their horses. Just a week later, the Battle of Chelsea Creek broke out over a similar issue, access to resources and livestock.

boston harbor

The park is accessible via Neck Street from Route 3A in Weymouth. Named for William K. Webb, a WWII veteran and police officer from Weymouth, the park was converted from a military operation to a place for the public in the late 1970s. Prior to that time, the site was used to house NIKE-Ajax missiles, which were stored in launch-ready silos underground. The missile site was connected to a radar and command center on nearby Spinnaker Island, which is now a condo complex in Hull, MA.

More about access to the park and its history can be read here.

web state park

Posted in Boston Harbor History, Boston Harbor in the Winter, Boston Harbor Walks, good views, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Webb Memorial Park: A Boston Harbor Island feel without being on an island

Winter views of Woods Hole: A notoriously difficult place to navigate

Located about 75 miles south of Boston on the Southwestern Cape, Woods Hole is a geographically unique place. Jutting out of Southwest Falmouth, it is the last part of mainland separating Cape Cod from the Elizabeth Islands. It also Separates Nantucket Sound from Buzzard’s Bay. From here, one can look out at both the Elizabeth Islands and Marthas Vineyard, just as Bartholemew Gosnold did in 1602 when he discovered the place.

This is a notable location for boaters due to its dangerous channel that has claimed many boats. Boaters heading out of the Cape Cod Canal and into Nantucket Sound need to pass through this channel.

Woods Hole Harbor on a bright winter day:

cape cod

cape cod

Its rocky obstructions are a hazard for boaters, who must be well aware of their surroundings before attempting to navigate. Boaters heading from the Cape Cod Canal and Buzzards Bay into Nantucket Sound will need to bypass this dangerous place.

The treacherous rocks of the narrow Woods Hole Channel:

rocks

Another view of the channel from on the water. It seems easy to get confused despite the many makers present:

channel

A chart clip of the Woods Hole Channel. This area is so challenging that NOAA made a whole separate chart for it, chart 13235, which can be viewed here. Note the downtown area of Woods Hole in the upper right hand corner of the chart, with the Northernmost of the Elizabeth Islands in the lower part of the clip:

noaa

*NOAA Nautical Chart. See disclaimer at NOAA.gov.

A particularly good view of the Vineyard Sound is visible from the vantage point that Woods Hole offers. One can look to the Southwest on a clear day and see Aquinnah Light in the distance.

The Martha’s Vineyard Ferry: Still running, all winter long:

Ferry

An icy, cold beach along Southwestern Falmouth:

woods hole

The empty docks and bays in the middle of winter. Tug Boats and research vessels from the nearby Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute are pretty much all that is in the water in winter:

cape cod

Nobska Lighthouse notable landmark in Woods Hole.

Nobska Light

This is a desitination that is great to visit by boat or by car (with car obviously being more ideal in the winter). Woods Hole gets very crowded in the summer, given its views and proximity to the Marthas Vineyard ferry. Off-season activities are slightly more limited, but are still plentiful and include visiting one of the good restaurants downtown that is open year-round. Fishmonger Cafe is a personal favorite.

Posted in Boston Harbor Day Boat Trips, Boston Harbor in the Winter, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Winter views of Woods Hole: A notoriously difficult place to navigate

Picture of the week: Boston Light at dusk

Here is a shot we snapped the other night from Point Allerton in Hull. We were able to catch the light as it came our way. For more about Boston Light and the nearby Brewster Islands, click here.

picture of the week

Posted in Boston Harbor Navigation, Boston Harbor Picture of the Week, good views | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Picture of the week: Boston Light at dusk

Bonjour et Enchante, Monge

Monge A601, a French radar ship has been docked in the Reserve Channel all week. This is a vessel that won’t be easily confused with a cruise ship (despite being docked near the cruise port) as most cruise ships don’t have massive satellite dishes mounted on board. i’m not sure why she is in Boston, but she has been here before. For more info about Monge, check out this link!

She heads back out to sea on Saturday, not sure what time. Au Revoir!

boston harbor

 

Posted in Boston Harbor History, Boston Harbor Navigation, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Bonjour et Enchante, Monge

Historical place of the week: Nathaniel Bowditch house in Salem

Few places along the greater Boston coastline are as significant in Nautical History as Salem. Said to once be the sixth largest city in the world (late 1700s), the city was a major shipping port with a large, well protected Harbor. Its one time resident, Nathaniel Bowditch, is known as the founder of modern maritime navigation.

The Federal Style House on 9 North Street in Salem, once the home of Nathaniel Bowditch:

salem

Nathaniel Bowditch (1773-1838) lived in Salem during the peak of its maritime industry. Trained as a mathematician, Bowditch applied mathematical technique to Navigation. His work was largely based on calculating geometric angles using astronomy, which could enable a mariner to calculate position and course. In 1802, he published the American Practical Navigator, a version of which is still carried on every United States Coast Guard vessel today.

Today, the Salem Ferry, which provides service between Long Wharf and Salem is named for Nathaniel Bowditch. As mentioned last year, this vessel faced a potential service cut,  but this issue was resolved when the service route changed operators.

nathaniel bowditch

Salem is a great place to visit for history buffs and boaters alike. We have written in the past about making the day trip from Boston to Salem Sound and the attractions (and navigational dangers) that await you there.

Posted in Boston Harbor History, Boston Harbor Navigation, historical place of the week | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Historical place of the week: Nathaniel Bowditch house in Salem

Sunrise over Minot Light

Sunrise

This morning’s clear skies to the east made for a good sunrise photo opportunity. The subject was Minot Light and the rocks off Black Rock Beach in Cohasset. From this location, Minot Light is almost due East, as is the angle of the sun, which rises due East on the Vernal Equinox (March 21st) and begins to rise a few degrees North of due East each day until the Summer Solstics (June 21st) when it reverses direction.

sunrise

A zoomed in view, with a Seagull who joined me in admiring the view:

Cohasset

 

Posted in Boston Harbor Navigation, Boston Harbor Picture of the Week, good views, Weather | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Sunrise over Minot Light

Squantum: Nickerson Park, Chappell Rock and Moswetuset Hummock

A view of Chappell Rock on an overcast day, with a view of the city in the background:

Squaw Rock QuincyThe area of Northwestern Quincy known as Squantum is a marshy peninsula separating the Neponset River from Quincy Bay. It derives its name from the Native American Tisquantum (Squanto), who is said to have accompanied Myles Standish to visit the Massachusetts Chief Chickatawbut in the year 1621. From this location on the western end of Boston Harbor, one can take in good views of Thompson Island, and even walk there at low tides (although this is dangerous and not recommended). Nickerson Park is located on this Northernmost point of Squantum and has some trails and good views of the city skyline and nearby Thompson Island. It is at this point where the only road access to Moon Island and Long Island begins.

A sweeping view of Thompson Island from the bluffs on Nickerson Park in Squantum, Quincy, MA:


thompson

The view to the Northeast from the park, with Spectacle Island and Long Island in view across Western Quincy Bay.


Quincy

A monument commemorating the location where Myles Standish landed on September 30th, 1621 guided by Squanto.


Squaw Rock Monument

The placard on the cairn up close, clearly weathered having been in place for 150 years:


Squantum Chappel Rock Marker

Pictured below is Chappell Rock or Squaw Rock. This large outcrop on the northern end of the park is where Myles Standish is said to have landed in 1621. To the left one can see Spectacle Island, which looked very different in this 1929 vintage photo from the Boston Public Library Collection, which was taken from a similar location. From Squaw Rock, Thompson Island is only separated from the mainland by a small channel at low tide, as a large sandbar emerges. Boaters out of nearby Marina Bay may be tempted to bring a small boat through this channel at high tide to cut through and bypass the rounding of Thompson Island. This is not a recommended move, as one can still see the ocean’s floor even at high tide when passing over the bar. When visiting Nickerson park, it is important to keep in mind that some of the higher parts of the park have very steep and sudden drops where the protecting fence has deteriorated over time, leaving a dangerous situation and even the risk of a deadly fall.


Nickerson Park

The skyline of the City of Boston from the highest point on Nickerson Park, with Thompson Island visible to the right:

Boston

Also located close to Nickerson Park is the remains of the east shaft of Boston’s old, long abandoned Moon Island sewage system. From the mid 1880s until the 1960s, sewage was pumped under Dorchester Bay to Squantum and then out to Moon Island to be discharged with the outgoing tide. Pictured below is the remains of shaft at Nickerson Park:

squantum pipe

Moswetuset Hummock is a small hill surrounded by the shallow marshlands of Squantum. It is said that this place was the seat of Chickatawbut, chief of the Massachusett tribe for which the state is named. After landing at Chappell Rock, Myles Standish is said to have visited Chief Chickatawbut at the Hummock. Today, there is a sign marking the location of the Hummock just off Quincy shore drive.

Moswetuset Hummock in the foreground, as seen from Quincy Shore Drive in Squantum:

DSC_1741

A monument to the location is pictured below:

moswetuset

Posted in Boston Harbor History, Boston Harbor in the Winter, Boston Harbor Walks, good views, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Squantum: Nickerson Park, Chappell Rock and Moswetuset Hummock

Boston harbor and skyline as seen from the top of Blue Hill

The city of Boston as seen from the summit of Great Blue Hill. Click to Enlarge:

Blue Hill

Just over ten miles South of downtown Boston lies Blue Hills, a park comprising 7,000 acres of rolling hills. At 635 feet, the tallest of these-Great Blue Hill- offers stunning views of the city and waterfront on a clear day.

A view below looking to the Northeast, with Winthrop and the egg-shaped tanks of the Deer Island treatment plant clearly visible in the background. Quincy’s high rises and some of the harbor islands are visible in the foreground. If you look carefully, you can even see a plane coming in for a landing.

Blue Hill

Looking a little bit further East, the water tower on Long Island comes into view:

blue hill

Looking due East, the outer Harbor Islands become visible, as to Hingham and Hull. This view is somewhat obscured by the smaller blue hills, particularly Buck Hill (496ft) and Chickatawbut Hill (517 ft).

blue hill view

A zoomed in view toward the city. In the foreground, you can see the Boston Public Health Commission Building (left) and the Lower Mills Neighborhood. In the background, you can see all the way to the purple power plant in South Boston (right) and the convention center, seaport district, and even surprisingly the big lift bridge over the Chelsea River (left).

blue hill

 

Posted in good views, Visiting Boston Harbor | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Boston harbor and skyline as seen from the top of Blue Hill

Avoiding cable areas and underwater obstructions in Boston Harbor

A key safety tip for boating in Boston Harbor is being aware of both natural and man-made structures underneath the water surface. Cable areas, in particular are a less frequently observed obstruction, yet Boston Harbor is full of them.

Connecting power to regions across the harbor, submerged cables are everywhere and should be carefully avoided by boaters. Boaters run the most risk of encountering a cable area when anchoring or bottom fishing. A snagged fishing lure or worse- an anchor caught on a cable- will result in a sticky situation! (and likely the loss of your anchor).

Avoiding Cable Areas: Fortunately, these cable areas are very well marked on nautical charts, like the ones in purple text below:

boston harbor

NOAA Nautical Chart. Not for official navigation. See disclaimer at NOAA.gov.

Note the cable area shows up as the purple dotted line with accompanying text. These obstructions can be found all over Boston Harbor. An example is shown above of the area between Long Island and Spectacle Island- a frequently visited fishing location. When choosing a place to anchor or fish, boaters should refer to charts and GPS to be sure that they are not interfering with a cable area.

For more Boston Harbor boating safety tips, check out our posts about the most dangerous places in the harbor, and navigating under bridges.

Posted in Boston Harbor Navigation, Fishing, Uncategorized, Visiting Boston Harbor | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Avoiding cable areas and underwater obstructions in Boston Harbor

Weymouth Back River from Bare Cove Park

Separating the towns of Weymouth and Hingham on the Southeast corner of Boston Harbor is the lesser known Weymouth Back River. This relatively hidden area provides for some good boating and docking opportunities, as well as some scenic views on the adjacent trails at Bare Cove Park. The area also has some WWII-era history.

The Weymouth Back River at dusk:

Back River

Weymouth Back River

The marshes at the head of the Weymouth Back River. The river was historically a major spawning ground for river herring- this food source was a major driver of the settling of the area back in colonial times.

weymouth marsh

Looking North (downstream) from the head of the river:

weymouth back river

Exploring the back river area today: The area can be accessed via boat the entrance to the back river Below is a chart of the area. North of the Route 3A bridge, the river is wide enough to accommodate large boats. There are two major marinas along the banks of the River: Hingham Shipyard Marina and Tern Harbor Marina in Weymouth. South of the bridge, boating activity is limited to small craft at high tide. (See commentary at the end of this post for more about the 3A bridge).

The area can also be accessed by hikers and pedestrians. The trails of Bare Cove Park are located near the flats at the head of the river, toward the bottom of the chart.

weymouth

*NOAA nautical chart. See disclaimer at NOAA.gov.

Several of the sites you may see while walking the trails: An old wall remaining of one of the roughly 60 munitions storage magazines that were located in this area during WWII. Like nearby Wompatuck state park, this area was used as a major munitions storage area for the North Atlantic Naval Fleet. Old military structures and abandoned railroad beds are frequently seen in the area.

Wharf pilings that remain from an old dock:

Some of the many coves and inlets of the park:

The smokestack which still remains today from the Weymouth town incinerator. The area near the incinerator that is abutted by the Greenbush rail line was once occupied by several factories.

Looking North over the remains of the old pier toward the Route 3A bridge:

bridge

The Weymouth town ramp off Neck Street, which is one of the better boat ramps on the South Shore. It is located on the North side of the Back River, downstream of the Route 3A bridge (visible here). Most boaters will not want to go upstream from the bridge due to its low depths- especially at low tide.

weymouth neck

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Posted in Boston Harbor Day Boat Trips, Boston Harbor History, Boston Harbor in the Winter, good views, Uncategorized, Visiting Boston Harbor | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Weymouth Back River from Bare Cove Park