Historical structure at the north end of Lovells Island
ARTILLERY BATTERIES
Seven artillery batteries were constructed on Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area’s Lovells Island between 1899 and 1907 as part of Fort Standish, which was established in 1900. One battery has since been demolished, but the remaining six are in good enough condition to allow public access—you can even walk around inside some of them. See the following web pages for more information and photographs:
Lovells Island (click to enlarge)
OTHER HISTORIC STRUCTURES
A Fire Control Tower is located on the southeast shore of Lovells Island (opposite the ferry dock). This was not used to spot forest fires, but to spot enemy ships and help provide firing coordinates for the artillery batteries. Unfortunately, I could not find any additional information about it, so I’m not sure if the tower was built around 1900 like the batteries, or if it was one of the sixty or so buildings constructed during World War II. If I had to guess, I’d say it came with the batteries.
Fire Control Tower
When I visited, there was a rickety ladder that allowed access to the interior of the tower. I’d be highly surprised if this is an on-going feature, because it’s just inviting disaster. Probably the maintenance guy left it by mistake.
Ladder to the Fire Control Tower
View of Boston Harbor from the Fire Control Tower
If you reach the tower by way of Battery Williams and Whipple, you will pass a low-lying structure that is covered in vegetation. I have no idea what it is, and due to the ticks on the island, I wasn’t about to Lewis-and-Clark-It™ to the structure to get a closer look.
Unknown structure
If you walk north along the shore from the ferry dock, in less than a half mile you will come to a pile of debris that appears to block the way. This was the location of a Lighthouse Depot (circa 1915): a warehouse for lighthouse and buoy supplies and equipment. The debris is what is left of the wharf. Service boats would dock at the wharf, pick up supplies, and deliver them to the various lighthouses in Boston Harbor. If you are able to climb up the cliff above the debris pile, you can see the building foundation. Also, it is possible to climb over the debris and continue walking around Lovells Island along the shore, though this may be tough for elderly visitors.
Wharf ruins
People climbing over the wharf debris
Ruins of the Lighthouse Depot Wharf
Part of the Lighthouse Depot Wharf
One other non-military structure that still stands is located at the north end of Lovells Island in an open field. This is supposedly a salt marsh, though it looks more like a rock and sand desert covered with tall grass. In fact, if you aren’t afraid of ticks, this is the only place on the north end of the island where you can cross from the eastern to the western shore without walking on trails through wooded areas. At this point the island is narrow enough to hit a golf ball across, even if you suck at golf.
This was the location of the Lovells Island Range Lights, two small lighthouses, one 41-foot and one 31-foot tall. Along with them were a six-room lightkeeper’s house, a woodshed, and an oil house that was used to store the oil burned in the lighthouse lanterns. The station went into service in April 1903 and remained in operation until being torn down in 1939 when the military decided to expand Fort Standish in the wake of World War II. All that remains today is part of the brick oil house. I normally don’t wade through tall, tick-infested grass, but I did this time in order to get a closer look. I did not pick up any ticks.
Oil House ruins
Oil House ruins
Fort Standish was expanded during World War II to include Officers’ Quarters, seven Enlisted Men’s Barracks, mess halls, and various support buildings. None of these remain today, but some foundations can be seen at various places around the island. The fort was decommissioned in 1947.
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Last updated on June 3, 2020
