Hales Island (Massachusetts) facts for kids

Hale's Island is a 54-acre island located on the Merrimack River in Haverhill and Bradford, Massachusetts. This interesting island is part of Silsby's farm and has a secret past! Even though it's mostly wild now, people say it used to have a golf course, a hotel, and even a small airport.

Discovering Hale's Island

Hale's Island is a pretty big piece of land, about 54 acres, right in the middle of the Merrimack River. It sits between the towns of Haverhill and Bradford in Massachusetts. Imagine an island that's almost like a secret garden, mostly covered in plants and trees.

A Look Back in Time

This island has a fascinating history, even if you can't see much of it today. It wasn't always just a wild place for animals.

The Lost Golf Course

Believe it or not, Hale's Island once had its very own golf course! People would come here to play golf, enjoying the peaceful island setting. However, a big flood in 1936 sadly destroyed the golf course. If you look closely, you can still find the old foundation of what used to be the golf course's clubhouse. It's a cool reminder of what was once there.

A Hotel and an "Airport"?

Stories also say there was once a hotel on the island, where visitors might have stayed. And get this – some people even thought it had a small airport! It's unlikely that full-sized planes landed there. Instead, the "airport" probably referred to a spot on the river where seaplanes could land. These seaplanes would then connect to a nearby airfield that was located on Coffin Road, where a marina is now.

Nature's Home Today

Today, Hale's Island is a much wilder place. It's becoming more and more overgrown, turning into a natural habitat for different creatures.

Wildlife on the Island

If you visited Hale's Island now, you'd find it's mostly home to nature. It's a place where snakes, bugs, and various birds live. It's like a small, wild sanctuary right in the middle of the river.

The Hidden Stone Bridge

There's also a stone bridge that connects the island to the land on the Bradford side. This bridge was built a long time ago so that cows could walk back and forth to graze on the island's grass. Just like the golf course, this bridge was mostly destroyed in the big 1936 flood. You can barely see it when the water level in the river is low, and it completely disappears when the water is high!