Misery Islands facts for kids
The Misery Islands are two cool islands called Great Misery Island 42°32′55″N 70°47′53″W / 42.54861°N 70.79806°W and Little Misery Island 42°32′40″N 70°47′53″W / 42.54444°N 70.79806°W. They are located in Salem Sound near Salem, Massachusetts. Together, these islands make up an 87-acre nature reserve that was set up in 1935. A group called The Trustees of Reservations takes care of them, making sure they stay wild and beautiful for everyone to enjoy. Even though the islands are part of the city of Salem, they are actually much closer to the city of Beverly, Massachusetts.
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Island History: From Shipwrecks to Nature Reserve
How the Misery Islands Got Their Name
The islands have a really interesting name, and it comes from a story that happened way back in the 1620s! A shipbuilder named Robert Moulton got stuck on the islands during a big winter storm. It must have been a tough time for him, and that's how the islands ended up being called the Misery Islands.
A Former Fun Spot and Military Base
Great Misery Island used to be a very different place. In the early 1900s, it had a fancy private club! Rich people from Boston and nearby areas would come to visit. Imagine a place with a casino, a swimming area filled with saltwater, and even a small 9-hole golf course! There was also a lounge where people could relax.
However, after a few years, the club ran out of money and had to close down. The land was then sold to different people, and many of them built small vacation houses, called cottages, on the island. Records show that at one point, there were more than 25 cottages there! From 1916 to 1917, the island was also used by the Massachusetts State Militia Aviation Camp, which was a place where military planes were based for a short time.
The Big Fire and Later Changes
In the late 1920s, a big fire swept across the island and burned down most of the buildings. People thought it might have been caused by a brush fire, but some residents believed visitors from the mainland might have started it. This was because the fire happened during the off-season when the cottage owners weren't there.
Later, in the 1940s, a special building called a seaplane hangar was built on the west side of the island. This was a place for small planes that could land on water. It was used for private flights. The hangar is gone now, but you can still find parts of its foundation along the beach.
In the late 1990s, a private group bought the island. Today, the Misery Islands are a protected nature reserve. No one lives there permanently anymore, and it's a peaceful place for nature to thrive.
