Whitewash Village, Massachusetts facts for kids
Whitewash Village was a small community located on Monomoy Island in Massachusetts. This village started around the year 1710. People believed the village had a strong and long-lasting economy, which is how it got its name, "Whitewash." A tavern for sailors was opened where Hospital Pond is today, and it was then called Wreck Cove.
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Discovering Whitewash Village History
In the early 1800s, a natural harbor on Monomoy Island became very popular. This deep harbor was known as the Powder Hole. It attracted many people who wanted to fish and settle there.
Life in Whitewash Village
At its busiest time, Whitewash Village was home to about 200 people. The village had a tavern and inn called Monomoit House. It also had a school, Public School #13, which once had 16 students.
Fishing and Trade
Fishing was a big part of life in Whitewash Village. Fishermen brought in lots of cod and mackerel. These fish were dried and packed up. Then, they were sent to markets in big cities like Boston and New York.
Lobsters were also easy to find. They provided both food and money for the villagers. People would sell lobsters to those living on the mainland for about two cents each.
The "Wreckers" of Monomoy
Some villagers were known as "wreckers." They were people who would salvage items from shipwrecks. Sometimes, they would even hope for storms that could cause ships to crash. After a shipwreck, they would collect anything valuable that washed ashore.
Why Whitewash Village Disappeared
Whitewash Village was abandoned after a powerful hurricane hit around 1860. The storm washed away the village's important harbor. Without the harbor, the villagers could no longer make a living from fishing and trade.
Monomoy Island itself is always changing. Many storms over the years have caused the island to connect and disconnect from the mainland. Today, the only thing left to remind us that people once lived on Monomoy Island is the Monomoy Point Light.
