Hales Island (Massachusetts)
Encyclopedia
Hale's Island is a 54 acres (21.9 ha) island located on the Merrimack River
in Haverhill
/ Bradford
, Massachusetts
. The property is part of Silsby's farm. Although there is not much there now, the island has reportedly been home to a golf course
, a hotel
, and even a small airport
. The golf course was destroyed in 1936 when the island flooded. There is still the remnants of a foundation on the island. This was the foundation of the golf course club house. There are also four artesian wells on the island. Other than that, the island is mostly inhabited by snakes, bugs, and some birds. It is becoming increasingly overgrown these days. There is a stone bridge that connects it to land on the Bradford side. This can barely be seen when the water is low, and impossible when the water is high. The bridge was mostly destroyed in the 1936 flood that destroyed the golf course. The bridge was built to allow cows to move back and forth to the island for grazing. The island is not listed as an airport on any aeronautical charts. More than likely, that reference is to the area of the River on the North side of the island which was listed for landing seaplane
s, and connected to an airfield which was previously located on Coffin Rd where there is now a marina
.
Merrimack River
The Merrimack River is a river in the northeastern United States. It rises at the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers in Franklin, New Hampshire, flows southward into Massachusetts, and then flows northeast until it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Newburyport...
in Haverhill
Haverhill, Massachusetts
Haverhill is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 60,879 at the 2010 census.Located on the Merrimack River, it began as a farming community that would evolve into an important industrial center, beginning with sawmills and gristmills run by water power. In the...
/ Bradford
Bradford, Massachusetts
Bradford is a former town in Essex County, Massachusetts. The name currently refers to the area on the south side of the Merrimack River in Haverhill, Massachusetts that was once Bradford...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. The property is part of Silsby's farm. Although there is not much there now, the island has reportedly been home to a golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
, a hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
, and even a small airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
. The golf course was destroyed in 1936 when the island flooded. There is still the remnants of a foundation on the island. This was the foundation of the golf course club house. There are also four artesian wells on the island. Other than that, the island is mostly inhabited by snakes, bugs, and some birds. It is becoming increasingly overgrown these days. There is a stone bridge that connects it to land on the Bradford side. This can barely be seen when the water is low, and impossible when the water is high. The bridge was mostly destroyed in the 1936 flood that destroyed the golf course. The bridge was built to allow cows to move back and forth to the island for grazing. The island is not listed as an airport on any aeronautical charts. More than likely, that reference is to the area of the River on the North side of the island which was listed for landing seaplane
Seaplane
A seaplane is a fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. Seaplanes that can also take off and land on airfields are a subclass called amphibian aircraft...
s, and connected to an airfield which was previously located on Coffin Rd where there is now a marina
Marina
A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
.