Because of its prominent location in Buzzards Bay, West Island (535 acres) is thought to have been visited by ancient explorers such as the Norsemen even before Columbus landed in America in 1492.

It’s recorded history began on November 29, 1652, when Wampanoag Indian Chief Massasoit and his son Wamsutta sold the territory of Dartmouth with all the rivers, creeks, meadows, necks and islands to a band of Pilgrims which included John Cooke.

click photo for more on the history of West Island Fairhaven Estates

 John Cooke the last survivor of the Mayflower settled in Fairhaven were his daughter Mercy Cooke married Steven West the individual for whom West Island is named.   The West family settled on Sconticut Neck and owned West Island for many years. Originally called West’s Island, and recorded as such on early maps, the island’s name was modified by popular usage to West Island because it was much easier to pronounce.

The island was used mainly for  the grazing of cattle.  At low tide the cows  would be herded over from farms on Sconticut Neck to graze. On May 14, 1775 the first naval battle of the revolution was fought off it’s shores. It was also reported that British warships landed parties at West Island. They were supposedly interested  in the sheep and cattle grazing on the island.

The last member of the West family to own West Island was Nehemiah West, a whaling captain who later sold the island in 1880 to Anthony De Costa who was a farmer in the area.  He later sold it to Horace S. Crowell of Marlboro. Crowell retained Captain John T. Besse as care taker of the island. Captain Besse’s house, the oldest on the island located at 42 Causeway Road, is still maintained as a private residence. 

 

 (above:) At one point during this time a guard shack was posted at  Causeway Road to West Island. The watchman would only allow passage to the island with a badge displayed on the auto's bumper. This badge belonged to MLBaron's father-in-law Antone Teixeira, who's mother had one of the first cottages on the island at 47 Alder St.. (below-right)

 

The Summer of '52 

Antone Teixeira and his future wife to be (in '54) Evelyn Gilchrist (late)

on the front lawn of his mother's home at 47 Alder St

 

With official opening of the Summer season on Fairhaven's West Island this weekend, cottagers are returning to an island vastly different from what existed when the first houses began going up there 3 years ago. Already there are some 150 cottages on the island, varying from neat little two room cabins to Winterized homes with 3 bedrooms. The island, once accessible only by boat and with no means of communication or any other modern conveniences, now boasts a telephone line and it's own electric plant. John H. Buttrick, treasurer of Fairhaven Estates, Inc. developer of the West Island resort and treasurer of the West Island Power Company, who announced the opening, anticipates a very good Summer in the resort colony.

Development of the island is proceeding faster than we expected Mr. Buttrick said we expect to make even greater strides this year.
Most roads on the island have been graded since the Spring thaw and rains, Mr. Buttrick said, and the rest should be in shape within a week. One road, a continuation of the causeway extending easterly into the island has been hard-surfaced. We expect to hard-top several of the other roads on the island that get heavy use before this Summer is over," Mr. Buttrick added. Development of West Island as a Summer resort represents fulfillment of plans and dreams of numerous persons dating back more than 100 years. The present project however, goes back four years to the day in April 1946 when the title to West Island, Gull Island and Long Island was transferred to Fairhaven Estates.

(above) West Island in June 1946 looking west towards Sconticutneck. MLBaron archives

Started in 1947
First stone in a causeway connecting the islands with the mainland of Sconticut Neck was laid March 21, 1946. Construction of the first dwelling began the following March.
During the remainder of 1947, approximately 40 cottages were begun on the island, which contained only a 150 year old farmhouse and barn when the corporation acquired title to it. The late Arthur F. Gobron of Watertown was the guiding spirit of the project when these steps were taken. With continued new building on the island and occupancy of completed cottages, the Summer population there grew and last season a West Island Improvement Association was formed.

Plans Discussed
At the organization's first annual meeting this Spring in the Taunton Inn, plans for this Summer were discussed. Among projects adopted were development of a playground on a 60,000 square foot tract donated to the association by the corporation and engaging a lifeguard for the island's principal beach at the foot of the causeway. Instigated by the association, a firefighting unit was organized on West Island last Summer, and a truck is available to aid the volunteer firemen in the event of an emergency.

Telephone service was established to the island on an emergency basis last Summer. Mr. Buttrick said officials of the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company office here have promised permanent service will be established as soon as possible this Summer.

ENTER WEST ISLAND SPYGLASS BELOW FOR MORE TRIVIA AND HISTORY:

 Save West Island

      The so called “Massachusetts Miracle “ that Presidential candidate Governor Michael Dukakis, heralded to the media, was quickly fleeting. The timing was disastrous for our endeavor.  Without the state to back us up with funding to purchase the property from Realty Transfer of New Jersey, the destruction of more than half of the island to development was at a threshold.

   The clock was indeed ticking against our  favor.  Negative elements said it couldn’t be done and that our group was pissing in the wind. We were laughed at as a bunch of tree hugging political fanatics.  But our resolve never faltered, if anything, it became even stronger.  Save West Island bumper stickers were seen as far away as Worcester.  We couldn’t keep up with the demand for T-shirts and promotional videos.