Updated 11/25/05
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Here you will find articles and
Trivia about West Island

Nokatay was the Wampanoag Indian name for West Island, it refers to "at the hunting place."


Article from New Bedford Evening Standard May 25, 1896 regarding a petition that was signed by boaters who objected to the building of a causeway from Long Island to West Island if it did not include a draw bridge in the design. The article mentions of intent to develop the island and Sconticut Neck. Tedious wording but interesting. This article also appeared in the Fairhaven Star of May 29, 1886.

Many Ownership Changes Seen in Tiny Tract Where Vikings, Indians and Colonists Roamed By JOHN FLANAGAN, Standard Times March 17, 1946. Article about history of West Island and impending development of "Fairhaven Estates" on uninhabited island.

150 Cottages built in 3 Years On Fairhaven's West Island Standard Times article from June 4,1950

Ground Breaking on West Island for Community House Standard Times article from August 30, 1951

Standard Times article from June 29, 1952 about colonization of "Fairhaven Estates"

Standard Times article from November 13, 1951 about insolvency of West Island Power Co.

A West Island Mystery cemented into legend

West Island Tower is dedicated for Civil Defense plane spotting, Standard Times July 26, 1956
I wasnt familiar with the GOC, or Ground Observer Corps so I did a google search and came up with this site, among others GOC and a little more on the Tower and it's sister structures
Tower page from Millicent Library site listing monuments in town compiled by Jim Cochran

Army Corp of Engineers Map Of the observation installment at West Island, 1943, provided by Chris Wiles, U.S. Coast Artillery Photos, ca.ckwinfo.net

Some of my observations on the above articles

History of Sconticut Neck written by Mabel L. Potter in 1945. Posted on the Millicent Library website.

Fairhaven History Timeline By Chris and Lori Richards.

Was treasure buried in Riverside Cemetary?

West Island ghost story

Aerial photograph of West Island and Wibur's Point from MSN Terraserver