Excerpts from the
Fairhaven Star
August 8, 1885
Horace S. Crowell, of Boston, owner of West Island, the harbor and the land Commissioners, with other gentlemen went from New Bedford in the steam yacht Marguerite, Friday 20th to visit West Island for the purpose of considering the feasibility of connecting it by a bridge with the mainland at Sconticut Neck, a distance of about a quarter mile.
Mr. Crowell proposes ultimately to convert the island into a summer resort and yacht rendezvous. It comprises over 800 acres. The trip was a very pleasant one, and the gentlemen thoroughly enjoyed the sail, scenery and the hospitality of Mr. Crowell.
August 15, 1885
A curious old Indian deed on parchment, dated 1666, signed by King Phillip of Mount Hope, and counter signed by governor Thomas Hinckley and his secretary, Samuel Sprague, conveying the island of Makatan, now known as West Island, in Buzzard’s Bay, about six miles from New Bedford, may be seen at the offices of Horace S. Crowell, 27 State St., Boston.
June 5,1886
West Island is to be connected to the telephone exchange
Dec. 5, 1903
W. H. Chase of Dedham has taken charge of West Island and Captain Besse has gone to his farm on Sconticut Neck.
May 1, 1909
West Island marches are being ditched and drained in an effort to rid that section of mosquitoes. A force of nine men is engaged in the work and it’s expected that the operations will take about 4 weeks.
April 10, 1925
Reports of a wrecked aeroplane on West Island have gained strength on Sconticut Neck of late. Several residents claim to have seen it at a distance, saying it has been dismantled and that it’s frame may be seen through field glasses.
The opinion is held that the aeroplane had been used by rumrunners in landing their illicit cargo from rum row and that it is for this reason that nothing further has definitely been learned, about it.