MWRA Deer Island Memorials Project

Deer Island Memorials Project Update

JANUARY, 2002

The Memorials Project on Deer Island is moving forward.

MWRA has received $15,000 from the City of Boston Edward Ingersoll Browne Fund to support the design of two separate memorials that will be built on Deer Island:

To remember King Philips War (1675-1676) and to honor the Native Americans who suffered on Deer Island.

During the war, several hundred members of the Nipmuc Tribe were interned on Deer Island without adequate food, clothing or shelter. Many died, and few ever returned to their native lands.
To remember the events of 1847-1851 and to honor the hundreds of Irish citizens who died on Deer Island.

The City of Boston opened a quarantine station on Deer Island in 1847 which treated, cured and later discharged thousands of Irish citizens.

MWRA is working with the arts community, historical organizations and especially with Native American and Irish American groups about how to best acknowledge, commemorate and interpret these historical episodes.

Our next goal is to form a unified Memorials Committee, made up of people who will develop final plans and processes for creating relevant and permanent memorials that can be appreciated by visitors to Deer Island, which is part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park.

Representatives of Native American and Irish American communities, the City of Boston (including the City of Boston Arts Commission and the City of Boston Environment Department), the Town of Winthrop, the Boston Harbor Islands Advisory Council and MWRA are invited and encouraged to participate.

If you would like to join the Memorials Committee, or want more information about the Deer Island Memorials Project, please contact one of the following MWRA employees:

Dan O'Neil (617) 788-1170, or Howard Hughes (617) 788-1158.

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