Do you seek solitude? Ragged Island is your destination. It’s a quaint and quiet place for reflection away from the busyness of life.
Ragged Island sits in Hingham Harbor. It is one of four islands there. It is a part of the Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park. The town of Hingham manages it.
Indigenous communities likely visited Ragged Island seasonally. This was for thousands of years before European colonization. John Langlee first purchased it in 1686 with Langlee and Sarah Islands. He lived on Ragged Island with his family. Langlee ran a tavern and boatyard in Hingham. His daughter Sarah Derby inspired the names of the three islands. She was often called “Ragged Sarah Langlee”. Derby later founded the Derby School. It’s considered the oldest co-educational school in New England. It is also one of the oldest in the country.
In the early 1870s, a resort likely operated on the island. It was called “Melville Garden”. It offered excursions to nearby areas. By 1880, a restaurant and observatory were on the island. Sketches from the 1880s show a large pavilion. There was also a beautiful pier and a rustic gazebo. Sources suggest a footbridge connected these amenities to a lavish resort at Downer’s Landing.
An 1890s account describes Ragged Island as a picturesque mass of rock. The scarlet and yellow sumacs and wild shrubs contrast with the deep olive green of the savins. They grow among the ledges.
Today, all auxiliary structures are gone. Ragged Island has a mix of cultivated and natural plants. This is likely because of the resort that was once located here.
Ragged Island has an interesting mix of plants. Lily-of-the-valley and daylilies grow under large trees. These include silver maples, red maples, Norway maples and cedars. A Norway spruce is also present. A grove of lindens grows near the island’s center. An enormous maple suitable for climbing stands nearby. Greenbrier and poison ivy hamper exploration.
Masses of Roxbury Puddingstone conglomerate rise from the shoreline. They reach a height of 30 feet. Broken ledges surround most of the island. Small gravel beaches are on the southeast and northwest sides. Small tidal mudflats are also present. The soil in the center of the island supports tree and shrub cover.
A pipe in the ground below a Norway spruce may be a well head. Further research is needed.
From the ledges, you can see Boston. You can also see Peddocks, Bumpkin, Langlee, Sarah and Button Islands. Worlds End and Hingham Harbor are also visible.
Ragged Island has a permanent size of 4 acres. It is composed of Roxbury puddingstone. This is pebbles embedded in finer-grained cement. Broken ledges surround most of the island. There are small gravel beaches on the southeast and northwest sides. Small tidal mudflats also exist.
Please note that access to Ragged Island is by private boat only. Moorings are available by reservation through the Hingham Harbormaster.
Ragged Island is a place of quiet beauty and layered history. It invites you to reflect on its past and enjoy its natural serenity.