Consider Outer Brewster Island a sentinel, standing ten miles offshore from downtown Boston. It is also known as Outward Island. This island is one of the outer islands in the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area.
Outer Brewster Island’s story is etched in stone and sky. Its twenty acres consist of exposed bedrock. Fertile soil covers the bedrock. A rocky shore with steep cliffs bounds it.
Outer Brewster Island has a unique history. In 1652, it was first granted to John Leverett. Over the years, the island changed hands many times. Unlike other harbor islands with large communities, Outer Brewster saw few inhabitants. In 1843, only two or three people lived there. Six cattle and fifty sheep also called it home. Arthur W. Austin, the owner at that time, quarried granite. This granite faced a building in Charlestown and paved several Boston streets.
Like Great Brewster, Little Brewster, and Middle Brewster, Outer Brewster Island owes its name to William Brewster. He was the first preacher and teacher for the Plymouth Colony. The barrenness and rocky shoreline of Outer Brewster limited its human usage.
In 1798, Nathaniel Austin purchased Outer Brewster Island from David Wood for $400. Austin aimed to establish a profitable quarry. He even constructed an artificial harbor. Stone mined from Outer Brewster built the house at 27 Harvard Square and 92 Main Street in Charlestown.
The US government acquired the island in 1913. During World War II, it became part of the Brewster Islands Military Reservation. A long-range 6-inch gun battery, named Battery Jewell, was completed in 1943. A radar station was also built. Battery Jewell housed 125 soldiers. It included 6-inch radar guns, searchlights, bunkers, and equipment. This equipment operated the underwater mining operation with Fort Warren and Fort Dawes. The Army abandoned the island in 1947. Later, it was sold to a private owner. In 1973, it became a state park.
Today, the ruins of Battery Jewell remain on Outer Brewster Island. The island is a haven for coastal waterbirds. Cormorants, gulls, common eider ducks, glossy ibis, and American oystercatchers nest here. Harbor seals occasionally rest on its rocks.
Outer Brewster Island boasts diverse vegetation. Low shrub thickets and rough fields cover its rocky uplands. Staghorn sumac dominates the island’s shrub communities. Saltspray rose is common near the shoreline. A small stand of quaking aspen exists. There is also one apple tree, a black cherry tree and a Siberian elm. Slender-leaved goldenrod is found here.
The island consists of exposed bedrock covered by fertile soil. Steep cliffs and a rocky shore bound it. A rock formation by the western cove is known as “Pulpit Rock”. Evidence of 1800s quarrying and a small “canal” can be seen on the northeast and southeast sides.
Views from Outer Brewster Island are stunning. Downtown Boston, Hull, Boston Light, The Graves Light, and the Brewster Islands group can be seen.
Outer Brewster Island stands as a testament to nature’s resilience. It is a historical landmark. Its rugged beauty and rich history create a unique experience for those who venture near its shores.