“Craftsmanship meets courage here at the Windmill Point Boathouse” I would say. This boathouse stands as a testament to maritime history. It also embodies the spirit of rescue and resilience. The Windmill Point Boathouse is part of the Hull Lifesaving Museum. It stands on Pemberton Point in Hull Massachusetts. This point was historically known as Windmill Point since the 1820s.
The name Windmill Point comes from windmills used to pump seawater. Two brothers used them to fill vats for salt harvesting. The harvested salt packed fish. This boathouse has a fascinating past.
The Windmill Point Boathouse’s story is intertwined with the United States Coast Guard. The nearby Point Allerton station needed a solution in 1914. They acquired a 36-foot wooden-hull motor lifeboat. But the vessel was too large to launch from their primary station. Thus a launching site was established here at Windmill Point.
The original boathouse was built in the 1920s. The current structure, however, came about through a WPA construction program in 1936. For decades this Windmill Point Boathouse served its purpose. It launched rescue missions until the 1960s. By then the boathouse could no longer accommodate the station’s larger vessels. The Coast Guard built a new station and boathouse in 1970.
Today the Windmill Point Boathouse is a valued part of the Hull Lifesaving Museum. The museum also has the Point Allerton Lifesaving Museum and the Boston Rowing Center. They impact children and adults throughout the region and around the world.
The Windmill Point Boathouse always needs care. Volunteers help with routine chores. These chores include sweeping and organizing tools. They also help with coiling lines. Carpenters electricians and plumbers are precious as gold for the Windmill Point Boathouse. Talented people with knowledge of small boat repairs are deeply valued.
The location of the Windmill Point Boathouse also offers scenic views. Pemberton Point is at the tip of the Nantasket peninsula. It overlooks Boston Harbor and the Boston Harbor Islands. Peddocks Island is the closest island and home to Fort Andrews.
Historically this area, where the Windmill Point Boathouse is located, was known as Windmill Point. It was named for the windmills used to harvest salt. Later the first commercial wind turbine on the East Coast was installed here. It is now the location of the Hull Wind 1 turbine.
During the Victorian Era the Pemberton Hotel was located here. It was one of New England’s most luxurious seaside hotels. It had a seated salt water swimming pool. There were also musical performances and twice weekly fireworks displays. Travelers arrived by train and steamboat.
The Windmill Point Boathouse is a reminder of maritime heritage. It also shows the evolution of lifesaving techniques. Its walls could tell countless stories of bravery. They would also tell stories of community spirit. As you stand here remember the lives saved. Remember the dedication of those who served at this Windmill Point Boathouse.