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This photo was taken in Oct. 1924 during the removal of the island by a Boston Contracting firm who had purchased it and intended to use the sand and gravel for concrete work. The island was removed within one year. At the right of Cat Island may be seen one of the "Kittens Islands" of which there are three. The Kittens are in the Broad Meadows, which lies in the rear of Cat Island as shown in the photo. From this early transfer of land, the Broad Meadows was designated as the "Three Hill Marsh" owing to their three hummocks of upland now known as "The Kittens."
Mosquito Woods on the northerly shore of Town River was in 1634/5 a part of the land granted by the town of Boston to William Coddington and Edmund Quincy. It remained a part of the Mount Wollaston farm until the year 1904 when it was sold and laid out into house lots.
On the left of our photo can be seen the yacht building plant of Charles C. Hanley who located here in 1903 and built many fast yachts here. This plant was totally destroyed by fire in 1920.
In 1925 the property was purchased by F.D. Lowe Co. and new buildings were erected and Mr. Lowe has been engaged in the building of yachts here.
At the left of the photo is seen the tract known as Bethel Beach and on the shore is the William C. Baker Playground lately improved by the city. At the right is Ridge Hill on which Major William G. Shaw erected a dwelling in 1886 where he resided a few years. It was purchased by Mrs. Castor, the present owner.
The shore front here shown is practically the frontage of the 52 1/2 acres of land granted (1640) to the town of Braintree by William Coddington, the income of which was to be devoted to the use of the schools and for over 200 years was known as the school land.
The ancient house at Bethel Beach was erected in 1812 by Mr. George Shear who resided here until 1823 when he conveyed the farm to Elijah Spear. In 1839 Mr. Samuel Andrews purchased the property and lived here for many years during which time he conducted a retail fish business; and he, with his long tin fish horn, were familiarly known throughout this and neighboring towns.
After the death of Mr. Andrews the shore plain of 12 acres was sold off and the remaining portion was purchased by the Adams estate who in [ ] conveyed it to [Traqurth?] who in 1907 sold it to the Bethel Beach Real Estate Trust, and the tract is nearly built over with neat and comfortable dwellings.
In 1913 a community house was erected where religious and community gatherings are held.
View up Town River from the railway power house showing Mosquito Woods at the left of the photo and at the right is seen Phillips Head. In 1742 Nicholas Phillips Jr. of Weymouth purchased 42 acres of land here and evidently Phillips Head derived its name from that fact.
The cove easterly of Phillips Head at the right of the photo is seen the dormitory erected in 1909 in the rear of the Main building at the Sailors Snug Harbor. The old Joseph Palmer house was on this site, and at this time it was demolished. This house was originally built on the northerly side of the lane to the ferry but was moved to the rear of the main building some years previous and was occupied as sleeping quarters for the inmates.
