FBHI Board Members
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Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands (FBHI) as of March 1, 2025 Volunteer Board of Directors |
- Paul Federico, Vice Chair
- Steven Marcus
- Elizabeth Carella
- Charlotte Knox
- Carol Fithian
- Ann Marie Allen, Clerk
- Ken Stein
- Suzanne Gall Marsh, Founder and Treasurer
Thank you, Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands
– Walter Hope
– Walter Hope
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I first met the FBHI in 1983, that seems like just a few years ago when I was in my final years at Northeastern University. I’d been in Boston for three years and due to the Northeastern Co-op system, I was working or in school year-round and had spare time on the weekends. I spotted a tiny notice in the Boston Phoenix (a once-upon-a-time “alternative” newspaper). The ad said that there were volunteer opportunities on Boston’s Harbor Islands. I was a suburban guy from Rhode Island, and had not really even heard of the Boston Harbor Islands, and certainly had no idea at that point that they were a park or anything about their amazing history.
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I joined up and for the next three summers volunteered for overnight camping on Grape Island. I remember orientation one year where a gentleman named Jamie had a key ring with 50 plus keys, and he opened doors at Georges Island, and with old-school incandescent flash lights in hand, we gingerly walked into areas of Georges that are now off limits. Our imaginations may have run away with us as we learned of the Lady in Black and the many soldiers who were stationed and/or imprisoned on Georges. On Grape, we would greet the Irene, a very old (even then) wooden ferry boat that would do the inter-island shuttle from Georges to Peddocks, Bumpkin and Grape. While Grape itself was a calm and peaceful island, we could see the brown haze of air pollution over Boston, and I appreciated the cleaner air. Little did I know that my career would be working for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
As time went on with the Friends, I served as a Team Captain for Grape Island and on the Board for a time.
Since about 2004 my husband and I lived on a boat at Constitution Marina in Charlestown. Living on our boats has allowed us unusual access to the islands (compared to most), many trips to Rainsford, Long, Calf, Outer and Great Brewster, as well as Peddocks. Our favorite anchorage was at Great Brewster – the sunsets and sunrises are spectacular – and the sweeping beacon of light from Boston Light can be haunting, as it shows itself crossing Middle Brewster between Great Brewster and Calf.
Serving on the Board and as Chairman have been satisfying and have further cemented my love for the islands. Our work at the New England Boat Show highlighted an opportunity to inform the public of our amazing resource – our islands. We’ve rebuilt our web page, modernized to electronic online ticketing, tried online auctions and online book sales. We’re posting updates and news on Facebook and continuing to build relationships with other like-minded groups.
When I started with the Friends, we were one of the few groups providing tours, volunteers, and advocacy. The harbor was filthy, we were the only on-island volunteer group, and tours of the harbor were few and far between. The Friends and other groups supported the cleanup and have been involved with the various committees and countless meetings over the years supporting the park management. We’ve helped to preserve Nixes Mate, a nursery on Long Island for native trees, and I had the opportunity to work with a great time during Covid on the Great Brewster book, as well as having provided 1000’s of hours (as an organization) of volunteer assistance to the islands.
As much as things have changed and improved, there is always room for more improvement. These are our islands – your islands – a public resource with an amazing history – meant to be used, explored and enjoyed by all. A recent call with the previous iteration of the US Dept of Transportation, Suzanne and I made an impassioned plea that the access to the islands needs to be improved. In the 80’s there were as many as 3 boat companies providing access to George’s Island, and one or 2 inter-island shuttles providing access to the smaller islands. Instead of going forward, the park has gone backwards, and now only 1 company typically provides limited access to only 1 or 2 of the islands (Spectacle, Georges or Peddocks), and the inter-island shuttles have been long gone. Yet at the same time, the park seems to wonder why attendance is falling. As they say in Maine, “ya can’t get there from here”. Boston Harbor NOW has been wonderful at contracting service to the major islands, and Save the Harbor, Save the Bay has been amazing at providing special trips especially for children to the islands. But none of the groups and organizations have been able to increase the schedules, nor provide access to the smaller islands as there used to be.
There is still a place for the FBHI providing a historical reference to the islands as to “what used to be” in recent history. With the seemingly frequent staff turn-overs at the myriad of agencies working on and for the islands, past operations seem to be forgotten. I can only feel that Edward Rowe Snow would be very upset knowing that the islands now have less access than they did not too long ago. Did you know there used to be shuttle boat access to Gallops, Lovells, Grape, Bumpkin and even Great Brewster?!
With all of this said (much of this from my writing in the 40th Anniversary booklet), “they” say the only thing guaranteed is “death and taxes”, I’ll add to that “change”. After many years in Boston, and 10+ years on the Board and as the President/Chairman of the FBHI, editor of Tidings, and Webmaster and Facebook FBHI Administrator, in December (2024) I resigned as President/Chairman and stepped down from the FBHI Board. My life has taken a turn, and after 40+ years in Boston, I’ve purchased a property in Vermont, and plan to build a cabin – becoming a land-lubber for the first time in many years. Some of the qualities in Vermont are what attracted me to the islands… it’s quiet, peaceful, clean, and at night very dark. The community is strong, yet small and I am hoping to continue to volunteer with an organization or two in Vermont as well.
With that said, I will continue my membership with the FBHI and will heartedly continue my support for the advocacy of the FBHI and the Boston Harbor Islands. We -you- are the strength of the FBHI.
I understand the Board will be holding scoping meetings in the future to determine the future of the organization, please consider submitting ideas and suggestions – knowing that there are limitations as to what the group can do.
Thank you for the past 10+ years on the Board and to my fellow Board Members and Volunteers, it’s been a task of love, adventure and learning.
As time went on with the Friends, I served as a Team Captain for Grape Island and on the Board for a time.
Since about 2004 my husband and I lived on a boat at Constitution Marina in Charlestown. Living on our boats has allowed us unusual access to the islands (compared to most), many trips to Rainsford, Long, Calf, Outer and Great Brewster, as well as Peddocks. Our favorite anchorage was at Great Brewster – the sunsets and sunrises are spectacular – and the sweeping beacon of light from Boston Light can be haunting, as it shows itself crossing Middle Brewster between Great Brewster and Calf.
Serving on the Board and as Chairman have been satisfying and have further cemented my love for the islands. Our work at the New England Boat Show highlighted an opportunity to inform the public of our amazing resource – our islands. We’ve rebuilt our web page, modernized to electronic online ticketing, tried online auctions and online book sales. We’re posting updates and news on Facebook and continuing to build relationships with other like-minded groups.
When I started with the Friends, we were one of the few groups providing tours, volunteers, and advocacy. The harbor was filthy, we were the only on-island volunteer group, and tours of the harbor were few and far between. The Friends and other groups supported the cleanup and have been involved with the various committees and countless meetings over the years supporting the park management. We’ve helped to preserve Nixes Mate, a nursery on Long Island for native trees, and I had the opportunity to work with a great time during Covid on the Great Brewster book, as well as having provided 1000’s of hours (as an organization) of volunteer assistance to the islands.
As much as things have changed and improved, there is always room for more improvement. These are our islands – your islands – a public resource with an amazing history – meant to be used, explored and enjoyed by all. A recent call with the previous iteration of the US Dept of Transportation, Suzanne and I made an impassioned plea that the access to the islands needs to be improved. In the 80’s there were as many as 3 boat companies providing access to George’s Island, and one or 2 inter-island shuttles providing access to the smaller islands. Instead of going forward, the park has gone backwards, and now only 1 company typically provides limited access to only 1 or 2 of the islands (Spectacle, Georges or Peddocks), and the inter-island shuttles have been long gone. Yet at the same time, the park seems to wonder why attendance is falling. As they say in Maine, “ya can’t get there from here”. Boston Harbor NOW has been wonderful at contracting service to the major islands, and Save the Harbor, Save the Bay has been amazing at providing special trips especially for children to the islands. But none of the groups and organizations have been able to increase the schedules, nor provide access to the smaller islands as there used to be.
There is still a place for the FBHI providing a historical reference to the islands as to “what used to be” in recent history. With the seemingly frequent staff turn-overs at the myriad of agencies working on and for the islands, past operations seem to be forgotten. I can only feel that Edward Rowe Snow would be very upset knowing that the islands now have less access than they did not too long ago. Did you know there used to be shuttle boat access to Gallops, Lovells, Grape, Bumpkin and even Great Brewster?!
With all of this said (much of this from my writing in the 40th Anniversary booklet), “they” say the only thing guaranteed is “death and taxes”, I’ll add to that “change”. After many years in Boston, and 10+ years on the Board and as the President/Chairman of the FBHI, editor of Tidings, and Webmaster and Facebook FBHI Administrator, in December (2024) I resigned as President/Chairman and stepped down from the FBHI Board. My life has taken a turn, and after 40+ years in Boston, I’ve purchased a property in Vermont, and plan to build a cabin – becoming a land-lubber for the first time in many years. Some of the qualities in Vermont are what attracted me to the islands… it’s quiet, peaceful, clean, and at night very dark. The community is strong, yet small and I am hoping to continue to volunteer with an organization or two in Vermont as well.
With that said, I will continue my membership with the FBHI and will heartedly continue my support for the advocacy of the FBHI and the Boston Harbor Islands. We -you- are the strength of the FBHI.
I understand the Board will be holding scoping meetings in the future to determine the future of the organization, please consider submitting ideas and suggestions – knowing that there are limitations as to what the group can do.
Thank you for the past 10+ years on the Board and to my fellow Board Members and Volunteers, it’s been a task of love, adventure and learning.
Yours Sincerely,
Walter Hope, past Chairman, Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands
Walter Hope, past Chairman, Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands