THACHER ISLAND TOWN COMMITTEE
Mailing Address:
Rockport Town Office Building
34 Broadway
Rockport, MA 01966

Sydney Wedmore, Chairman (978) 546-3754
Carol Delaney, Secretary (978) 546-5988
John Krenn. Treasurer (978) 546-3191
Thacher Island Keeper’s phone: (978) 546-2326 when Island is open
Marine VHF Radio: Hail; “Cape Ann Light Station” or ”Thacher Island Light”

The THACHER ISLAND TOWN COMMITTEE is an 11 member board appointed by the Board of Selectmen to manage the Town’s proprietary interest in the maintenance and use of Thacher Island. The Committee meets the third Thursday of every month, generally in conjunction with an immediately following Thacher Island Association meeting. Public attendance is encouraged at both organizations’ meetings. Starting on March 20, 2003, until further notice, monthly TITC and TIA meetings will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Teacher’s (faculty) Room at Rockport High School on Jerden’s Lane.

THACHER ISLAND ASSOCIATION
The TIA is an open membership, nonprofit (501-C3) organization, a support group of several hundred members providing financial support, volunteer labor and management assistance to the Town Committee. Members, donations and volunteer workers are welcome. For more information please visit the Thacher Island Association web site at http://www.thacherisland.org
(Mailing Address P.O. Box 73, Rockport, MA 01966)

ISLAND JURISDICTION
Roughly 28 acres of the 50 acre island (3/4’s of a mile off the Town’s south shore) were deeded to the Town by the U.S. Coast Guard, July 3, 2001 ending the lease arrangement under which the Town had managed the Island since 1976. The Town now owns the South Tower, two keepers’ dwellings, the Boat House and landing ramp, the Whistle House and other small structures. The red flashing beacon atop the South Tower, the solar array that supplies its electricity and the helipad remain in control of the Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Branch. The Island was recently awarded National Historic Landmark status by the Dept. of the Interior largely due to the efforts of the Thacher Island Association.

The northern end of the Island and the North Tower are owned by the U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, which is headquartered at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island. Their holdings on the Island are also managed by the Thacher Island Town Committee under an agreement between the Town and the F & WL Service.

Because the Island is a wild life sanctuary, no pets are permitted in either jurisdiction.

PUBLIC ACCESS
The Town Committee maintains a specially constructed launch to land on the acccess ramp. It is crewed by volunteer Coast Guard licensed operators for transportation of work crews, materials and visitors. Transportation to the Island on the launch is provided in season for visitors on a space available basis on scheduled work days, announced scheduled visitor trips or planned events.

The Island is open to the general public from May 15 thru October 15 (while the official keepers are in residence). Private boat owners may land passengers on the ramp with the permission and assistance of the Resident Keeper but must then anchor off shore or use one of the visitor mooring buoys as directed by the keepers. Commercial marine carriers may observe the same procedures. It is always advisable to radio or call ahead to obtain permission to land and to check landing conditions. Allow time for the Keepers who may be engaged in other duties to reach the ramp before attempting to land.

Visitors in small portable vessels (kayaks, canoes, dinghies, etc.) which can be hand carried and stored above the high tide line may be landed on a space available basis. The ramp space is reserved for landings of the Thacher Island Launch and Coast Guard use only.

Because of the highly variable tide and weather conditions, all landings are at the discretion of the Resident Keepers.

The landing ramp is located approximately midway on the west shore in front of the white boathouse and is the only reasonably safe access to the Island. Landing assistance from the keepers is preferable since the ramp may be slippery from sea growth and portable nonskid planks may be required to ascend/descend the ramp on foot. All landings are at your own risk.

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS
The Keepers’ House contains the Resident Keeper’s apartment as well a three room apartment available as a public accommodation. The apartment which will sleep six has one bedroom on the second floor with one double bed and two bedrooms on the third floor, one with two twin beds and one with two double beds. The 2003 rates are: for the first two people $150.00/night, for each additional person $50.00/night, minimum stay 2 nights weekdays or weekends.

The guest apartment has a kitchen and was completely refurbished in 2002 including all new beds. Water is provided for bathing and sanitary facilities but potable water is not. All guests must bring their own drinking water, food and bed linens (pillows and blankets are provided) and must remove all trash.

Camp grounds are available to individuals and groups for a charge of $5.00 per person/per day. To assure campground space, all reservations must be made through the Keepers by phone or radio. Potable (drinking) water cannot be provided. Campers must supply their own drinking water, food, shelter and cooking facilities. Out door (chemical) sanitary facilities are provided.

Again, wildlife sanctuary status prohibits the landing of pets.

The light towers are open to climb for the scenic views at the discretion of the Resident Keeper. The exterior deck and the old glassed in site of the original beacon in the North Tower are open to climbers (159 steps) for a 360 degree view of the ocean and the mainland. The top deck of the South Tower is not open to visitors since it houses the Coast Guard’s red flashing navigation beacon. Walking trails to scenic views and points of interest are maintained by Committee and Association volunteer workers.

Historical References: Cape Ann: Cape America, Herbert A. Kenny; The Saga of Cape Ann, Copeland and Rogers; THACHERS,...Island of the Twin Lights, Eleanor C. Parsons; The Town on Sandy Bay, Marshall Swan.