Grape Island – Historic Ipswich

300 years on Grape Island

November 17, 2022November 17, 2022 Gordon Harris15 Comments

Grape Island Hotel, circa 1900, Ipswich MA

Grape Island was once a small but thriving community, and briefly a popular summer resort. In 1941, 3000 acres of Plum Island including Grape Island were purchased by the U.S. government to establish the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.

Luke and Elizabeth Perkins, notorious disturbers of the peace and a “wicked-tongued Woman”

July 28, 2021October 17, 2022 Gordon Harris1 Comment

Luke Perkins and his wife, Elizabeth were notorious disturbers of the peace in 17th Century Ipswich, and she had a "venomous tongue." It was a happy day for the town when Luke and Elizabeth loaded their belongings into a boat and set sail for the solitary island farm owned by his father on Grape Island.