children's island was for many years the location of a failed island house (lowell island house), and was finally donated by its final owner, mr. fredrick rindge, to develop what became known as the "children's island sanitarium, a corporation duly established...subject to the following conditions ‘that said property shall be used by the children's island sanitarium only for the use and purpose for which said corporation was organized...and the property will revert and reinvest in me and my heirs and assigns.'” additionally, he stressed that “children of every race, color and religion should be received there." the sisterhood of margaret of boston were chosen to run the sanitarium. this society was already very involved in the children's hospital in boston and the sea-shore home in winthrop, so its members had experience with the recovery of ill or crippled children.