Wayland Town Crier 4/8/10: Everything you ever wanted to know about Pelham Island. Is Pelham Island really an island? The short answer is yes – right now. The long answer is – only during flooding. Forty-four years ago when I moved to the island, my longtime neighbor said flooding occurred regularly every 11 years. That was then. Not so today. Flooding occurs much more often, though no more severe than in the past, but lasting longer.