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Newport, Rhode Island September 29, 2006
This is a wire frame sculpture near the dock where we boarded our boat for an excursion. But first, let's have a bit of a history lesson. Rhode Island may be the smallest of the American States, but it remains wonderfully rich in history. Roger Williams and other refugees from the strict Puritan life in Massachusetts founded the earliest settlements in Rhode Island. Providence, Portsmouth and Newport were all established between 1636 and 1639 in the name of political and religious freedom. The colony’s reputation for tolerance encouraged other groups to settle there. The Baptist churches in Providence and Newport are the oldest in the U.S., and the Quakers came in 1656. A few years later a Dutch-born rabbi, Isaac Touro, established a Jewish community. The Hebrew cemetery and the Touro Synagogue may be the oldest in America. The colony received an official charter from King Charles II in 1663. Its name, Rhode Island, recalls the memory of one of the wonders of the ancient world, the Colossus of Rhodes, a statue huge enough to straddle the harbor mouth. Although piracy and smuggling were important in the early life of the colony, legitimate trade and manufacturing eventually superseded them. Between 1739 and 1760, huge fortunes were made in the so-called Triangle Trade. Cargoes of sugar and molasses imported from Barbados in the West Indies were converted to rum in Newport distilleries, and then shipped to Africa to be exchanged for slaves. By 1770, Newport’s foreign trade was greater than that in New York. It is no accident that efforts on the part of the British government to tax and regulate this trade provoked much opposition among Rhode Islanders. The armed revenue ship Gaspee was sent to Narragansett Bay to enforce the navigation and trade laws in 1772. When it ran aground on a shoal, local citizens burned it and Nathaniel Greene was named to command the Rhode Island militia in 1775. As a Quaker, he was an unlikely choice for a military officer, but eventually became one of Washington’s most dependable commanders. British troops led by General Henry Clinton occupied Newport at the end of 1776, effectively trapping all American ships in Rhode Island. A force of French and American troops tried and failed to capture the city in 1778, but cause widespread damage. The British troops evacuated Newport a year later and it became a principle base for the French nave in America. Newport was largely rebuilt after the revolution. Economic recovery received a huge stimulus when Rhode Island launched the textile industry in New England. Entrepreneurs established what is now called the Old Stone Mill, a water powered cotton mill in 1793. The industrial revolution came to America when the first power loom was built here in 1814. Newport was also home to the Naval Academy during the Civil War. In fact, until the early 20th century, Newport was the principal anchorage for the Atlantic Fleet.
When we arrived at it was looking a bit like it was going to rain. Look aren't deceiving in Newport. Believe me, it rained! However, we were determined to take a side trip to the Rose Island lighthouse. If you look at the photo below you can see the lighthouse in the distance on the left. Later in the afternoon, we were able to see it with a bit of sunlight. Rose Island is the island in the middle of the photo below.
The hedges that line the path are Rugosa Roses that grow wild in the area.
This is a view from Rose Island of the bridge that joins the land masses of Newport across the bay. When we land on Rose Island we are greeted with a 1/4 mile walk to the lighthouse. The building on the right is a utility building that houses an electrical generator and water pump. Below the rightmost part of the light house is a huge cistern. The is the sole source of fresh water used for cooking, washing etc. It is captured by rain gutters surrounding the roof. During World War II the lighthouse was a part of a military installation. All that is left today are some masonry ruins of the bunker that is being readied for restoration. For us, one of the more intriguing structures was a house built on a rock. The only access is by boat in the summer. When the bay freezes over in the winter a snowmobile can be used to go to the mainland. It is occupied throughout the year.
From our balcony the photo above is of the Newport mainland. The island on the right is the one with the house.
Although I am not certain, I suspect the plants growing around the house are Rugosa Roses. They thrive is poor soil, are salt water tolerant and don't like to be sprayed or babied. Return to New England Advance to Boston Return to Home
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