Communities

NEWPORT
Newport is one of the smallest communities in size in the state, but packed into this small area are all the attractions you would expect to find in a much larger vacation area. Here in the famous "City-by-the-Sea" are saltwater beaches, excellent fishing and boating, golf courses, tennis courts, good restaurants and hostelries, scenic attractions and nationally known historic shrines. Scores of internationally known events like the Newport Music Festival, Folk and Jazz Festivals, fishing tournaments, ocean yacht races and the Casino Tennis Tournaments bring thousands of visitors to Newport from all over the world. In nearby Middletown are two more beaches, good fishing and the beautiful Norman Bird Sanctuary.

There is more to see and enjoy in this area than can be accomplished in just one day; the charm of Newport is bound to bring visitors back again and again.

Newport's world-famous Ocean Drive, Bellevue Avenue and the Cliff Walk have been popular with visitors for decades. The famous Newport "summer cottages" are best viewed as you motor or walk along these routes. One, "The Breakers," has been described as America's most famous mansion. Located on Ochre Point Avenue, it commands a superb view of the Cliff Walk where visitors can see as far eastward as Sakonnet Point and sometimes Martha's Vineyard. Since it was first opened in 1948 under the auspices of the Preservation Society of Newport County, it has been seen by thousands of visitors from all over the world. A few blocks away, also open in the summer, is "The Breakers" Stable. It is believed to be the only display of its kind in the country, where a collection of horse drawn carriages and vehicles are shown in their original setting. This should be a "must" on anyone's Newport itinerary.

A short drive away is another mansion open to visitors, "Marble House," built in 1892 for William K. Vanderbilt. The lavish use of marble and gilding make this one of the most sumptuous buildings in America. Another great house, also open under the auspices of The Preservation Society of Newport County, is "The Elms," built in 1901 for Edward J. Berwind, the Philadelphia coal magnate. Modeled after the Chateau d'Asnieres near Paris, it features extensive grounds with terraces, teahouses, statues, fountains and a wide variety of beautiful trees. Floral displays of tulips in the spring, begonias in the summer and chrysanthemums in the fall are an added attraction in the beautiful sunken formal French garden. Six additional mansions are maintained by the Preservation Society. "Kingscote" dates from the earliest of the "summer cottages." It was built around 1840, as the home of the King-Armstrong Rives families, who had associations with the lucrative China Trade of the early 19th century. "Chateau-Sur-Mer," built for William S. Wetmore in 1852, is an outstanding example of the Victorian period. Nearby on Bellevue Avenue is "Rosecliff," built in 1901 for Herman Oelrichs, who made his fortune from the famed Comstock Lode and whose wife was the daughter of Senator James Fair.

Hunter House is one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture from Newport's "golden age" in the mid-18th century. The house was built and decorated when Newport was a cosmopolitan city with a principle of religious tolerance that attracted Quakers, Baptists, Congregationalists and Sephardic Jews. The great mercantile families lived patrician lives, building harbor front mansions overlooking their trading ships, and entertained in grand style both in Newport and at their country seats on Aquidneck Island. They bought furniture and silver from local craftsmen and were the patrons of such important early painters as Robert Feke and Gilbert Stuart.

The north half of Hunter House was constructed between 1748 and 1754, by Jonathon Nichols, Jr., who was a prosperous merchant and colonial deputy. After the death of Nichols in 1756, the property was sold to Colonel Joseph Wanton, Jr., who was also a deputy governor of the colony and a merchant. He enlarged the house by adding a south wing and a second chimney, transforming the building into a formal Georgian mansion with a large central hall. Colonel Wanton also ordered the graining, or "spreckling," of the pine paneling in several rooms to resemble walnut and rosewood. During the American Revolution, Colonel Wanton fled from Newport due to his Loyalist sympathies. His house was used as the headquarters of Admiral de Ternay, commander of the French fleet, when French forces occupied Newport in 1780. After the war, Colonel Wanton's house was acquired by William Hunter, a U.S. Senator and President Andrew Jackson's charge d'affaires to Brazil. The Hunters sold the house in the mid 1860s, and it passed through a series of owners until the mid-1940s.

Concerned that the fine interiors of the house would be purchased and removed from the building, a preservation effort was initiated in 1945 by Mrs. George Henry Warren and a small group of supporters. They purchased the building in 1945 and transferred it to the newly formed Preservation Society of Newport County with Mrs. Warren as its first President. The Preservation Society chose to restore Hunter House to the era of Colonel Wanton (1757 to 1779). Today, the house exhibits examples of the finest achievements in the arts and crafts of 18th century Newport. The collections include furniture by the Townsend-Goddard family of craftsmen, premier cabinetmakers of the colonial era who worked in the neighborhood of Hunter House. Newport pewter and paintings by Cosmo Alexander, Gilbert Stuart and Samuel King are also on display. Hunter House is on the Register of National Historic Landmarks.

An Italianate style villa, "Chepstow" was built in 1860 by the resident Newport architect George Champlin Mason as the summer residence of Edmund Schermerhorn. Acquired by Mrs. Emily Morris Gallatin in 1911, the estate continued in the Morris family until bequeathed in 1986 to the Preservation Society with its collections and an endowment by Mrs. Alletta Morris McBean. Containing the original Morris-Gallatin furnishings together with the important 19th century American paintings and documents from other former Morris family residences, Chepstow is highly evocative of the taste and collections of a descendant of one of America's founding families placed in the context of a contemporary Newport summer home.

The Isaac Bell House is one of the best surviving examples of shingle style architecture in the country. The house was designed by the firm of McKim, Mead and White in 1883 for Isaac Bell, a wealthy cotton broker and investor. After passing through a succession of owners, the Isaac Bell House was purchased by the Preservation Society in 1996. In 1997, it was designated a National Historic Landmark. The exterior of the house has been extensively renovated and interior restoration work is continuing. The house is presented for tour as a work in progress. It is a combination of Old English and European architecture with colonial American and exotic details, such as a Japanese-inspired open floor plan and bamboo-style porch columns.

"Belcourt Castle," built in 1890 in the style of a Louis XIII Chateau, was the residence of O.H.P. Belmont. The mansion is privately owned but is open to visitors.

Visitors can now tour the recently opened Rough Point, the house of Doris Duke, the founder of the Newport Restoration Foundation. The home is filled with one of a kind antique furnishings and works of art, including the works of such painters as Gainsborough, Van Dyck, Renoir and Della Robbia.

More than 20,000 people visit Touro Synagogue each year. Built in 1763, it is the oldest synagogue in America and was designated a National Historic site in 1946. Other points of interest are the Newport Historical Society, Redwood Library, the Old Stone Mill, Trinity Church, Newport Artillery Co. Armory, Old State House and the Brick Market. Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House, open to visitors, built in 1748 and completely restored in all its original beauty. The house is one of the ten best examples of colonial residential architecture in America. It is completely furnished with outstanding pieces made by Townsend and Goddard, famous Newport cabinetmakers.

Many activities are held in Newport in the summer, including the famous music festivals, tennis tournament, yacht races, 18th century house tours and mansion tours. Tourists are not new to this seaport city, for it has been host to visitors since the 1720s, which gives Newport, and our state, the claim to being America's first resort.

PROVIDENCE
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region. Despite the city proper having an estimated population of only 178,042 as of 2010, it anchors the 37th largest metropolitan population in the country, with an estimated MSA population of 1,600,856, exceeding that of Rhode Island by about 60 percent due to its reaching into southern Massachusetts. Situated at the mouth of the Providence River, at the head of Narragansett Bay, the city's small footprint is crisscrossed by seemingly erratic streets and contains a rapidly changing demographic. Providence was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a religious exile from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He named the area in honor of "God's merciful Providence" which he believed was responsible for revealing such a haven for him and his followers to settle. After being one of the first cities in the country to industrialize, Providence became noted for its jewelry and silverware industry. Today, the City of Providence is home to eight hospitals and seven institutions of higher learning, which has shifted the city's economy into service industries, though it still retains significant manufacturing activity.

Once nicknamed the "Beehive of Industry", Providence began rebranding itself as the "Creative Capital" in 2009 to emphasize its educational resources and arts community. Its previous moniker was "The Renaissance City", though its 2009 poverty rate was still over 22 percent.

Providence neighborhoods display a remarkable variety of ethnic communities, which are close knit, well-maintained and vibrant. The city has preserved what so many other cities have lost-a sense of charm, security and confidence in the ability of its citizens to manage their own environment. The streets are relatively free of congestion. The crime rate is low and it is served by safe, affordable public transportation.

Providence is home to eight hospitals, most prominently Rhode Island Hospital, the largest general acute care hospital in the state. It is also the Level I Trauma Center for Rhode Island, Southeastern Massachusetts and parts of Connecticut. The hospital is in a complex along Interstate 95 that includes Hasbro Children's Hospital and Women and Infants Hospital. The city is also home to the Roger Williams Medical Center, St. Joseph Hospital For Specialty Care (a division of St. Joseph Health Services Of Rhode Island), The Miriam Hospital, a major teaching affiliate associated with the Alpert Medical School of Brown University, as well as a VA medical center.

The Rhode Island Blood Center has its main headquarters in Providence. Since 1979, the Rhode Island Blood Center has been the sole organization in charge of blood collection and testing and distribution of blood products to 11 hospitals in Rhode Island.

Recreational and cultural resources are numerous and inexpensive in Providence. Roger Williams Park, a 430 acre enclave of woodlands, waterways and winding drives, includes a much acclaimed zoo and attractive sites, indoor and out, for public entertainment.

Providence is about a 45 minute drive north of Newport and can be reached by either of two major routes. Visitors can take Highways 138 and 114 through Portsmouth, Bristol, Warren and Barrington to 195 and Providence. Route 138 over the Newport and Jamestown bridges joins with Highway 1 and then Interstate 95 to Providence.

JAMESTOWN
Conanicut Island
Jamestown is an island at the mouth of Narragansett Bay, approximately nine miles long and one mile wide. It has a community of 5,600 people, most of whom find employment off the island. Summer is the busiest time when boating, fishing and all water-related activities abound, causing the population to swell.

The main street houses shops, restaurants, a drug store, banks, hardware stores, real estate offices and a grocery store. There are doctors and a dentist with practices on the island. There are three churches on the island and two others open for the summer months. This island, known as Conanicut, is connected to the mainland on both sides by bridges, which enables the residents' access to Newport (5 minutes away) on the east and South County area to the west.

Conanicut Island, because of its location at the mouth of Narragansett Bay, has been considered strategically important since the first white colonists settled in Rhode Island. John Winthrop, governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony, wrote to Roger Williams asking that the island be settled and fortified to deter any attack through the "back door of Boston." In 1656, Benedict Arnold, William Coddington and several others from Newport purchased the island, whose name commemorates the sachem Canonicus, of the Narragansett Indians. A few homes of that 17th century settlement survive in private hands today.

From the colonial period, the island has been an important link in the network of ferries connecting the towns along Narragansett Bay. Since 1940, with the opening of the Jamestown Bridge, Conanicut Island has been tied economically to the western shore of the bay. In 1969, the opening of the Newport Bridge linked the island to Newport, marking the end of an era in the history of transportation in Rhode Island.

MIDDLETOWN AND PORTSMOUTH
Middletown, a community of light industry and homes, derives its name from its location on Aquidneck Island and its identity from the opposition of its rural inhabitants, to the dominance of the urban settlement of Newport. Originally part of the Newport plantation, it remained a rural agricultural community as Newport grew into an urban center.

On Dec. 7, 1776, a British fleet of 11 ships landed at Middletown. After a night of pillaging, the British and Hessian soldiers made their way to Newport, which they were to occupy for the next three years.

Middletown, which has always enjoyed the benefit of rich farmland, is today a nursery center. It also boasts industrial parks housing many contractors working with the Naval Undersea Warfare Center.

At the northern end of Aquidneck Island is the town of Portsmouth. Originally known as Pocasset, it was founded by 19 colonists from Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1638. This group, led by John Clarke and William Coddington, formed a pact that ensured a democratic government. The settlement flourished and soon attracted a larger group of colonists from Massachusetts, who came with Anne Hutchinson. In May 1639, Coddington, Clarke and nine others left Pocasset, taking with them all town records, to establish a plantation at Newport. Those settlers who remained in Pocasset formed a new political organization, again based on democratic principles. Within one year, the two groups joined together in a union, the State of Rhode Island (Aquidneck Island had been named Rhode Island, after the Greek island of Rhodes, by Verrazano, who discovered it in 1524).

TIVERTON AND LITTLE COMPTON
The Sakonnet Lands, once part of Massachusetts, today form one of the most peaceful and beautiful corners of Rhode Island. The towns south of Fall River developed from agricultural communities and fishing ports, became resort areas of large summer homes. Completely bypassed by industrial development, the "Summer Cottages," seem today, to be suspended in time, surrounded by the sea. Part of Newport County, they are prime residential areas and boast many fine shops, restaurants and sightseeing vistas. Tiverton, south of Fall River, was once part of Plymouth Colony. Governor Bradford of Plymouth, who purchased the area down to Sakonnet Point from the Pocasset Indians, also secured an English patent for it in 1629.

Because of its proximity to Aquidneck Island, Tiverton was the scene of considerable activity during the Revolutionary War. The town was a haven for Americans fleeing the British occupation, and it was close enough to enemy-held territory to provide a base from which patriots, under the cover of night, could get back to the island to gather the latest information on British movements and supplies.

The picturesque village of Tiverton Four Corners clusters around the junction of West Main Road (Route 77) and East Road (Route 179). As visitors approach the intersection, the industrial and urban sprawl of the communities to the north recede and green fields stretch down to the shore of the bay. Surely one of the most beautiful corners of the state; here farmland, sky and sea create a portrait of tranquility.

Little Compton occupies the southern portion of Sakonnet, an Indian name for the "haunt of the wild black goose." The rocky coastline, salt marshes and swamp lands of the area, even today, suggest the rich natural community that once must have inhabited it. Little Compton, claimed by both Plymouth Colony and Rhode Island, embodies, in the very plan of the village, two different approaches to civic government and religious practice. The settlers from Plymouth were mainly Congregationalists. The Town House built on the Commons in 1693, acted as both a Congregational meeting house and town hall, because the Puritans of Plymouth believed that church and state were linked. A small group of Quakers from Aquidneck Island were the second group of settlers here. Their meeting house, erected around 1700, was the first solely religious building of the little settlement.

BRISTOL
Located along Narragansett Bay across the Mt. Hope Bridge from Portsmouth, R.I. is the town of Bristol. Bristol was the site of the first battle of King Phillip's War in 1675 and since 1785 has hosted the oldest continuous celebration in the country celebrating America's Independence. Bristol is a town steeped in history. Bristol is also the county seat of Bristol County, Rhode Island and had a population of 22,954 at the 2010 census. Bristol, a deepwater seaport, is named after Bristol, England.

Major industries located in Bristol include boat building and related marine industries, manufacturing and tourism. The town school system is united with neighboring Warren, R.I. and is home to Roger Williams University, named for Rhode Island founder Roger Williams.

The outdoor enthusiast has many options in Bristol with the southerly terminus of the East Bay Bike Path being down town at Independence Park on Bristol Harbor. The Bike path continues North to East Providence, R.I. Constructed on an old abandoned railway, some of the best views of Narragansett Bay can be seen along this magnificent corridor. This path is a valued commodity to Bristol, it allows bikers, roller skaters and walkers to enjoy the area. The Bristol-based boat company Herreshoff built five consecutive America's Cup Defenders between 1893 and 1920. The Colt Estate, now known as Colt Park, was home to Samuel P. Colt, nephew of the man famous for the arms company. Colt Park lies on magnificently manicured gardens abutting the West Passage of Narragansett Bay, and is popular for its unparalleled views of the waterfront and spectacular sunsets.

FALL RIVER
Bordering Tiverton to the north, Fall River is located in Massachusetts at the mouth of Mt. Hope Bay, about a 20-minute drive from Newport. This port city has industries that manufacture cotton goods, men's and women's clothing, rubber and latex products, plastics and textile machinery. More than 60 factory outlet stores, in huge old mill complexes, offer bargains for the whole family.

Housing in Fall River is more reasonably priced than the Newport area. It has two hospitals and offers a wide variety of cultural and recreational activities, including a city-wide network of parks and playgrounds. Within the city, Bristol Community College offers day and evening classes such as business administration, engineering and computer science, as well as self-enrichment and technical training programs.

The World War II battleship Massachusetts is berthed in Battleship Cove as a war memorial. The Marine Museum nearby displays ship models, paintings and mementos of the Old Fall River Line. Also on display at Battleship Cove are a submarine, destroyer and two PT Boats.

Settled in 1656, Fall River grew to be the world's leading producer of woven and reprinted cotton fabric by the 1880s. People from across the world came to work in the mills, including large numbers of French Canadians and Portuguese, as well as English, Irish and other nationalities intermingled with Native Americans.

ACROSS THE BRIDGES
North Kingstown
Kingstown was incorporated in 1674, and included the vast area of Narragansett County. While it encompassed the present towns of North Kingstown and South Kingstown at that time, it was not until 1722-23 that they were established as separate towns. Best known as Rhode Island's sea town, North Kingstown's contributions are as historically significant as they are unique. Because of its location and natural harbor and beaches, North Kingstown is famous as a summer resort and haven for pleasure boats. Among its many historic sites still standing are Smith's Castle, built in 1640, by Richard Smith as a trading post, and used as a rendezvous point for troops who fought in the Great Swamp Fight in 1675. North Kingstown is also the birthplace of America's foremost portrait painter, Gilbert Stuart. Rolling Rock and Queens Fort, two of North Kingstown's landmarks, indicates the strong presence and tradition of Narragansett Indians in Rhode Island. With its enchanting old churches and quaint colonial shops and homes, North Kingstown is an example of traditional life in New England. Two examples are the Old Narragansett Church, built in 1707, the oldest Episcopal Church building north of Philadelphia, and Wickford Village, which contains an impressive collection of houses dating back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries—most likely the largest concentration of colonial houses in such a small area in the nation.

Today, North Kingstown is in the vanguard of a trend that is marking the future of Rhode Island's economic stability and industrial growth. From its earliest industries such as textiles, farming, fishing and boat building, to the designation in 1941 of Quonset Point and Davisville as major naval installations, North Kingstown has had a rich history of diversified economic growth and development. Although 1973 brought an end to naval activities in North Kingstown, the closed facility at Quonset Point provided Rhode Island with more than 750 acres of prime industrial land with ideally-suited, in-place facilities for a major job-producing Industrial Park, continuing North Kingstown's growth and economic development. For more information go to http://www.northkingstown.org.

South Kingstown
For decades now, residents and visitors have been going to South Kingstown to enjoy the unspoiled beauty of the shoreline, the quiet tranquility of the rural farmlands, and the quaint charm of the historic villages. It is no surprise that the Town has grown at a faster pace than all other Rhode Island communities over the last twenty years—a fact that underscores the desirablity of the community as a place to live and work.

The Town has a unique combination of environmental and recreational attractions including more than 10 miles of breathtaking and undisturbed beaches and an extensive system of parks and play fields. Additionally, the Town has nearly 11,000 acres of protected open space, representing more than 30 percent of our 57 square mile land area—a number that has increased significantly over the past five years, ensuring that the pristine natural resources of South Kingstown will not be compromised in the future. Our Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services Center and Wastewater Treatment Facility all have received national recognition for the outstanding services they provide. The Town is also home to the University of Rhode Island which offers a wide array of educational and cultural programs and athletic events to the townspeople. For more information go to http://www.southkingstownri.com.

Narragansett Rhode Island
Narragansett has four of the best beaches in Rhode Island (according to Narragansett). Tourism is an important facet of life in Narragansett, with attractive beaches, sport fishing, a relaxed atmosphere, comfortable cottages and motels and camping areas all contributing to the tourist's enjoyment. Narragansett strives to preserve the pleasure of a resort community with the amenities of year round living. For more information about this wonderful community check them out online at http://www.narragansettri.com.

POINTS OF INTEREST
For more information on interesting sites to see in the area, visit the MWR Information Tours and Travel office in Building 1255 or go to http://www.gonewport.com. Additionally, the Newport County Chamber of Commerce website features a section on the Rhode Island Salutes Program. Rhode Island Salutes is a program consisting of businesses and organizations throughout the area who offer military discounts to service members and their families. Check this out at http://www.risalutes.com.  read more...