Timeline of Newport, Rhode Island
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Timeline of Newport, Rhode Island.
17th century
- 1639 - William Coddington settles.[1]
- 1643 - First Society of Friends established (approximate date).[2]
- 1644
- Newport becomes part of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
- Name changed from Aquidneck
- United Baptist Church founded.[3]
- 1647 - Friends' Burial Ground established.
- 1654 - Thames Street laid out.
- 1656 - Second Baptist Church established.[2]
- 1658 - Jews welcomed as settlers.
- 1663 - Easton's windmill built.[4]
- 1673 - White Horse Tavern enlarged into a tavern.
- 1675 - Clifton Burying Ground established.
- 1677
- Jewish Cemetery dedicated.
- Stone mill in operation (approximate date).[4]
- 1681 - Custom-house established.[5]
- 1690 - Town House built.[6]
- 1695 - First Congregational Church established.
- 1696 — The first recorded slave ship, the "Sea Flower," arrives in Newport carrying 47 captives, 14 of whom are sold in Newport.[7]
- 1697 - Mumford house (residence) built (approximate date).
- 1699 - Great Friends Meeting House built.
18th century
- Early 1700s — Newport becomes a major hub of the triangular slave trade[7]
- 1703 - Fort built on Goat Island (approximate date).
- 1705 - John Stevens stonecarving shop in business.
- 1723 - July 19: Pirates hanged on Gravelly point.[8]
- 1726 - Trinity Church built.[2]
- 1727 - James Franklin sets up printing press.[9]
- 1730
- Literary and Philosophical Society organized.[10]
- Seventh Day Baptist Meeting House built.[11]
- White Horse Tavern in business.
- Population: 4,640.[3]
- 1732 - Rhode Island Gazette newspaper begins publication.[12][13]
- 1733 - Organ installed in Trinity Church.[5]
- 1735 - Clarke Street Meeting House built.
- 1740 - January: Snow storm.[8]
- 1741
- State House built.[3][14]
- Artillery Company of Newport chartered.[2]
- 1743 - Middletown separates from Newport.[15]
- 1746 - Almshouse built.[15]
- 1747 - Redwood Library established.[10][3]
- 1749 - Lighthouse built.[15]
- 1750 - Fire company organized.[6]
- 1752
- Marine society established.[1]
- Hunter's Dispensary in business.[citation needed]
- 1755 - Aaron Lopez (merchant) in business.[16]
- 1758 - Newport Mercury newspaper begins publication.[12]
- 1760 - Francis Malbone House and John Tillinghast House built.
- 1761
- Jewish Club organized.
- Douglass travelling theatre troupe performs.[5]
- 1762 - Brick Market built.
- 1763 - Touro Synagogue[2][3] and Granary built.[6]
- 1764 - Shots fired at HMS St John.
- 1765
- June: Demonstration against impressment.[17]
- August 27: Protest against Stamp Act.
- 1774 - Population: 9,209.[5]
- 1776
- 1778
- August 29: Battle of Rhode Island
- December: Snow storm.[8]
- 1779 - October 25: British occupation ends.[5][3]
- 1780
- July 12: French troops arrive.[5]
- Charles Feke apothecary in business.[18]
- Clarke Cooke House built.
- Free African Union Society founded[19]
- 1781
- March 6: George Washington visits Rochambeau in Newport.[5]
- French troops depart.[5]
- 1784
- City incorporated.[5]
- George Hazard becomes mayor.[5]
- Goat Island sold to U.S. military.
- 1787 - Town government resumes.[5][13]
- 1788 - Brissot de Warville finds "houses falling to ruin and grass growing in the public square" and Population: "less than 6000".[3]
- 1790
- 1792 - Newport Association of Mechanics and Manufacturers incorporated.[21]
- 1799
- Fort Adams built.
- Yellow fever epidemic.[8]
19th century
- 1803 - Newport National Bank incorporated.[2]
- 1805 - First Methodist Episcopal Church established.[2]
- 1810 - Spencer's variety store in business.[2]
- 1811
- Hammond's Circulating Library in business.[22]
- Samuel Whitehorne House built.
- 1814 - Sherman & Co. grocers in business.[2]
- 1815 - September 23: Gale.[8]
- 1819
- 1823 - Newport Harbor Lighthouse built.
- 1828 - Mechanics' Library established.[24]
- 1831 - Newport Steam Factory built.
- 1832 - Cozzens carpet shop in business.[25]
- 1833 - June 19: Andrew Jackson visits Newport.[8]
- 1834 - Zion Episcopal Church built.[5]
- 1835
- Davis' Family Bakery in business.[2]
- Perry Cotton Mill built.[5]
- 1837 - Coddington cotton mill built.[5]
- 1838 - Armory built.
- 1839 - Kingscote (mansion) built.
- 1845
- Ocean House hotel in business.[25]
- Old Colony Railroad begins
- 1846
- The Newport Daily News begins publication.
- First Baptist Church building[2] and Van Zandt house constructed.[5]
- 1847
- 1851 - Beechwood (mansion) built.
- 1852
- Street lighting by gas lamp begins (approximate date).[8]
- Chateau-sur-Mer (residence) built.
- St. Mary's Church completed.
- 1853
- City incorporated again.[5][13]
- Robert B. Cranston becomes mayor.
- Church of the Holy Name of Mary built.[2]
- 1854
- Newport Historical Society and Newport Reading Room founded.
- Sisters of Mercy convent built.
- Lighthouse commissioned on Lime Rock.
- 1855 - Touro Park established.[4]
- 1857 - United Congregational Church built.
- 1859 - August 23: Reunion of the Sons and Daughters of Newport.[8]
- 1860 - Chepstow (mansion) built.
- 1861 - Kaull & Anthony grocers in business.[2]
- 1862 - Nason upholstery in business.[25]
- 1863 - School house built on Willow Street.[26]
- 1864
- Old Colony and Newport Railway begins operating.[5]
- Shiloh Baptist Church organized.[2]
- 1865
- Newport Free Library and Reading Room established, first public library in Rhode Island.
- Young Men's Christian Organization formed with the goal to gather books for a library.
- Newport Light Infantry formed.[6][27]
- Scott grocery in business.[25]
- 1866 - Atlantic House roller skating rink opens.[28]
- 1867
- 1869
- People's Library Incorporated
- U.S. Naval Torpedo Station established on Goat Island.
- August: Ulysses S. Grant visits Newport.[8]
- 1870
- Rose Island Light built.
- The People's Free Library, later the Newport Public Library opens at its new location on Thames Street on May 4 completing the merger with the Newport Free Library and Reading Room.[29]
- Newport & Wickford Railroad and Steamboat Company organized.[30]
- Population - 12,521.[3]
- 1871 - Newport Manufacturing Company mill built.[5]
- 1873
- Newport Hospital opens.[2]
- Rogers High School founded.
- 1874 - Ward's Circulating Library in business.[24]
- 1875 - Population: 14,028.[6]
- 1876 - International Polo Cup match held.
- 1878
- 1880
- Channing Memorial Church[2] and Newport Casino built.
- May 30: The League of American Wheelmen is formed in Newport[31]
- Population - 15,693.[3]
- 1881
- City water system authorized.[5]
- Newport Skating Rink opens.[5]
- Tennis tournament begins at Newport Casino.
- Groff pharmacy in business.[25]
- 1882
- Couzens and Bull telephone exchange in business.[5]
- Free Chapel of St. John the Evangelist established.[2]
- Vinland Estate built.
- 1883 - Isaac Bell House built.
- 1884
- Naval War College established.
- July 4: Reunion of the Sons and Daughters of Newport.[32]
- 1885
- St. Joseph's Church established.[2]
- Morton Park established (approximate date).[8]
- Stone Tower restored.[4]
- 1888 - Carr bookseller and Hass florist in business.[25]
- 1889 - Electric trolley begins operating.[5]
- 1890's - Bailey's Beach founded.[13]
- 1891 - Rockhurst (residence) built.
- 1892 - Marble House, Ochre Court, and Rough Point built.
- 1893
- Newport Country Club established.
- Old Colony Railroad stops operations.
- 1894 - Belcourt Castle (residence) built.
- 1895 - National Open Golf Championship held at Newport Country Club.[5]
- The Breakers (residence) built.
- 1896 - St. George's School established near Newport.
- 1898 - Vernon Court (residence) built.
- 1899 - September 7: Automobile parade.[5]
- 1900 - Rhode Island state capital relocates to Providence.[13]
20th century
- 1901
- The Elms (residence) built.
- TJ Brown in business.[citation needed]
- 1902 - Newport Historical Society Museum building[5] and Oelrichs House constructed.
- 1905
- 1908 - Cardines Field baseball stadium is opened.
- 1910 - Population: 27,149.[13]
- 1912 - Art Association of Newport organized.[34]
- 1915 - Miramar (mansion) built.
- 1919
- Seamen's Church Institute founded.[35]
- U.S. Navy sex scandal.
- 1923 - Rhode Island Route 114 designated.
- 1925
- Seaview Terrace (residence) built.
- March 25: A fire destroys the third floor of City Hall; Newport's fire chief dies in the blaze[36]
- 1926 - Hotel Viking (hotel) opens.
- 1926 - Courthouse built on Washington Square.[5]
- 1930 - America's Cup yacht race relocates to Newport.
- 1934 - Salve Regina University chartered.
- 1937 - Population: 27,612.[5]
- 1938 - September: Hurricane.
- 1942 - Naval Academy Preparatory School relocates to Newport.
- 1946 - United Baptist Church established.
- 1948 - WADK radio (1540 AM) begins broadcasting as WRJM. Call Letters changed to WADK in November 1953.
- 1950 - Naval Justice School relocates to Newport.
- 1953 - September 12: wedding of John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier at St. Mary's Church.
- 1954
- Newport Jazz Festival begins.
- Tennis Hall of Fame established.
- 1958 - President Eisenhower establishes his summer White House at the Fort Adams Commandants House.[37][38]
- 1959
- Newport Folk Festival begins.
- Rovensky Park established.
- 1960 - Population: 47,049.
- 1964 - Newport State Airport (Rhode Island) in operation.
- 1965
- Fort Adams State Park established.
- Folk singer Bob Dylan performs a controversial but influential electric folk-rock concert at the Newport Folk Festival.
- 1969
- Newport Bridge opens.
- Newport Folk Festival held for the final time before a 16-year hiatus.
- 1972 - Newport Jazz Festival moves to New York City
- 1976 - Brenton Point State Park established.
- 1978 - Naval War College Museum in operation.
- 1980 - Newport Rugby Football Club (Rhode Island) formed.
- 1981 - Newport Jazz Festival re-established at Fort Adams.
- 1983
- New York Yacht Club loses the America's Cup to the Royal Perth Yacht Club
- Sail Newport established
- 1985 - Newport Folk Festival re-established at Fort Adams.
- 1993 - Yacht Restoration School founded.
- 1998
- Newport International Film Festival begins.
- SVF Foundation established (livestock preservation).
- 2000 - National Museum of American Illustration opens.
21st century
- 2004 - City website online (approximate date).[39]
- 2010 - Population: 24,672.
- 2012 - October: Hurricane Sandy storm surge washes away large sections of the Cliff Walk[40]
- 2014 - June: The Cliff Walk reopens after restoration following 2012's storm damage by Hurricane Sandy[41]
- 2020 - March: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all dine-in restaurants, bars, movie theaters, and all gatherings of 25 or more are banned in Newport and across the state. This brings a halt to nearly all concerts, sports, and other events.[42] Newport mansions are closed.[43]
- 2022 - March: A 20-foot section of the Ciff Walk collapses near Narragansett Avenue and Webster Street and is closed[44]
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