Timeline of Newport, Rhode Island

Timeline of Newport, Rhode Island.

17th century

• 1639 - William Coddington settles.
• 1643 - First Society of Friends established (approximate date).
• 1644
• Newport becomes part of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
• Name changed from Aquidneck
• United Baptist Church founded.
• 1647 - Friends' Burial Ground established.
• 1654 - Thames Street laid out.
• 1656 - Second Baptist Church established.
• 1658 - Jews welcomed as settlers.
• 1663 - Easton's windmill built.
• 1673 - White Horse Tavern enlarged into a tavern.
• 1675 - Clifton Burying Ground established.
• 1677
• Jewish Cemetery dedicated.
• Stone mill in operation (approximate date).
• 1681 - Custom-house established.
• 1690 - Town House built.
• 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.
• 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
• 1703 - Fort built on Goat Island (approximate date).
• 1705 - John Stevens stonecarving shop in business.
• 1723 - July 19: Pirates hanged on Gravelly point.
• 1726 - Trinity Church built.
• 1727 - James Franklin sets up printing press.
• 1730
• Literary and Philosophical Society organized.
• Seventh Day Baptist Meeting House built.
• White Horse Tavern in business.
• Population: 4,640.
• 1732 - Rhode Island Gazette newspaper begins publication.
• 1733 - Organ installed in Trinity Church.
• 1735 - Clarke Street Meeting House built.
• 1740 - January: Snow storm.
• 1741
• State House built.
• Artillery Company of Newport chartered.
• 1743 - Middletown separates from Newport.
• 1746 - Almshouse built.
• 1747 - Redwood Library established.
• 1749 - Lighthouse built.
• 1750 - Fire company organized.
• 1752
• Marine society established.
• Hunter's Dispensary in business.
• 1755 - Aaron Lopez (merchant) in business.
• 1758 - Newport Mercury newspaper begins publication.
• 1760 - Francis Malbone House and John Tillinghast House built.
• 1761
• Jewish Club organized.
• Douglass travelling theatre troupe performs.
• 1762 - Brick Market built.
• 1763 - Touro Synagogue and Granary built.
• 1764 - Shots fired at HMS St John.
• 1765
• June: Demonstration against impressment.
• August 27: Protest against Stamp Act.
• 1774 - Population: 9,209.
• 1776
• December 8: British occupation begins.
• Population: 5,229.
• 1778
• August 29: Battle of Rhode Island
• December: Snow storm.
• 1779 - October 25: British occupation ends.
• 1780
• July 12: French troops arrive.
• Charles Feke apothecary in business.
• Clarke Cooke House built.
• Free African Union Society founded
• 1781
• March 6: George Washington visits Rochambeau in Newport.
• French troops depart.
• 1784
• City incorporated.
• George Hazard becomes mayor.
• Goat Island sold to U.S. military.
• 1787 - Town government resumes.
• 1788 - Brissot de Warville finds "houses falling to ruin and grass growing in the public square" and Population: "less than 6000".
• 1790
• August 17: George Washington visits Newport.
• Population: 6,716.
• 1792 - Newport Association of Mechanics and Manufacturers incorporated.
• 1799
• Fort Adams built.
• Yellow fever epidemic.

19th century

• 1803 - Newport National Bank incorporated.
• 1805 - First Methodist Episcopal Church established.
• 1810 - Spencer's variety store in business.
• 1811
• Hammond's Circulating Library in business.
• Samuel Whitehorne House built.
• 1814 - Sherman & Co. grocers in business.
• 1815 - September 23: Gale.
• 1819
• Newport Asylum built on Coasters' Harbor Island.
• Savings Bank of Newport incorporated.
• 1823 - Newport Harbor Lighthouse built.
• 1828 - Mechanics' Library established.
• 1831 - Newport Steam Factory built.
• 1832 - Cozzens carpet shop in business.
• 1833 - June 19: Andrew Jackson visits Newport.
• 1834 - Zion Episcopal Church built.
• 1835
• Davis' Family Bakery in business.
• Perry Cotton Mill built.
• 1837 - Coddington cotton mill built.
• 1838 - Armory built.
• 1839 - Kingscote (mansion) built.
• 1845
• Ocean House hotel in business.
• Old Colony Railroad begins
• 1846
• The Newport Daily News begins publication.
• First Baptist Church building and Van Zandt house constructed.
• 1847
• Central Baptist Chursh established.
• Hazard grocery and Langley & Bennett in business.
• 1851 - Beechwood (mansion) built.
• 1852
• Street lighting by gas lamp begins (approximate date).
• Chateau-sur-Mer (residence) built.
• St. Mary's Church completed.
• 1853
• City incorporated again.
• Robert B. Cranston becomes mayor.
• Church of the Holy Name of Mary built.
• 1854
• Newport Historical Society and Newport Reading Room founded.
• Sisters of Mercy convent built.
• Lighthouse commissioned on Lime Rock.
• 1855 - Touro Park established.
• 1857 - United Congregational Church built.
• 1859 - August 23: Reunion of the Sons and Daughters of Newport.
• 1860 - Chepstow (mansion) built.
• 1861 - Kaull & Anthony grocers in business.
• 1862 - Nason upholstery in business.
• 1863 - School house built on Willow Street.
• 1864
• Old Colony and Newport Railway begins operating.
• Shiloh Baptist Church organized.
• 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.
• Scott grocery in business.
• 1866 - Atlantic House roller skating rink opens.
• 1867
• Young Men's Christian Organization disbanded.
• Newport Free Library and Reading Room Incorporated.
• Frasch confectionery in business.
• Opera house established.
• 1869
• People's Library Incorporated
• U.S. Naval Torpedo Station established on Goat Island.
• August: Ulysses S. Grant visits Newport.
• 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.
• Newport & Wickford Railroad and Steamboat Company organized.
• Population - 12,521.
• 1871 - Newport Manufacturing Company mill built.
• 1873
• Newport Hospital opens.
• Rogers High School founded.
• 1874 - Ward's Circulating Library in business.
• 1875 - Population: 14,028.
• 1876 - International Polo Cup match held.
• 1878
• Young Men's Christian Association re-organized.
• King & McLeod (dry goods) and Marshall & Flynn (printer) in business.
• 1880
• Channing Memorial Church and Newport Casino built.
• May 30: The League of American Wheelmen is formed in Newport
• Population - 15,693.
• 1881
• City water system authorized.
• Newport Skating Rink opens.
• Tennis tournament begins at Newport Casino.
• Groff pharmacy in business.
• 1882
• Couzens and Bull telephone exchange in business.
• Free Chapel of St. John the Evangelist established.
• Vinland Estate built.
• 1883 - Isaac Bell House built.
• 1884
• Naval War College established.
• July 4: Reunion of the Sons and Daughters of Newport.
• 1885
• St. Joseph's Church established.
• Morton Park established (approximate date).
• Stone Tower restored.
• 1888 - Carr bookseller and Hass florist in business.
• 1889 - Electric trolley begins operating.
• 1890's - Bailey's Beach founded.
• 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.
• The Breakers (residence) built.
• 1896 - St. George's School established near Newport.
• 1898 - Vernon Court (residence) built.
• 1899 - September 7: Automobile parade.
• 1900 - Rhode Island state capital relocates to Providence.

20th century

• 1901
• The Elms (residence) built.
• TJ Brown in business.
• 1902 - Newport Historical Society Museum building and Oelrichs House constructed.
• 1905
• Civic League formed.
• Population: 25,039.
• 1908 - Cardines Field baseball stadium is opened.
• 1910 - Population: 27,149.
• 1912 - Art Association of Newport organized.
• 1915 - Miramar (mansion) built.
• 1919
• Seamen's Church Institute founded.
• 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
• 1926 - Hotel Viking (hotel) opens.
• 1926 - Courthouse built on Washington Square.
• 1930 - America's Cup yacht race relocates to Newport.
• 1934 - Salve Regina University chartered.
• 1937 - Population: 27,612.
• 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.
• 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).
• 2010 - Population: 24,672.
• 2012 - October: Hurricane Sandy storm surge washes away large sections of the Cliff Walk
• 2014 - June: The Cliff Walk reopens after restoration following 2012's storm damage by Hurricane Sandy
• 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. Newport mansions are closed.
• 2022 - March: A 20-foot section of the Ciff Walk collapses near Narragansett Avenue and Webster Street and is closed

See also

• Newport history
• Timeline of Providence, Rhode Island

References

Bibliography

Published in the 18th-19th century

Published in the 20th century

• + Chronology

Images

External links

• Works related to Newport, RI, various dates (via Digital Public Library of America).