Dutch Island is an 81-acre island situated at the southern end of the West Passage to Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island. It served an important role in our country's military history, from its acquisition by the United States Army in 1864 until its closing by the military in 1947. This volume is the first pictorial history illustrating the military development and facilities of Fort Greble on Dutch Island, spanning the period from the Civil War to World War II. Readers will step back in time and wander through the early earthworks and different incarnations of Fort Greble, stroll along the pristine parade ground before it was covered in briar and bramble, gaze upon the huge coastal artillery guns pointing toward the sea, and watch uniformed soldiers performing their duties on this fortified island.

Jamestown, Rhode Island's history has been formed--both for good and ill--by its geography. The town officially encompasses three islands in Narragansett Bay--Conanicut, Dutch and Gould--plus a number of small islets known as "dumplings." Jamestown was part of the larger world when merchants and travelers used the common roadway of the bay. As the speed of transportation on land increased, that same bay isolated the town. Reliable ferry transport fostered the growth of a low-key resort, and the bridges that followed moved the community from resort to suburb. The changes have left Jamestowners torn. Some look back nostalgically at the ferries and the solitude they allowed, while others look forward to a vibrant village and grand suburban homes. Still, whether one is reviewing Jamestown's past or anticipating its future, the constraints of its geography remain forever unchanged.

Discover the fascinating history of Jamestown, from tales of shipwrecks to summer days long past. The town was home to Camps Bailey and Meade, two training facilities for Union troops during the Civil War. When the steam ferries crossed the bay beginning in 1873, people traveled to the island to sample the town's leisure and entertainment opportunities. Beavertail Lighthouse and the breathtaking Clingstone stand as iconic landmarks centuries after their construction. After the Jamestown Bridge opened in 1940, suburban development on the North End mostly replaced the hotels along the waterfront. Local authors Rosemary Enright and Sue Maden reveal stories of Jamestown's past and evolution in this captivating collection of essays.

When Caleb Carr, one of the 101 men who purchased Conanicut and Dutch Islands in 1657, petitioned the General Assembly to incorporate Jamestown in 1678, the town had 150 inhabitants. The community thrived until the American Revolution, when the British occupation drove away many people. Nicholas Carr and John Eldred both remained, rebelling in their own ways. The town recovered slowly, and its character changed with modernized modes of transportation. Steam ferries, introduced in 1873, ushered in an era of resort hotels, affluent summer visitors, and a service economy. The West Passage bridge in 1940 brought permanent residents with off-island occupations and interests. The East Passage bridge (1969) and the replacement West Passage bridge (1992) created a suburban atmosphere enlivened by a continuing influx of summer vacationers. Most newcomers revel in the islands beauty and are intent on keeping Jamestown the peaceful haven that attracted them.

The first place-by-place chronology of U.S. history, this book offers the student, researcher, or traveller a handy guide to find all the most important events that have occurred at any locality in the United States.