Block Island

 

7 mi (11.2 km) long and 3.5 mi (5.6 km) wide, off S R.I. at the eastern entrance to Long Island Sound. Visited by the Dutch navigator Adriaen Block in 1614, it was settled in 1661. The murder (1637) there of John Oldham, an English trader, was the direct cause of the Pequot War (see Pequot). Characterized by numerous small ponds, low hills, and a mild climate, the island has long been a favorite fishing and resort area. Possessing ferry services and two harbors, it accommodates local fishing boats and summer leisure craft. There are two lighthouses. The small town of New Shoreham (inc. 1672) is coextensive with the island.

Block Island is part of Rhode Island and is located in the Atlantic Ocean approximately  miles ( km) south of the coast of Rhode Island, and is separated from the mainland by Block Island Sound. The United States Census Bureau defines Block Island as Census Tract 415 of Washington County, Rhode Island. As of the 2000 census the population of 1,010 lived on a land area of  km² ( sq mi). The island is a fragment of glacial terminal moraine (tracing through the Outer Lands region).^[1]

Block Island was named by the The Nature Conservancy as one of twelve sites in its list of "The Last Great Places" in the Western Hemisphere. Roughly 20% of the Island has been set aside for conservation. ^[2]

History

In 1524, what later became known as Block Island was sighted by Giovanni da Verrazzano who named it Luisa after Louise of Savoy, the Queen Mother of France. He described Luisa as "about the size of the Island of Rhodes." In fact, they are shaped very similarly. When the founders of Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations surveyed the land, they thought that Aquidneck Island was the place referred to by Verrazzano--possibly because in 1614, it was charted by the Dutch explorer Adriaen Block, after whom it is named. [1] At the time of the arrival of the Europeans, it was occupied by a branch of the Narragansett people who called the island "Manisses." English settlers from the mainland first arrived in 1661, when the island was part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The island became part of the colony of Rhode Island in 1672. A Dutch map of 1685 clearly shows Block Island, indicated as Adrian Block Island ("Adriaen Blocks Eylant").

The only town on the island is New Shoreham. The island is a popular summer tourist destination and is known for its excellent bicycling, hiking, sailing, fishing, and beaches. Two historic lighthouses are present on the island: Block Island North Light, on the northern tip of the island (established in 1829, current lighthouse was built in 1868), and Block Island Southeast Light, on the southeast side of the island (built in 1875). Much of the northwest tip of the island is an undeveloped natural area and resting stop for birds along the Atlantic Flyway.

Every summer the island hosts Block Island Race Week, a highly competitive, week-long sailboat racing event. On odd years, the event is held by the Storm Trysail Club, and on even years by the Block Island Race Week organization. Yachts compete in various classes, sailing courses in Block Island Sound, and circumnavigating the island.

Other popular events include the annual Fourth of July Parade and celebration. During these times the island's population can triple over the normal summer vacation crowd.

Chronology

1614	Rediscovered by Adriaen Block, who named it for himself.
1636	Taken in combat by Massachusetts soldiers, in retaliation for killing of a trader.
1661	Settled by 16 families from the English colony of Massachusetts.
1664	Becomes part of the English colony of Rhode Island
1672	Island government adopts the name "New Shoreham".
1687	Margaret Guthry buried, now the oldest identifiable gravestone.
1690-1704	Invaded by privateers four times while England at war with France.
1699	Pirate Captain Kidd visits Block Island a month before his capture in Boston.
1737	Emigrant ship Princess Augusta wrecks, leaving Palatine survivors & dead.
1775-83	During American Revolution the island was neutral, trading with both sides.
1812-15	During War of 1812 against British, island returned to status of 35 yrs earlier.
1832	First postmaster appointed; office in his bedroom.
1867	The present-day North Lighthouse was built, the 4th lighthouse at Sandy Point.
1870s	Breakwater successfully built on east side, creating the Old Harbor.
1875-90s	Many Victorian hotels & stores built at Old Harbor; now nationally historic.
1875	Island Free Library founded, and still operating.
1873	Construction began on the brick Southeast Lighthouse; moved in 1993.
1895	Great Salt Pond channel successfully dug, creating the New Harbor.
1907	Steamer Larchmont sinks off Block Island; hundreds dead; islanders heroes.
1917-18	In WW1, from a population of about 1,000 islanders, 63 go off to war.
1933	Block Island School built, replacing five scattered, one-room schools.
1941-45	In WW2, from a population of about 700 islanders, 95 go off to war.
1942 & 44	Two US aircraft carriers are named “Block Island”; the 1st sank 7 U-boats.
1950	State airport opens, replacing informal grass fields used since 1920s.
1960	Winter population plunges to 486; the lowest since the 1770s.
1972	Block Island Conservancy founded; one third of island now preserved as open land.
1974	Old Harbor village declared a National Register historic site.
1993	The massive brick Southeast Lighthouse moved 245 feet from eroding bluffs.
2000	Winter population surpasses 1,000 for first time since the 1930s.

--- written by Robert M. Downie, author of two history books named "Block Island --- The Sea" (1998) and "Block Island --- The Land" (1999)

Climate

Block Island's weather is greatly influenced by the surrounding ocean. Because the ocean stays cold during the Spring and Summer months, Block Island stays cooler than the mainland during this period. However, summers can still be hot on Block Island although July and August average in the mid and upper 70s instead of low and mid 80s that New York and New England experience. Block Island's record high temperature is  °F ( °C). In comparison, Chester, Massachusetts, which is far inland, has a record high of  °F ( °C). On the flipside, Block Island stays warmer than the mainland during the fall and winter months when the ocean remains relatively warmer than the mainland. Block Island's record low is  °F ( °C) while Chester's record low is  °F ( °C).^[3][4]

Block Island's High and Low Temperature Averages and Precipitation Averages:

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Avg high °F	39	40	45	53	62	71	77	77	71	62	53	44	58
Avg low °F	27	28	33	41	49	58	64	64	57	49	41	32	45
Rainfall (inches)	3.68	3.04	3.99	3.72	3.40	2.77	2.62	3.00	3.19	3.04	3.77	3.57	39.79

Beaches

Crescent Beach can be viewed from the Pt. Judith Ferry on the way to the island. It contains three smaller beaches, Fred Benson Town Beach (still popularly known as State Beach due to its former status as one), Scotch Beach, and Mansion Beach, all of which are located on Corn Neck Road. State Beach is the only beach on the island with on-duty life guards, as well as a pavilion with food and beach rentals. The so-called Baby Beach begins at the Surf Hotel, near the Beachhead Restaurant on Corn Neck Rd. Scotch Beach is located just north of Fred Benson Town Beach and Mansion Beach is located north of Scotch Beach.

On the south side of the island, Black Rock Beach is widely regarded as the best beach for surfing on the island due to its high surf. However, the beach tends to be very rocky and has a reputation for being a nude beach, despite laws against nudity on Rhode Island's beaches. It is located near the Mohegan Bluffs and Southeast Lighthouse.

Coastguard Beach is situated between the Great Salt Pond and the ocean on the north west side of the island. It is a popular beach for fishing and walking, but not particularly good for swimming due to the large number of boats traveling nearby.

Tourist attractions

Southeast Lighthouse is located at the southeast corner of the island on the Mohegan Trail. Visitors may climb a staircase to the top of the lighthouse during the summer.

Mohegan Bluffs is located a short distance to the west of Southeast Lighthouse. The Bluffs are the site of a battle between the invading Mohegan Indians, and the native Manisee Indians in which the Mohegans were driven off the edge of the tall cliffs to their deaths on the beach below. A long staircase leads to the bottom of these clay cliffs and looks out over the Atlantic. On clear days, Montauk, New York can be seen in the distance from the southern and western sides of the island.

Rodman's Hollow is a 230-acre glacial outwash basin, near the southern shore of the island. The hollow has several walking trails.^[5]

North Lighthouse is located at Sandy Point on the northern tip of Block Island. The North Lighthouse warns boaters of a sandbar extending from this end of the island. The surrounding dunes are part of the Block Island National Wildlife Refuge, home to many species, including the Piping Plover and American Burying Beetle.^[6]

U-853 is a U-boat wreck  miles ( km) east of the island, lying in  ft ( m) of water. Recreational divers frequently visit the wreck, though two have died there.^[7]

Transportation

The island is connected by a ferry year-round to Point Judith, and in summer to New London, Connecticut, Montauk, New York, and to Newport, Rhode Island.

There are several ferry services to Block Island. The traditional Ferry, takes about an hour to reach the island from Point Judith. A high speed Ferry on the same route takes 35 minutes. Another high speed ferry from New London, Connecticut to Block Island takes an hour and a half.

New England Airlines offers regularly scheduled airline service to Block Island State Airport from Westerly, Rhode Island.

References

1. ^ Census Tract 415, Washington County United States Census Bureau
2. ^ One of the last great places. Providence Journal, projo.com (June 9, 2005). Retrieved on 2007-10-01.
3. ^ Block Island,so RI Averages and Records. Accessed April 20, 2006.
4. ^ Chester, MA Averages and Records. Accessed April 20, 2006.
5. ^ Rodman's Hollow. nature.org. Retrieved on 2007-10-05.
6. ^ Block Island National Wildlife Refuge. fws.gov. Retrieved on 2007-10-05.
7. ^ Robert M. Downie (1998). Block Island—The Sea. Book Nook Press. , page 194

• The history books "Block Island --- The Sea" (1998) and "Block Island --- The Land" (1999) by Robert M. Downie, Block Island historian.

External links

• The Block Island Homepage
• Block Island Weather, Webcams, Pics, and Interactive Message Boards
• Block Island Jobs and Employment
• Block Island Business Directory
• Block Island Times Newspaper
• Block Island History
• Official Site for Race Week
• Montauk / Block Island High Speed Ferry
• Pt. Judith / Block Island Traditional Ferry
• New London / Block Island High Speed Ferry
• Block_Island travel guide from Wikitravel

Coordinates: 41.175424° N 71.578245° W

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