USA > Rhode Island > A history of Block Island : from its discovery, in 1514, to the present time, 1876 > Part 16
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THE FIRST STEAMBOAT EXCURSION.
The Rev. George Wheeler, present pastor of the Free- Will Baptist Church of Block Island, claims the merit of originating the first steamboat excursion to this place. He was then a grocer in Providence, in 1853, and char- tered the steamer Argo for the purpose. She brought two hundred and fifty excursionists, and by her trip cleared eighty dollars for the benefit of the first meeting- house, then in process of erection, built by said church. The steamer anchored in the Bay, and the passengers were landed by row boats.
SCHOOLS.
In 1857 there were five district schools on the Island, and at that time the School Commissioner reported them to be "as good schools as those in any of the country towns in the State." The same schools are still main-
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tained. Since the former date two new, modern school- houses have taken the places of the old ones. The one on the Neck is large and well-furnished, and was built but a few years ago. The new one on the West Side was built in the fall of 1876, and is a great improvement on its predecessor. The building of other school-houses soon is contemplated, and needful.
A new stimulus for improvement has been given to the district schools by the establishment of a school of a higher grade, thus gratifying the natural love of promo- tion, by higher attainments.
ISLAND HIGH SCHOOLS.
A school of advanced grade has long been talked of as greatly needed in New Shoreham. The first step towards establishing one was a vote of the town in 1874, giving the free use of the town hall to any one who would take the responsibility of the enterprise.
In the summer of 1875, Prof. S. A. Snow, principal of the high school at Oxford, Mass., canvassed Block Island, with the intention of opening a school; but decided that, without and from the town, the undertaking would be impracticable. In town meeting, October, 1875, a motion to appropriate money for the above named purpose was lost, and the project was accordingly abandoned.
During the same October, the town was again can- vassed, this time by A. W. Brown, of Middletown, R. I., who offered to open the school at a tuition-rate of ten dollars per pupil, provided that twenty-five pupils should be assured, or a part of that number, and pecuniary aid to supply the deficiency. Nineteen pupils were promised for one year. The amount wanting was divided into six shares, the total not to exceed two hundred and forty dollars, and to be diminished by the amount paid by any additional pupils obtained.
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Messrs. Lorenzo Littlefield, Nicholas Ball, William P. Lewis, Hiram Ball, and Arthur W. Brown took the re- sponsibility of one share to each; the remaining sixth was assumed by Messrs. Alvin H. Sprague and Thomas H. Mann, M. D.
On Monday, Nov. 29, 1875, the Island High School was opened at the town hall, which had been fitted up for the purpose. Edith Ball, Adrietta P. Ball, Annie I. Mitchell, Annie Payne, Addie Smith, Ray G. Lewis, Schuyler C. Ball, Erwin Ball, Hamilton Mott, and William T. Dodge, entered at the beginning of the first term, during which the number increased to sixteen.
The second term opened, on Feb. 14, 1876, with in. creased advantages. Rough pine tables had been used before; but now these gave place to handsome tables of ash, well made, and convenient. A first class orchestral organ was procured for the use of the school. Miss Kate L. Backus, of Ashford, Conn., was employed to assist in the work of the school, to teach instrumental and vocal music. The school increased rapidly in efficiency, and gave, at the close of the term, a successful exhibition, and has continued with varying but ever-improving for- tunes to the end of the sixth term (Feb. 3, 1877).
Reports have been given to the pupils at the end of each five weeks of term time. In these, the amount of previous training received by each pupil is taken into consideration. The abilities of pupils are not compared, but account is taken of the manner in which their powers are exerted, and of deportment. The following are the names of those who have ranked first, second, or third in either of the reports issued: Addie Smith, Annie Payne, William T. Dodge, Annie I. Mitchell, Clarence Littlefield, Ray G. Lewis, Fanny Payne, and Frank Littlefield.
The following-named pupils have been noted, while at- tending the school, for unexceptionally good behavior:
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HISTORY OF BLOCK ISLAND.
Addie Smith, Ray G. Lewis, Annie Payne, C. Ellie Champlin, Fanny Payne, Grace E. Jelly, and Isaac S. Hooper.
Most of the old pupils are still in attendance, and other names have been added to the roll. The name of one beloved of all is now graven on one of the stones that dot the neighboring burial hill. Thomas J. Rose left Block Island, at the close of the summer term of 1876, to pass the long vacation with relatives in Newport. Returning to attend school at the beginning of the fall term, he was stricken by diphtheria, and died Sept. 12th. The members of the school stood by the grave as the body of their playmate was committed to the earth. He rests. well, within view of the ocean which he always loved, and which soothed him in his sickness by the solemn slow song of its waves.
In closing this sketch, it is only necessary to add that the Island High School, now firmly established, is in good working condition; and there is every prospect that it will grow in numbers and in usefulness. Thus the zeal and competency of its principal, Mr. Arthur W. Brown, joined with the enterprise of the Islanders, have raised a standard of education on Block Island which fulfills the wish and the prophecy of an able writer and visitor here in 1860, who said, " One further improvement seems to be demanded, and as this necessity is felt by the most intelligent Islanders, I trust it may soon be made; and that is, the permanent establishment of one school of a higher grade, so located that each district can contribute its quota of advanced scholars annually. There is the material here, the demand for it, and, I trust, the will." (W. H. Potter.) Large universities have had smaller beginnings, and it is hoped that this High School may be a perennial fountain of pure learning to the rising generations.
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ISLAND LIBRARY.
ISLAND LIBRARY.
On Saturday evening, March 6, 1875, at a meeting of ladies and gentlemen who were interested in obtaining better advantages for intellectual improvement than were then enjoyed upon Block Island, and who believed that a public library would furnish larger privileges to that end, an organization was formed, under the name of "The Island Library Association." At this meeting, held at the office of Dr. T. H. Mann, a constitution was adopted, creating the various offices of the association, specifying the duties of each officer, and providing for his proper election, and the election of successors. By-laws were passed, providing for the proper care of the library; and for an annual tax of one dollar for each gentleman, and of fifty cents for each lady.
The following are the names of the members who assisted in the organization : Mrs. Wm. P. Ball, Mrs. Nicholas Ball, Miss Effie Ball, Mrs. Herman A. Mitchell, Mrs. Charles Willis, Mrs. John Hayes, Jr., Misses Alice Lewis, Charity Ball, and Mary T. Rose; Messrs. T. H. Mann, Daniel Mott, James Hammond, Ralph E. Dodge, Amos D. Mitchell, J. W. Smith, Burton Dodge, James E. Mitchell, Howard Millikin, Robinson Lewis, Marcus M. Day, Nicholas Ball, Orlando Willis, Aaron W. Mitchell, John W. Millikin, Chester E. Rose, Edwin A. Dodge, William C. Card, William M. Rose, Everett Millikin, and Leander A. Ball.
At the first meeting, the following officers were elected: President-Thomas H. Mann, M. D.
Vice-President-Marcus M. Day.
Secretary-Orlando Willis.
Librarian and Treasurer-Halsey C. Littlefield.
Board of Trustees-Thomas H. Mann, Orlando Willis, William C. Card, Mrs. William P. Ball, and Mrs. John Hayes, Jr.
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Some fifty dollars were subscribed; the constitution and by-laws were printed; but during the summer, the matter received no attention.
The next winter, the subject was again agitated, and, in January an attempt was made to procure funds. This time the efforts made were more successful. His Excel- lency, Gov. Henry Lippitt, and Mr. Rowland Rose, both of Providence, gave twenty-five dollars each. Subscrip- tions of ten dollars were received from Prof. Eben Tourjée of Boston University; from Messrs. Whitford, Aldrich & Co., Hartwell & Richards, and Congdon & Aylesworth of Providence; and from Mr. Lorenzo Little- field of New Shoreham. Messrs. William P. Lewis, Alvin H. Sprague, William P. Ball, John G. Sheffield, and Arthur W. Brown, gave five dollars apiece. Fifty-eight others subscribed sums varying from fifty cents to three dollars, Hon. Nicholas Ball gave seventy-eight books, and a donation of fifty standard English works was received from Mr. Amos D. Mitchell, proprietor of the Providence House. Prof. Eben Tourjee, of Boston University, prom- ised one hundred volumes ; Hon. Wm. P. Sheffield of Newport, promised one hundred volumes as soon as the library should number four hundred volumes.
On the evening of Friday, February 24, 1876, the asso- ciation met and elected as
President-T. H. Mann, M. D.
Vice-President-Nicholas Ball.
Secretary-Charles E. Perry.
Librarian and Treasurer-Arthur W. Brown.
Board of Trustees-T. H. Mann, C. E. Perry, Alvin H. Sprague, Mrs. L. Littlefield, and Miss Alice Lewis.
The library, numbering two hundred and fifty volumes, had been arranged in a neat case made by Leander A. Ball and located at the town hall. After the abovemen- tioned election of officers, some forty volumes were dis-
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tributed. Since that time the library has been in constant use, and has grown rapidly. Hon. William P. Sheffield has given one hundred and thirty-four volumes, thus more than making good his promise. Other donations have been received from Messrs. T. W. Higginson, D. C. Den- ham, and Jas. E. Hammond of Newport; from Messrs. Samuel Austin, T. B. Stockwell, and J. C. Greenough of Providence; and from Mr. C. E. Perry of New Shore- ham. Large additions have also been made by purchase.
The library now contains more than five hundred volumes ; it is doing a good work, and it is hoped will long continue to grow. Donations of books from the friends of learning may be of great service in this iso- lated community.
It is due to Mr. Arthur W. Brown, Principal of the Island High School, the first of that grade ever opened on the Island, to say here that he originated the plan of this first public library on the Island, and that chiefly by his enterprise it has become a valuable institution.
MUSIC.
Although we have no evidence that Block Island was anciently one of the isles of the sirens where ships were charmed ashore by the sweetness of music, yet here is found more than an ordinary natural talent for the art most captivating. Voices full and rich in melody here are in need of nothing but culture to make them distin- guished. Not a native of the Island can sing by note independently, and yet the church singing is truly musical and devotional, inflenced more by the movements of the sea than by the songs of the birds. Nor is this undulating movement of the good old tunes disagreeable. It is simply natural, and not artistic.
Instrumental music, until recently, was limited to the fife, flute, drum, and violin, the latter being in demand in
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the time of horseback rides, pillions, and private house dancing after a husking. We have no knowledge of any Islander who has excelled in music or poetry. Indeed, we know of but one who ever attempted poetry, and he died over a hundred years ago. His poetry was adapted to his music, as one might judge of the accounts of both.
Rev. Samuel Niles, a native of the Island, while pastor of the church in Braintree, Mass., had a contest with his church about singing by note. His church made arrange. ments to do so. The Sabbath came; the church assembled; but no minister appeared. He was informed that "they were all present before God to hear all things which were commanded him of God." His reply was that "he would not preach in the meeting-house unless they would sing by rote." There is some of his sentiment on the Island, which it would be well to overcome by a few good singing- schools in winter after the boats are hauled up. The poetry of Mr. Niles indicates his musical culture; for example:
" A cannon splitting slew brave Captain Hale, Worthy esteem, whose death all do bewail ; Brigadier Dwight here stands in honor high, Colonel o'er train of the artillery."
Music by note is what the Islanders need to give scope to their rich, melodious voices. Then they will have an independence and harmony which they cannot otherwise obtain. Towards this point they are evidently aiming, for there are now among their families six pianos, and eighteen organs, and the young are learning with com- mendable progress.
TREES.
While Block Island is destitute of forest groves of large and small trees, it is erroneous to report, as some have, that it is entirely destitute of them. Many houses and yards are adorned with them, and instead of there being
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none, the ornamental and fruit trees of the Island, though small, may be counted by thousands. During the past few years the nursery-men from abroad have been here repeatedly, and have driven quite a lively business. Those who come here only in the mild zephyrs of sum- mer have not the faintest idea of the severity of the wintry winds upon the trees, even stripping them, some- times, of their green leaves, in the early autumn, and literally whipping the limbs to death before spring. But little, if any, more beautiful apples were seen at the Cen- tennial than grew in the same year on a tree in Mr. Lo- renzo Littlefield's orchard-several barrels on the same tree. A greatly increased interest is taken in the culture of fruit, and with proper patience and energy the best of apples, pears, and quinces, and cherries might be produced, as well as the smaller fruits. The hardier fir trees might be made to enclose a plat that would thus be protected from the bleak winds, and within the enclosure luxuries of fruit could be obtained to which the children of the Island are too great strangers.
SUMMER VISITORS.
It is comparatively but a short time since the attractions of Block Island have been made public. The little open boats from here, occasionally seen mooring at the wharves of Newport, Stonington, New London, and Norwich, laden with fish and produce, and sometimes with oxen. cows, calves, sheep, fowls, and men and women, some lowing, some bleating, some crowing and cackling, and others talking and laughing while on their voyage, were not the best advertisement for strangers accustomed to palace cars and the elegant saloons of steamers. From what they saw they greatly misjudged the Island and its inhabitants. This, it may safely be said, thousands have since acknowledged. Nor was it for the interest of neigh-
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HISTORY OF BLOCK ISLAND.
boring places of resort to speak of the attractions of Block Island, but rather to point out what of it was repul- sive. The very sight of the Island, as seen by those passing Sandy Point, repelled, for many scores of years, rather than attracted strangers. Its destitution of trees, its unpretentious buildings, its shores unfrequented by shipping, with here and there its little pinnaces fishing, and these lying bottom up, in the winter, on the land, while there were no public works during the cold season to indicate life and enterprise-these gave the impression to strangers which the poet has expressed in the triplet:
" Lonely and wind-shorn, wood-forsaken, With never a tree for spring to waken, For tryst of lovers or farewells taken."
But occasionally health and pleasure-seekers who cared less for the gaudy shows of fashionable resorts than for the pleasures of Nature's walks, halls, and parlors-fields under the great blue dome, where none breathe the un- healthy odors of gas and kerosene lights, where none require fans in the heated days and evenings of summer, and where all experience the truth that exercise along the sea shore, in the pure sea breeze, gives a relish to food which all the sweets and spices of the Indies cannot afford, and a refreshing to sleep that makes one feel like saying in the morning from his very heart, "So He giveth his beloved sleep," a few such, not many years ago, looked across the waters to Block Island and imagined that here was a desirable place for rest and recuperation. One such seeker, a distinguished resident of one of the cities of New York, stopping at a large hotel on the main, occasion- ally looked through his glass towards Block Island, apparently a speck away out at sea, and inquired of the proprietor: "What is that away there?" "O, that is nothing but Block Island-a little sandy place," was the reply. The inquirer decided that he would see that
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" little sandy place," and improved the first opportunity, and instead of sand, found beautiful fertile fields; instead of a land breeze much of the time, he found a pure salt- air sea breeze refreshing, and cooling night and day; instead of fish that had been caught several days and kept on ice, his table was furnished with the best direct from the ocean, and from that time he has been an annual visitor, bringing with him his many excellent friends each summer. Thus others have come, and induced their acquaintances to follow, until one steamer, the Canonicus, in 1875, brought to the Island over 10,000 passengers. Add to these the visitors by the steamer Ella, from Nor- wich, Connecticut; those by Capt. Card's Yacht, and others on excursions from various cities, loading their steamers down to the water's edge, and also the elegant pleasure yachts from abroad, and some estimate can be made of the visitors to Block Island.
The character of these visitors is an item of interest. From the glimpses which the writer has had of fashion- able resorts, he is certain that the Block Island visitors are sui generis. If they have airs at home they lose them before landing here, and while remaining breathe an air of health and freedom. If they are wealthy there, they make but a modest show of it here. If they are cramped and fettered there by the conventionalities of societies, as an English orator said of slaves and England, their fetters fall from them as soon as they step foot upon these shores. That they are well bred is evident to a competent ob- server. They are the solid men and women of the most moral circles of the country. The faster sort, if they come at all, tarry but briefly. For such the social atmos- phere is not congenial either from the great majority of visitors, or from the Islanders. Intemperance is not toler- ated. A few with plenty of money, desirous of a plenty of liquor, have tried the Block Island hotels, and very
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HISTORY OF BLOCK ISLAND.
soon have been asked to settle their bills. And yet, inno- cent, healthful amusements are common here. Some of the best families in the country are annual visitors to the Island, from many different cities and villages. It is a favorite resort for many from Norwich and Hartford, Conn .; Troy, N. Y .; Philadelphia; Washington, D. C .; and New York city. Professor JOSEPH HENRY of the Smithsonian Institute, Judge INGALLS of Troy, N. Y., and others of like distinction have spent so many summers, or parts of them, at Block Island that they seem here almost like citizens.
PRESIDENT GRANT'S visit formed an item of history. This occurred on the 18th of August, 1875. Such swell- ing accounts of it have been read in the newspapers that a truthful one can hardly expect to be credited. He was on a brief tour in New England; stopped at Bristol, R. I. and through Senators H. B. Anthony and Major General Burnside was invited by Hon. Nicholas Ball to visit Block Island. On the 18th the revenue cutter Grant appeared in the offing, and soon anchored in the Bay. Two boats were lowered into which the President with his escort, Secretary Bristow, Attorney-General Pierrepont, Senators Anthony and Burnside, and others entered and were rowed into the Harbor by the well trained mariners, while all the available flags were flying. The presidential party were all obliged to climb over the decks of two vessels before reaching the wharf, where the President was wel- comed by Hon. N. Ball, and escorted to the Ocean View Hotel. Never, probably, was there less excitement on the arrival of so distinguished a visitor. Had it not been for the visitors present not a single hurrah would have been raised. It was singular as it was. Far more of the Islanders, a few days from that, were at the funeral of a pious young mother on the Neck. It is a pity that more of the children were not induced to meet the President,
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for their future gratification. He dined, shook hands with those introduced to him, affectionately beckoned to a bright little girl to come to him, visited the new light- house, and took leave for Cape May about 3 P. M.
Never before did the writer so fully understand the meaning of Peter's saying: "Lo, we have left all," as when he saw fishermen-good men too, mending their nets by the way-side, while the President was passing, without stopping to see him. Hon. Nicholas Ball, Hon. J. G. Sheffield, and others of the Islanders exerted them- selves commendably to show proper respect for national " dignities."
CIVIL POLITY OF BLOCK ISLAND.
A MINIATURE DEMOCRACY.
From its settlement in 1662, until the present, it has been essentially that of a miniature democracy. Its six- teen proprietors owned equal shares of the soil. Those of them who did not move to the Island with the settling party transferred their privileges here to their tenants. All were equals in civil rights, except as they conferred them temporarily upon one or more of their number. As Massachusetts had relinquished her claim upon the Island in favor of John Endicott, Richard Bellingham, Daniel Dennison, and William Hawthorne, it became private property, and when, as such, it was sold to the settlers, they entered upon it as a private corporation, or compact of their own construction. Their civil and religious views were doubtless well known to Clarke and Williams, the founders of the Rhode Island colony, and therefore they had Block Island included in the charter which they and others obtained from CHARLES II, in 1663. This charter secured for the Island the same polity granted to the said colony. In the first year's enjoyment of this charter James Sands and Joseph Kent, in behalf of the inhabitants of Block Island, petitioned the General Assem- bly of Rhode Island for civil protection and order, and were responded to by a committee, the chairman of which was Roger Williams, who most cordially conceded to the Islanders the boon which he had so anxiously sought for himself, namely, a civil freedom that should exercise no authority over the religious convictions of any so long as
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A MINIATURE DEMOCRACY.
those convictions did not disturb the peace of community. Hence in his report to the Assembly it is said: "At present this General Assembly judgeth it their duty to signify His Majesty's pleasure vouchsafed in these words to us, verbatim, viz .: That no person within the said col- ony at any time hereafter, shall be in any ways molested, punished, disquieted, or called in question for any differ- ence of opinion in matters of religion, and do not actu- ally disturb the civil peace of the said colony." This was so harmonious with the Islanders that they sought a union with the whole colony which greeted them in the language of the Assembly thus: "Our well beloved friends and countrymen, the inhabitants of Block Island."
In May, 1664, the Assembly appointed James Sands and Thomas Terry, and impowered them to call a meet- ing of the Islanders who were to choose a third man as their assistant in the local government of the Island. These three were authorized to call public meetings from time to time for mutual regulations and safety; to engage a constable, and clerk; to grant warrants, and try cases in which was involved not more than the value of " forty shillings," and also to grant appeals to the General Court of the colony. In 1665, the inhabitants elected their first representatives, James Sands and Thomas Terry. In 1672 they also petitioned for their incorporation as a town, and received their charter as such. From that time until the present they have elected their representatives and town officers by the vote of the majority of their freemen. That charter required two wardens, first, and deputy wardens, and to these, "three wise, honest men " were to be added, by a majority vote, to constitute the Town Council. Thus, up to the Revolution, with a voice in the General Assembly, and with the privilege of self- government at home, during a period of one hundred years, Block Island enjoyed all the freedom and inde- 20*
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