USA > Rhode Island > Newport County > Newport > Story of the old City Hall [and Historic Newport] > Part 3
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give evidence of Newport's thriving maritime trade. An advertisement which was indicative of the editor's difficulties appeared on January 11, 1733 :
"No. 13 of this Paper concludes a quarter. Those who have taken it from the Beginning are desir'd to pay their Money to John Franklin of Boston, or James Franklin of Newport; the Continuance of it depending on punctual Quarterly Payments, or a great Number of Subscribers."
The paper was probably well read, but Yankee thrift operated to circulate one copy through many hands; this does not make for prosperous editors. The last number preserved today, Number 20, is dated March 1, 1733, but we know that the Ga- zette's final issue was on May 24th of the same year.
James Franklin died in 1735, and his widow carried on the business with the help of her son, James Franklin, Jr. In 1758 the first copy of the Mercury appeared, and its publication continued until the death of James, Jr., in 1762. The Widow Franklin then took into partnership her son-in-law Sam Hall, and when she died the following year, he continued its publication. Hall sold out to Solomon Southwick, who continued until 1779 when the British entered Newport. Southwick buried his press and fled for his life. After the British left, he re- turned and resumed his business until financial em- barrassment and ill health forced him to retire in 1795. The Mercury lived under several different proprietors until November 1872, at which time it appeared under the ownership of John P. Sanborn.
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BULL HOUSE-(1639) House of Henry Bull, early settler and Governor 1685-86, 1690. Destroyed by fire Dec. 29, 1912.
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It remained in his family until April 28th, 1928, when the last issue appeared under the editorship of Alvah H. Sanborn, the next issue, May 4th, 1928 appearing under the editorship of Edward A. Sher- man who continues its publication as a weekly peri- odical. The Mercury is the oldest newspaper with one exception, printed in America, having been pub- lished continuously since 1758, with the exception of the short period of time when the British were entrenched here.
IDA LEWIS LIGHTHOUSE
As Newport has led in many ways among men, claiming as one native son, John Clarke, the world's first apostle of true liberty, so too, she has had one of the world's greatest heroines-Ida Lewis-who lived in the little Lime Rock Lighthouse, at the southern end of the inner harbor, then commonly and now officially called by her name.
In the beginning there was only a beacon which was cared for by her father. Later in 1857 when Ida was 15 years old, the lighthouse was built and the family moved there to live. Daily she rowed her brothers and sisters to school bringing back sup- plies for the family. In this way she became a real master of winds and waves and her muscles de- veloped like steel. After the death of her father, her mother was appointed keeper and Ida assistant keeper, and on her mother's death, Ida was ap- pointed keeper.
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Ida Lewis Light-Home of an Outstanding American
Her spic and span little home was often swept by sudden, high winds, which raised "nasty seas". Men of Fort Adams, many times, would have been drowned in plain sight of her windows had it not been for her matchless daring and skill. Night and day Ida launched her boat and rowed into the seething waves; and often when it was very hazard- ous she went single-handed, no man daring to go with her.
Many visitors from everywhere flocked to her humble island home, showering her with honors and
gifts. Some of these can be seen at the Historical Society's rooms which are open to visitors and the collection is one of the most attractive and instruc- . tive in New England.
Her record was splendid and in recognition of this Carnegie awarded her a pension. Among her other awards were a gold medal from Congress and the first gold cross of the American Legion of Honor. The townsfolk presented her with a rowboat, built on Long Wharf, this type of boat being famed all along the coast.
She died in the lighthouse, as she had hoped to do, and at her funeral she was accorded high honors, a military band and eight sturdy sergeants from Fort Adams as her bearers. Stores were closed and men stood outside saluting as the cortege passed slow- ly the length of the main street.
During her life she was liked by all, especially the children who paddled over to see her and were welcomed with doughnuts. After her death, it re- mained for a grammar-school girl to provide a gran- ite monument for her grave.
NEWPORT ARTILLERY ARMORY
One of the most interesting buildings in Newport is that of the Artillery Armory lo- cated on Clarke Street, the home of the an- cient Newport Artillery Company which is reputed to be the oldest active military
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organization in America. Many stirring incidents have taken place within the walls of this historic old building. Men have marched out of its doors to take part in the Dorr Rebellion, the Civil, Spanish-Am- erican and World Wars.
On September 10, 1834, Audley Clarke, in con- sideration of his feelings of attachment and good will toward the Artillery Company, deeded to Stephen Ayrault Robinson, the commanding officer of the company, the land upon which the Armory now stands. The purchase price was one dollar. The pur- pose of this initial step taken to provide a suitable drill hall was according to the old records, "to ac- quaint and accustom the members to the military exercises by more frequent training so that the com- pany may carry out its original object: 'A school for officers' ".
A peculiar clause in the deed reads as follows: "If the Artillery Company of the town of Newport disbands and stays disbanded for twenty years and no company is formed under the same rules, regu- lations and charter that are now in force, the Ar- mory and the land upon which it stands passes to the proprietors of the Children's Home".
With this generous gift of land, it was but a short time before sufficient funds were obtained with which to erect the Armory. The original building was considerably smaller than the present structure, occupying but one-half of the land. Some years later, permission was obtained from the Rhode Is-
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ARTILLERY.CO
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THE ARMORY. Headquarters of the oldest, active military organization in America. Troups of this command engaged in the Dorr Rebellion, Civil, Span- ish American and World Wars.
land legislature to hold a lottery for the purpose of securing the necessary funds with which to double the size of the building. Late in the century, the members of the company excavated a cellar run- ning the entire length of the Armory, in which they installed a rifle range and bowling alleys.
Despite the fact that in 1906 the Armory was considerably destroyed by fire necessitating its re- building the following year with a second story in which are located modern quarters for officers and men, many of its historic treasures have been pre- served. Included in this unusual collection is an ori- ginal letter sent to the company by General George Washington and also a small locket which contains a lock of Washington's hair.
U. S. S. CONSTELLATION
Although space does not permit the narrating of the important part Newport's military and naval institutions played in early American history, brief mention must be made here of the old frigate "Con- stellation". A more complete history of this vessel and other government establishments may be found in a special phamplet published by the Newport Chamber of Commerce.
The "U. S. S. Constellation", oldest war vessel afloat, anchored at the Naval Training Station, has a record of service quite as exciting and colorful as the famous "U. S. S. Constitution", ("Old Ironsides") . In battle after battle on the high seas during wars
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U. S. S. Constellation-Oldest War Vessel in the World
with France, Tripoli and England, she was victori- ous, gaining for her the nickname "Lucky Ship". She was last in service as a fighting ship during the Civil War, but has since sailed on many diplomatic mis- sions. Used now as a training ship for young seamen, she is still the same staunch and seaworthy frigate that was launched in 1794. This historic vessel is open to view and inspection every day, at the Naval Training Station.
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IN CONCLUSION
N conclusion, it must be stated that in a community which was sold by the In- dians to the white settlers nearly three hundred years ago, there are numerous buildings, many of them especially fine examples of the architecture of the seventeenth century and still a much larger group of finely preserved archi- tectural examples of the pre-Revolutionary period.
Space does not permit the describing of all these magnificent edifices, interesting, not alone for their historical associations but also because of their archi- tectural beauty, which remain to connect us with the past. No historical review, however brief, would be complete without at least a mention of such buildings as the Dr. Hopkins Meeting House (1729) on Mill Street, now transformed into the home of the Knights of Columbus; the curiously quaint and old-fashioned cottage, the home of the wife and the scene of the marriage of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, located on lower Thames Street; the Perry homestead on the south side of Washington Square, now occupied by the Salvation Army as its local headquarters; and the Shipley and Cope houses on Washington Street.
No attempt has been made in this booklet to de- scribe the many equally ancient and interesting old buildings located in Newport County outside of the city proper. Those persons interested in any specific
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COPE AND ROBINSON HOUSES-Two of the many interesting Colonial Mansions of old Water Street - The Cope house erected 1751 by Henry Collins and the Robinson House still owned and occupied by descendants of "Quaker Tom".
one of these, however, may obtain information re- garding by communicating with the Chamber of Commerce or Newport Historical Society.
AN APPRECIATION
The Newport Chamber of Commerce wishes to take this opportunity to express its appreciation to Mr. Lloyd A. Robson for his generous contribution of the block prints which add so much to the value and attractiveness of this book. All are originals of Mr. Robson with the exception of the Coddington House copied from an illustration appearing in Ma- son's "Recollection of Newport" and the Bull House, copied from Field's "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations'.
The Chamber of Commerce is indebted to the generous financial support received from the muni- cipal government which has aided materially in the publication of this book.
Acknowledgment is also made by the "New- port Historian" of the cooperation received in the compilation and preparation of material and photo- graphs for this book. Special credit is due Mr. Lloyd M. Mayer, secretary of the Newport Historical So- ciety and the members of his efficient staff, Mr. Howard M. Chapin, librarian of the Rhode Island Historical Society and Mr. John F. Shaw, chairman and the members of the Chamber's publicity com- mittee with whose valued assistance a difficult task was made easy and enjoyable.
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