Goat Island (Rhode Island)

Goat Island is a small island in Narragansett Bay and is part of the city of Newport, Rhode Island. The island is considered part of the Easton's Point neighborhood. Goat Island is home to the Newport Harbor Light (1842), the Marina Bar & Grill, Belle Mer, and the Goat Island South Condominiums.

History

In colonial times, goats grazed on the island and gave it its name. Several pirates were hanged and buried on the island in its early history. Newport purchased Goat Island in 1673. An earthen fort was built on Goat Island in 1703 during the War of Spanish Succession, and it was named "Fort Anne" after the reigning Queene Anne. In 1738 a stone fort was built and renamed "Fort George" after King George II.

In 1775 the Fort was renamed Fort Liberty by the revolutionary forces. The British army occupied Newport from 1776 through 1779 and renamed the fort Fort George during that time. In 1784 it was repaired and renamed Fort Washington after George Washington. In 1794, Newport sold Goat Island to the federal government for $1,500, to maintain a military fort to defend Newport Harbor. The fort was named Fort Wolcott, in commemoration the services of Oliver Wolcott who was a General of the Militia and a member of the Continental Congress from Connecticut. In 1824, the first Newport Harbor Lighthouse was constructed at the north end of the island. Fort Wolcott was active until 1835 when the garrison was transferred to Florida to fight the Seminole Indians. In 1851 the original lighthouse moved to Prudence Island to become Prudence Island Light, and the current Newport Harbor Light was constructed on a dike near the former lighthouse site. The area surrounding the dike was later filled in when the hotel was constructed much later.

In 1869 the Naval Torpedo Station was founded on Goat Island, on the site of the former Army fort. The Station was greatly expanded over the next 100 years and produced many of the Navy's torpedoes through World War I and World War II at the island's Navy Torpedo Factory. The torpedo station was closed in the 1950s.

In the 1960s, Goat Island was sold to a private developer and the Hyatt Hotel, Belle Mer, and the Goat Island South Condominiums were later built over the next several decades. The only former navy building remaining on the island was converted into the Marina Bar & Grille.

References

[http://www.nuwc.navy.mil/hq/history/0002.html Goat Island Military History]
*Frederic Denlson, "Narragansett Sea and Shore", (J.A. & R.A. Reid, Providence, RI., 1879)
*George L. Seavey, "Rhode Island's Coastal Natural Areas."