Notable Past Events

We’ll post information on some of our notable past events here

Harvest Socials

2017 Navy Chorister Concert

2020

Sponsored by the Portsmouth Historical Society and in cooperation with the RI Sate Archives, Founders Day was celebrated on Friday March 6, 2020 at the Portsmouth Town Hall. The original 1638 compact document was specially transported from the State archives and be on display at the Portsmouth Town Hall.

Also on display was Portsmouth’s original copy of the Declaration of Independence (called the third generation “Southwick” copy). Upon the signing of the declaration in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress commissioned its official printer, John Dunlap, to create copies to be dispatched on horseback to each colony. About July 14, 1776 RI Secretary of State, Henry Ward, commissioned Newport printer Solomon Southwick to print copies for each RI town. It is believed that only a few still exist, and that Portsmouth is the only municipality to possess their original copy.

The event included remarks by Portsmouth Town Historian Jim Garman.

Feb 22, 2020 – Varnum Museum Trip

The Portsmouth Historical Society invited friends to join them as Varnum Museum Curator Patrick Donovan gaves the Portsmouth Historical Society a private tour of the 1914 National Registered Varnum Armory Museum. It has an extensive collection of artifacts from the Revolutionary War through WWII. Topics of special interest to Portsmouth include the 1st Rhode Island Regiment and the Portsmouth Grove Civil War Hospital.   

The Portsmouth RI Historical Society hosted an outstanding visit to the Varnum Armory Museum (6 Main Street, East Greenwich RI) on Saturday February 22 at 11 AM.

Following the tour, attendees are joined the Society members for a no-host lunch at The Tavern on Main restaurant, located a few doors down from the Armory, to continue our discussion with Patrick Donovan. 

This is the first of several trips by the Portsmouth Historical Society to museums throughout Rhode Island with the hope of sharing our mutual interest in historical preservation and education.  

Last Call: The beginning of Prohibition

Thursday 16 January 2020 at 630 PM at the Library – Town Historian Jim Garman gave a lecture titled “Last Call: The beginning of Prohibition” with emphasis on the local aspect of “The Noble Experiment”. It will be held at the Portsmouth Library and is  co-sponsored by the Library and the Portsmouth Historical Society. This date was carefully chosen because it commemorates the night Prohibition went into effect at midnight exactly 100 years ago on that date.

Tuesday, January 14–6:00-7:30 pm  Portsmouth Historical Society Book SeriesTopic: The Burning of the His Majesty’s Schooner Gaspee: An Attack on Crown Rule Before the American Revolution, by Stephen Park Location: Portsmouth Library 
The Portsmouth Historical Society in partnership with the Portsmouth Free Public Library hosts regular discussions of books that bring our fascinating local history alive. 
January’s book selection, The Burning of the His Majesty’s Schooner Gaspee: An Attack on Crown Rule Before the American Revolution, tells the story of the bold colonists who stood up to British rule and burned HMS Gaspee in Narragansett Bay in 1772.  It was one of the first acts of violent uprising against the British crown’s authority in America, preceding the Boston Tea Party by over a year, yet the Gaspee Affair is much lesser known. 
Our discussion was be led by Nancy Crawford’s, Head Curator of the Portsmouth Historical Society.  Our discussions are relaxed and fun and we always welcome new faces.  

Those who love learning more about our rich history through books, came to the right place!  

Copies of The Burning of the Gaspee are available for checkout at Portsmouth Free Public Library.

2019

December 11, 2019 Steamboats Lecture

Wednesday 11 December 2019 at 630 PM at the Library – Town Historian Jim Garman presented a lecture on “Steamboats on Narragansett Bay and the Sakonnet River” at the Portsmouth Free Public Library. This illustrated lecture was co-sponsored by the Library and the Portsmouth Historical Society. The talk included many photographs and information on many of the Bay/Sound steamboats, including the Fall River Line and the Sakonnet Line.

Women of Portsmouth Brochure (pdf)

October 2019 – History Comes Alive

Oct 13 – 2:30 – 4 PM “History Comes Alive” (at the Historical Society). Last day of museum opening for the season. 

Sponsoring Organizations:  Joint project of the Portsmouth Historical Society and the Portsmouth Community Theater .

Description:  As in our past “History Comes Alive” programs Portsmouth Historical Society guides shuttled groups of visitors to the presentation sites.  This year was more interactive for the visitors – they were more involved in the presentation.  Visitors spent about 15 to 20 minutes at each location on the Portsmouth Historical Society Museum grounds.  

In the Audience Room upstairs, Richard Schmidt portrayed Temperance preacher John B. Gough who traveled through the area with his rallies. Maria Schmidt will portray the wife of a reformed drinker who lauds Gough’s efforts.  This room was actually used for Temperance speeches, so we will be having a Temperance rally with songs, signing the pledge, etc. We stepped back in time to the 1870s.

In the Southermost School, Cindy Killavey will portred Isabella Fish conducting her first class of the year at Newtown School.  She went over school rules and visitors were assigned the name of an actual student in her class.  Isabella led a spelling bee and poetry reading demonstration. We stepped back to the 1900 time-frame.

In the kitchen area of the Museum, Portsmouth’s first girl scout leader, Gertrude Macomber, tutored her scouts on how to pass their cooking badge.  Denise Betz (as Gertrude) quizzed the visitors (scouts) on common cooking questions like how to prepare eggs three ways. Could you pass the 1924 Girl Scout Cooking test?  We stepped back to a 1924 time-frame.

In the Old Town Hall miller and farmer Benjamin Boyd (portrayed by Jim Killavey)  told stories about windmills in Portsmouth.  Visitors were assigned questions to ask (they are reporters interviewing him for a news article).  Benjamin Boyd’s answers were taken from actual newspaper articles on him.  This wa a 1940s time-frame.  

September 19, 2019 – History Book Club –

On a winter’s evening in 1673, tragedy descended on the respectable Portsmouth, Rhode Island household of Thomas Cornell. His 73-year-old mother, Rebecca, was found close to her bedroom’s large fireplace, dead and badly burned.   The Portsmouth Historical Society historical book club  will host a discussion of Killed Strangely: The Death of Rebecca Cornell, by Elaine Forman Crane.  The book relates the compelling story of Rebecca Cornell’s death and its aftermath, vividly depicting the world in which she lived. The  discussion will be led by Gloria Schmidt, PHS member, author and noted expert on Portsmouth Portsmouth history.    Copies of the book have been placed on reserve at the library; just inquire at the front desk.  The event was free,. The History Book Club always welcomes new attendees who enjoy reading about our rich local history.

September 8, 2019 The Ghostly Witness

A play: The Ghostly Witness: The Untimely and Uncertain Death of Rebecca Cornell by the Portsmouth Community Theater at the Portsmouth Historical Society in the Audience Room of the Portsmouth Historical Society Museum.                

This was a free courtroom drama, based on an actual transcript of the 1673 murder trial of Thomas Cornell. Actors from the Portsmouth Community Theater portrayed witnesses that gave testimony during the trial. This was a smaller cast version of the original “Ghostly Witness” that was performed in honor of Portsmouth’s 375th Anniversary Celebration. After they have heard the evidence, the audience got a chance to take the role of jurors and vote on the verdict.

21 August 2019 – Lecture – “Spies in the Revolutionary War” – Christian McBurney –

13 Aug 2019 – Extraordinary Women of Portsmouth

Spanning more than three centuries of Rhode Island’s history, the Women of the East Bay Exhibition recognized and celebrated women who have made a difference in their communities. This exhibition is currently on display at Portsmouth Free Public Library. Four Portsmouth women are part of this exhibition – Anne Hutchinson, Julia Ward Howe, Sarah Eddy and Emeline Eldredge.

Gloria Schmidt of the Portsmouth Historical Society shared what she has learned about the lives and contributions of each of these women. Portsmouth’s founding and tradition of strong women can be credited in part to Anne Hutchinson. Julia Ward Howe, known as the author of the poem that became the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” was a summer resident of Portsmouth for over forty years. A pioneer woman photographer and artist, Sarah Eddy worked for women’s suffrage, arts education and humane treatment of animals. Emeline Eldredge was a pillar of the community as superintendent of schools, library volunteer, and director of an arts center for Portsmouth’s youth.

July 24 Re-enactment – “Barton’s Raid”.

 July Wednesday 24 July. Re-enactment – “Barton’s Raid”. (The Weather Forecast Looks Good) –  

 This event, that was done last summer, re-traced the route of Col Barton of the revolutionary army who engineered a raid that started in Warwick Neck and sneaked by British warships in the bay, landed in Portsmouth, kidnapped British General Prescott and returned to Warwick the same night.  A group of kayakers did the same this year.  Since the weather did not cooperate on the 9th, the July 24th was perfect.

Timetable for Wed July 24:

• 1:56 pm high tide at Warwick
• 3:00 arrival at Oakland Beach boat ramp, Warwick (same launch point as last year)
• 3:30 departure after unloading and briefing
• 4 hours to paddle 11 miles with ebb tide (avg 2.75 mph = 22 minute miles) with 2-3 stops on Patience/Prudence
• 7:30 low tide at Weaver Cove
• 7:30 arrival Weaver Cove, Portsmouth; meet and greet with Portsmouth Historical Society (Actual 7″45)
• 8:00 departure Weaver Cove (actual 8:30)
• 4 hours back with flood tide, 2-3 stops
• 8:13 sunset
• 12:00 am return to Oakland Beach (Actual 1:30 am)
• 2:15 am high tide at Warwick

Maps

Barton’s Raid 1777 Route Map (pdf)
Barton’s Raid 2019 Float Plan (pdf)

21 July 2019 –  Anne Hutchinson Birthday and Celebrating Portsmouth Women

Portsmouth, Rhode Island has a proud history of amazing men and women. Although it may be easier to trace the lives and influence of the Portsmouth men, our community has had women who shaped our character. As we remember the birthday of Anne Hutchinson, the Portsmouth Historical Society will celebrate some of these women on

This is our third annual celebration of Portsmouth Women.

Visitors will be able to view a special display of artifacts for many of the women from the Society’s collection. Items will be on display for this day only. At 3 PM in the upstairs meeting room there will be a “round robin“ presentation on these women who have contributed to Portsmouth. There will be a brief description of each woman’s role in the Portsmouth community. Cards for each woman will be read by audience members. Those who have a special connection with a woman are encouraged to read her card. After the presentation there will be an opportunity to continue viewing displays. The booklet “Portsmouth Women,” with more detailed information on each of the women in our past celebration, will be available for a donation ($5 is the suggestion) to pay for printing costs. A brochure on this year’s honorees will be added to the booklet.

Only one of our women, Dorothea Dix, could be considered famous. Some of the women have had quiet yet influential roles in our Portsmouth community. The story of Fannie Brent Scott came to light when the Society received the generous donation of a portrait of her which was painted by noted Portsmouth artist Sarah Eddy. Fannie’s story, from freed slave in Virginia to well loved Portsmouth community member, makes us aware of the diversity of experiences Portsmouth women have encountered.

This year we honor:

Teachers: Edna Griffin Fitzgerald and Edna Brophy

Community Workers: Alice Anthony Webb, Gertrude Macomber Hammond, Ruth Lunan and Fannie Brent Scott

Reformers: Dorothea Dix, Eunice Greene, Lillian Collins Borden

Faithful Women: Ada and Elizabeth Trout, Ellen Gustin

Farmers: May Chase Hanks