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Three generations of Armbrust men played important roles in 19th and 20th century Jamestown.
Captain Peter H. Armbrust was born in Blankenese, Germany in 1847. At the age of 25, he emigrated to the United States after serving in the German Navy during the Franco-Prussian War. He joined the U.S. Quartermaster Corps and served on a mine laying tug and utility boat that plied between the Government Landing in Newport and the forts of lower Narragansett Bay – Adams, Wetherill, Getty, Greble, and Kearney. When he settled in Jamestown, he was a captain of the Jamestown ferryboats and the captain of the army steamer General Richard Arnold. He died in Jamestown in 1916. He was 69.
Captain Peter Armbrust’s son, Ferdinand Armbrust, was born in Jamestown. He did the plumbing in many of the local homes. During World War I (1914-1918), he showed movies to the troops at Ft. Wetherill. At the end of the war, he and two others, built the “Palace Theatre” so the people of Jamestown could see movies.
Ferdinand built the auto repair garage on Narragansett Ave and had a miniature golf course. He served on the Board of Trade, Master of Conanicut Grange, Vestryman of St. Matthew’s Church, and was active in many other local groups including the Jamestown Historical Society.
Henry Armbrust, son of Ferdinand, was also born and raised in Jamestown. He graduated from URI with a degree in chemical engineering. He traveled throughout the United States and Mexico developing methods of water purification.
He was active in town affairs serving as Town Council President. He was also a Master of Conanicut Grange, Senior Warden of St. Matthew’s Church and President of the Jamestown Historical Society working particularly on the maintenance of the windmill. In 1970, Henry was chairman of the Windmill Restoration Committee.
His children, his grandchildren, and his great-grandchildren continue to live in Jamestown. They are active members of the Jamestown Historical Society.
For other images of The Armbrust Family, in the JHS Collection, click here.
