In early Jamestown through the first half of the 20th century, the area that is now Beavertail State Park was a popular fishing ground. As early as 1754, the Newport Colonial Lighthouse Committee had guaranteed a Right of Way to the water around the lighthouse.

The area of town tucked in between Upper Shoreby Hill and the Town Cemetery at the Four Corners was developed in the early 20th century and was known as the Knowles plat. The land belonged to Adolphus C. Knowles, the owner and builder of the Bay View House Tower.

Eliza Hickey Newcomb was a Southern belle, born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. At 27, she married Junius Brutus Alexander, a New York investment banker 24 years her senior.

Thirteen Jamestown men died in service during World War II: Everett Alward, Howard Arnold, Bernard Anthony Brooks, Charles Brooks Jr, Lewis Burdick, Damon Cummings, Arthur Day, Delbert Gravatt, Frank Leighton, David Masterson, William C. Sweet, James Williams, and Francis X. Zweir.

Mabel Brice was born in Philadelphia in July 1877 and, like many young women of her social set, she seems to have done little of interest for the first 35 years of her life.

Joseph Clarke (1618-1694), one of the original purchasers of Conanicut Island, was the ancestor of many of the Clarkes who greatly influenced Jamestown in later centuries.

Harry Shatzer Sr. had one foot in the 19th century and one in the 20th. He owned a livery stable as well as being one of Jamestown’s first automobile mechanics.

Seventy-five years ago, Germany undertook its greatest World War II offensive against the Western Front. Since the Normandy landing in June, the allies had pushed the German Army back to the French-German border.

Colonial Jamestown had the largest black population, by percentage, of any community in the state. According to a 1706 census, 15 percent of townspeople were black, although none were land owners.