Point Judith, Rhode Island facts for kids
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Point Judith is a small village and a piece of land that sticks out into the ocean, called a cape. It's located in Narragansett, Rhode Island, in the United States. This cape is on the western side of Narragansett Bay, right where it meets the bigger Rhode Island Sound. Point Judith is important because it's where you can catch a ferry all year long to Block Island. It's also home to a fishing village called Galilee.
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The Story Behind the Name
The name "Point Judith" has an interesting past! It might have been named after one of two women: Judith Thatcher or Judith Hull.
One story says that Judith Thatcher was on a small boat with her dad. Their boat got stuck near the point and almost crashed. Judith was a big help, and because of her, the boat was saved. So, the crew decided to name the point after her.
Another idea is that the point was named by John Hull for his wife, Judith Hull. John Hull was a very important person in the 1600s.
Early History and Mining
In the middle of the 1600s, John Hull tried to mine for "black lead" at Point Judith. He was hoping to find silver there. John Hull was the treasurer for the Massachusetts Bay Colony and even made coins! But he didn't find silver.
After his mining efforts, Hull started a business raising coach horses. He sold these horses in New England and also to big farms in Virginia and Barbados.
Point Judith During Wartime
American Revolution Raids
During the American Revolution, the British military controlled Narragansett Bay. In the late 1770s, a British captain named Wallace led attacks. His soldiers raided and burned farms on Point Judith and the areas nearby.
World War II Defenses
In World War II, a place called Fort Greene was built at Point Judith. It had very large 16-inch guns and other weapons. These guns were there to protect the entrance to Narragansett Bay.
The Last Sinking of World War II
Point Judith is famous for being the place where the last Allied ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean during World War II.
On May 5, 1945, a German submarine, the German submarine U-853, fired a torpedo. It hit a ship called the SS Black Point. This ship was carrying coal and was on its way to Boston. The attack happened very close to the United States Coast Guard lighthouse at Point Judith. The person watching at the lighthouse heard the explosion right as they were writing down seeing the ship!
The Black Point sank in just 25 minutes. Sadly, 12 crew members lost their lives, but 34 others were saved.
The Battle of Point Judith
After the attack, the United States Navy and Coast Guard started a big hunt for the German submarine U-853. This event is now known as the Battle of Point Judith. Many Navy ships and Coast Guard cutters rushed to the waters off Point Judith.
They attacked the German submarine with special underwater bombs called depth charges and other weapons called hedgehogs. They kept attacking until the next morning, when two blimps (like small airships) dropped bombs and confirmed the German submarine U-853 was destroyed.
The German submarine U-853 might have been the last German submarine to sink a ship in World War II. It was also the second-to-last German submarine to be sunk itself.
The U-853 Wreck Today
The wreck of the German submarine U-853 lies about 135 feet deep in the ocean. It's a popular, but dangerous, spot for people who like to scuba dive. Sadly, at least three divers have died there. The German submarine U-853 is considered a war grave, and most of its 55 crew members are still inside.
See also
In Spanish: Point Judith para niños
