Prudence Island facts for kids
Prudence Island is the third-largest island in Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island, United States. It is part of the town of Portsmouth, Rhode Island. The island is located near the middle of the bay. According to the 2010 census, 278 people lived on the island. Its land area is about 14.43 square kilometers (5.57 square miles).
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Island History: From Farms to Fun
The Narragansett people called the island Chibachuweset. They first offered to sell it to John Oldham. He was supposed to build a trading post there. When he didn't, they sold the island to Roger Williams and John Winthrop in 1637. Each man owned half of the island. Williams took the northern part, and Winthrop took the southern part.
How Prudence Island Got Its Name
Williams and Winthrop wanted to raise pigs on the island. Roger Williams named it "Prudence." Soon after, he bought and named two other nearby islands: Patience Island and Hope Island. Williams later sold his share of Prudence Island. Winthrop left his land to his son, Stephen.
Prudence Island Through the Years
For many years, the island was mostly used for farming. During the American Revolution, British forces led by Captain James Wallace raided Prudence Island. They were looking for farm animals. There was a small fight with American forces, and the British lost about a dozen soldiers.
In the 1900s, farming became less common. More and more people started coming to the island for summer vacations. During World War II, the U.S. Navy built a special storage area for ammunition on the southern part of the island. In 1972, the Navy gave this land to the State of Rhode Island. They left behind bunkers, roads, and a large pier.
Modern Prudence Island
Some buildings and businesses on the island were destroyed by big storms. These included the 1938 New England hurricane and Hurricane Carol. Today, the only business on the island is a general store. It also serves as the post office.
The former Navy base is now home to the Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. This is a special place that protects the bay's natural environment. Farnham Farm is another important historical site on the island. You can get to Prudence Island by taking a ferry from Bristol, Rhode Island. Parts of the 2012 movie Moonrise Kingdom were filmed on the island and in nearby Jamestown.
Rhode Island's Last One-Room Schoolhouse
Prudence Island has Rhode Island's last one-room schoolhouse. The Prudence Island School Foundation runs it with the Portsmouth school district. It teaches island children from kindergarten through fourth grade. The school has been part of the island community since 1896. It was closed for a few years from 1982 to 1989. In 2019, three students were enrolled there.
Summer Spots on Prudence Island
There are several different summer communities on Prudence Island. Here are some of them, starting from the south:
- Prudence Park: This area is on the west side of the island. It started to be developed in 1872. A stone pier was built, which became a stop for steamers traveling from Providence and Fall River to New York City. Many summer homes here are beautiful examples of Victorian and Beaux-Arts architecture. They look similar to homes in Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard. The 1938 hurricane badly damaged the Stone Wharf and destroyed many houses.
- Bristol Colony: This community is on the east side of the island.
- Sandy Point: Located on the eastern side of the island. This is where the Prudence Island Light is. It also has the Town Dock and used to be a ferry landing spot.
- Homestead: This is a group of summer homes along the east coast of the island. It's north of Pier Road. The old Homestead Casino, which was lost in the 1938 hurricane, used to be here. Now, this area has the island's post office, general store, and ferry landing.
- Warnerville: This community is directly north of the Homestead area.
- Boystown Fly-in-Ranch: This is a small private airport on the northern part of the island.
Prudence Island in Books and Movies
The Snow Island Trilogy is a series of books that tells a story about a made-up version of Prudence Island. The 2012 movie Moonrise Kingdom also filmed some scenes on Prudence Island.
