Portsmouth Times

09/07/2025

Prudence Island firefighters, with assistance from the Coast Guard and Sea Tow boats, fought to save the island’s massive T-wharf at the old Navy ammunition depot from fire 30 years ago. A discarded cigarette tossed on dry debris was suspected as the cause. It was believed to have been the largest structure fire on the island since the Prudence Inn burned in 1940. This photo appeared on the front page of the Sept. 7, 1995 Sakonnet Times.

09/05/2025

Luckily, no students were on board when school bus #15 collided with a car at the intersection of East Main Road and Pine Tree Street this afternoon. Police are investigating. (Photo by Jim McGaw)

09/05/2025

High-level job: Jimmy Jestings of Douglas Avenue painted the flag pole at Hathaway School 50 years ago after his father donated paint for the project. This photo appeared in the Sept. 4, 1975 issue of The Sakonnet Times.

09/04/2025

The Battle of Rhode Island was commemorated 50 years ago with the rededication of Butts Hill Fort under the sponsorship of the Portsmouth Conservation Commission. This photo appeared in the Sept. 4, 1975 issue of The Sakonnet Times.

09/03/2025

New school year, new friends: Hathaway School kindergartener Trey Donovan chats with a new friend during a break in class on the first day of school 10 years ago. This photo ran on the front page of the Sept. 3, 2015 Portsmouth Times.

09/02/2025

NAACP honors legacy of "Black Regiment" at 58th annual service in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH — Beneath a late-summer sky at Patriots Park, the Newport County branch of the NAACP gathered Sunday for its 58th annual commemoration of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment, a unit known …

09/02/2025

Commander Carl Becker of the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment assembles a unit of militias from local Revolutionary War regiments during a “Sunset Salute” at Butts Hill Fort Friday night. Poor weather threatened the event hosted by The Battle of Rhode Island Association and The Butts Hill Fort Restoration Committee, but the rains let up enough for a wreath-laying at the 1923 stone marker at the entrance to the fort, remarks by Town Historian Jim Garman, and a musket salute by reenacts from various Revolutionary War regiments. The event marked the 247th anniversary of the Battle of Rhode Island. (Photos by Julie Furtado)

09/01/2025

Twenty years ago, Sgt. Jess Roderiques got acquainted with his 8-month-old grandson, Blake, whom he met for the first time upon his arrival back home from Iraq after a year-long deployment. This photo appeared on the front page of the Sept. 1, 2005 Sakonnet Times.

08/31/2025

Thirty years ago, battle reenactors and Joyce Williams, president of the Newport Branch of the NAACP, gathered with others to honor the 1st Rhode Regiment, aka the “Black Regiment,” at Patriots Park. These photos appeared on the front page of the Aug. 31, 1995 Sakonnet Times.

08/29/2025

Hathaway Elementary School Principal Lisa Little (center) and Town Council member Sondra Blank (as “Happy the Apple”) welcome students off the bus for the first day of school yesterday. Students are (from left) Olivia Heath, Caroline Rose, and Jaden Heath. (Photo by Jim McGaw)

08/29/2025

Fireworks at Sunset Cove on Sunday!

08/28/2025

Monique Mongeon grimaces as she returns a difficult serve during the Portsmouth Recreation Department’s tennis tournament 50 years ago. She ended up being crowned as girls’ champion. This photo appeared in the Aug. 28, 1975 issue of The Sakonnet Times.