Rhode Island Picture Post Cards
New Harbor - New Shoreham, Block Island, RI - 1912
(Scroll Down for Background Information)

Block Island was named after the Dutch explorer Adrian Block who landed on the island in 1614. The Island was first settled by the Narragansett Indians who called it Manisses. The first European to visit the Island was the Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano in 1524.The first permanent European settlers landed on Block Island in 1661 and the town of New Shorham was incorporated in 1672. Block Island is located approximately 9 ^1/2 miles south of the Rhode Island Coast and 14 miles east-north-east of Montauk, Long Island. 

There are several ferries that provide service to Block Island. The New London Ferry is seasonal from June 8th to September 8th. The Point Judith High Speed Ferry is also seasonal from mid-May to mid-October as is the Newport Ferry, which operates from July 1st to September 6th. The only year around ferry service is the regular ferry from Point Judith/Galilee. This service makes 8 to 10 trips daily during the summer months and from 1 to 3 daily trips, (depending on day of the week) during the winter months. All of the ferries now dock at Old Harbor although at the turn of the century many of the steamers docked at New Harbor.

There were no natural harbors on Block Island; Old Harbor was completed in 1876 and New Harbor was completed in 1896. New Harbor is now used primarily by private yachts and the fishing fleet.

The Postcard is a Divided-Back type card. This type of postcard was produced from 1907 to 1915.

Sunday, Block Island
Dear Roy,
Here is a picture of the harbor where the boat I came and I go lands.
The old harbor is fully as interesting. My neck is hanging in sheets of
skin this a.m., though not quite as sore. I go to NY tomorrow. Loads
go today.
With Love,  Aunt Louise