Connect with us!
  • Home
    • Contact Us
  • Events
    • Calendar
  • Help Us
  • Supporters
  • Memorabilia
  • Places
  • Memories
  • SC Notes

The Town of Portsmouth Rhode Island is Celebrating its 375th Year

        2013 is the 375th anniversary of the Founding of Portsmouth, Rhode Island in 1638. Portsmouth was settled in 1638 by a group of religious dissenters from Boston Colony, including Dr. John Clarke, William Coddington, and Anne Hutchinson. It is named after Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. Roger Williams convinced the settlers that they should go there, instead of settling in New Jersey, where they had first planned on going. It was founded by the signers of the Portsmouth Compact. Its original Indian name was Pocasset. It was officially named Portsmouth on May 12, 1639.

        To honor the founding of our town and its subsequent history, the community of Portsmouth is conducting a series of public events and observances over the course of the year. Planning for these events has begun and volunteers are needed to participate in developing and conducting these civic events. Join your friends and neighbors and help us all celebrate Portsmouth’s 375th year.

Portsmouth Contingent Off to England
Seven town citizens have been invited to Portsmouth England for the investiture of their new Lord Mayor. During their trip (May 17 through  22nd) they will extend an invitation to the Lord Mayor to attend the Portsmouth, RI 375th Gala Weekend Celebration August 29 through September 1.  The group includes Town Councilwoman Liz Pedro, Town Administrator John Klimm, School Committee Member Andrew Kelley, 375th Chair Doug Smith, Vice Chair Gary Gump and Committee Members Rich Talipsky and Bob Hamilton. (Private funds are paying for the trip and no town funds are being used.)

Upcoming 375th Events
(Click on each Event for Details)

May 18 - Restoration Celebration at Greenvale / Official 375th Wine Premiere 1- 4 PM
May 21 - "Traveling Around Portsmouth (1890-1930) - How We Got Around" - Historical Lecture
6:30 PM
Portsmouth Town Hall
May 24 - Portsmouth Garden Club
Commemoration of the 375th
10:00 AM Legion Park
May 26 - Oct 13 - "Southside,
Northside, All Around the Town"
Historical Society Exhibit (Sundays 2 to 4 PM - Portsmouth Historical Society)
June 2  - Windmill at  Prescott Farm Tour and  Portsmouth Abbey Wind Turbine  Tour - 2 PM at Prescott Farm for Tour, 3 PM at Portsmouth Abbey.
Johhnycakes will be served
(Click here for Past Events)

June 9
- Walking Tour of Oakland Forest Meadow and Preserve Trail, with Naturalist Gary Plunkett 1 - 2:30 PM
June  17 - The Portsmouth Historical Society Annual Meeting/ Lecture. The  Society is celebrating
its 75th anniversary. 7 PM at the HIstorcal  Society. 

June 19 - 24
-
  Centennial Polo Tournament - Gardner-Seveney Sports  Complex
June 23 - Clam Boil - Portuguese American Club - 1 PM
June 20 - "Prohibition" Historical Lecture by Jim Garman, 6:30 PM at Portsmouth Town Hall

In the 375th News

Jim Garman Lecture "A Tour of Portmouth 1913" video available (Click Here).

Miss RI Teen USA 2013 Appears at the Kite
Fly Event (Vote for her at the August 10 Pageant) (Click here for more info)


Girl Scouts make kites for Earth Day Kite Fly Event.

Watch the Compact
Ceremony
Link to Ceremony Video on March 7, 2013

Heritage Sponsor

American Legion Post 18
Picture

Heritage Sponsor

Clements Marketplace
Picture

Your 375th Support Benefits the Town History Project

Picture
Stone Bridge, Tiverton R.I.
Portsmouth 375 is embarking on new project to collect and catalog  historical documents, photographs, maps and more. Donations and proceeds of 375th events and fundraisers will be used invested in technology to help electronically document elements of Portsmouth History. (Click Here for More Info)

Send us Your Pictures or Videos
We would like to make a comprehensive record of this year's events. If you have pictures or videos you would like to contribute, e-mail us at sc@portsmouthri375.com or mail to PO Box 921 Portsmouth, RI 02871


STEERING COMMITTEE
Doug Smith, Chair
Gary Gump, Vice Chair 
Debra Correia, Secretary
Roberta Stevens, Events Chair 

    Bob Hamilton, Emil Cipolla, Joan Eline and Lori Clark - Events Assistants
George Wardwell,  Parade Chair
Jane Roggero, Fundraising Chair
Dennis  Chandler, Finance Chair
Carolyn Magnus, Finance Committee
Rich Talipsky,  Publicity/Marketing Chair
    Katherine Gagliano, Marketing Assistant 
Rich Talipsky,Communications/Technology Chair (Acting)
Dr. Lynn Krizic,  School Liaison
Dave Croston, School Department Advisor
John Klimm, Town  Liaison
All  Town Councilors, Town Council Liaison
Jody Sullivan, Business Liaison
    Jane Roggero, Business Liaison Assistant
Jim Garman, Historian
Bob Edenbach, Military  History Advisor
Gloria Schmidt, Portsmouth Historical Society Liaison
Mike Paglierani, Portsmouth Historical Society Advisor
Nancy Wilson, Historic Preservation Advisor
Carlton Johnson, Veterans/Scouts/CFPIA  Advisor

 

Contact us or Come to One of Our Committee Meetings

Please provide suggestions to the Steering Committee by emailing sc@PortsmouthRI375.com

Next Meeting 
Thursday May 16, 2013, 5 PM, Steering Committee,  at the Portsmouth Free Public Library 

(All who want to help are invited to attend)

Subsequent meetings are normally scheduled for every other Thursday at 5 PM at the Library.
© 2012 Portsmouth 375. All Rights Reserved.
PortsmouthRI375, PO Box 921, Portsmouth, RI 02871
"Portsmouth 375" is an independent citizen group not affiliated with the Town of Portsmouth