Old Block Island in Black and White
A Gallery of Black and White Photos by My Father
Growing up on the Connecticut shore, Block Island was just sort of always there. I never gave it much thought, even though we went out fairly regularly.
That’s probably because when I was a child, there wasn’t all that much to do on Block Island. The ferry rides were fun, though my mother usually got seasick. In fact, I included a photo of her on the ferry only because I so love her patch madras wrap-around skirt and white oxford shirt. I always love seeing her outfits, or get ups, as my father would always call them. I did however crop out her face as, well, she was seasick.
I must admit it came as a bit of a shock when I learned that Block Island was actually in Rhode Island, not in Connecticut. Not my proudest moment, but I was young. Like most places in New England, it is old (by US standards), first settled by the English in 1661. Original purchasers and first settlers include a handful of our own ancestors like John Clarke, John Alcock, Nathaniel Winslow. (Although it was sometimes Winsley back then.) In fact, to say not much happened there then may even be an understatement, not unlike the Vineyard and Nantucket back in those days, which were also purchased by some of our other ancestors, a bit earlier in the 1650s. And look what has happened there.
However, if Block Island was boring then, it sure isn’t now. (Or rather, just “Block”, as those who are exquisitely in the know will remind you. More than once.)
Once a place gets a reputation as a party island, it’s a bit hard to go back. Beach drinking and live music. It all started with the advent of Block Island Race Week, New England’s answer to Cowes Week, which Storm Trysail Club started in 1965, just about the time these black and white photos were taken.
