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The Torpedo Station's mission was to develop torpedoes, torpedo equipment, explosives, and electrical equipment. Through experiments conducted there, the torpedo evolved from the immobile explosive mine of the Civil War period to the efficient and highly mobile weapon of today. The Station worked on other ordnance projects, including an impractical dynamite-throwing gun, projectile explosives such as dynamite and nitroglycerine, and gun cotton. The Navy's first smokeless gunpowder was also manufactured there. The first experiments in shipboard electricity were conducted at the Torpedo Station in the late 1880s. 1 In 1869 Rose Island was acquired for the storage of explosives and for experimental firings. 1 In 1887 the machine shop was wired to conform with a plan for illuminating ships with electric lights. 1 In May of 1900 Lieutenant John B Blish, the Navy's principal elecrical expert, is in Newport setting up a experimental wireless telegraph station. Providence Journal May 24, 1900 Providence Journal May 27, 1900
The Montgomery Advertiser August 30, 1902 Providence Journal August 22, 1902 Providence Journal October 6, 1902 Providence Journal October 24, 1902 Providence Journal November 3, 1902
At the end of 1902 the 180 foot mast was buckeled by high winds Providence Journal December 9, 1902 Eventually the 148 foot top section of the mast came to the ground due to the weight of the snow. Providence Journal December 27, 1902 It is decided not to replace the mast because new wireless apparatus was seheduled to be installed Providence Journal January 26, 1903 Between the end of July and mid September 1903 the new wireless apparatus is set up and becomes opperational. Providence Providence Journal July 29, 1903 Providence Journal August 1, 1903 Providence Journal September 16, 1903 Providence Journal September 18, 1903 The Morning Journal Courier September 19, 1903 Providence Journal September 23, 1903 Providence Journal September 23, 1903 The USS Topeka left the West Indies on March 30th, 1904 and returned to the United States upon her arrival at Charleston on the 5th. On 15 May, the warship reported for duty at Newport, Rhode Island, and, for the next four months, participated in wireless telegraphy experiments conducted off the New England coast. USS Topeka Providence Journal June 12, 1904 Providence Journal June 2, 1905 In 1905, the first use of wireless in the rescue of an American ship happened and the "HELP" (SOS had not been established as of yet) message was received at the Torpedo Wireless Station. Naval Training Station 1905 Station Antenna From Newport Firsts: A Hundred Claims to Fame (RI) By Brian M. Stinson Providence Journal October 7, 1905 Providence Journal October 13, 1905 Providence Journal November 8, 1905 Providence Journal January 10, 1906 Providence Journal April 27, 1906 In April of 1906 a distance record was broken by the station when it received a message from 1000 miles away from the Battleship Maryland. Providence Journal April 21, 1906 Also in 1906, a young man with a homemade wireless set, modeled after Massie equipment, disrupted the powerful US Navy wirless statioon in Newport. The wireless apparatus was set up in a hen house! Providence Journal April 21, 1906 Providence Journal February 6, 1907 A Handbook of Wireless Telegraph its Theory and Parctice James Erskine-Murray, 1907 Providence Journal October 16, 1908 Providence Journal November 3, 1908 Providence Journal November 8, 1908 Providence Journal February 18, 1909 Providence Journal April 15, 1909 Pawtucket Times June 23, 1909 Providence Journal December 29, 1909 Providence Journal January 11, 1910 Woonsocket Call January 15, 1910 Providence Journal January 16, 1910 Providence Journal January 16, 1910 Providence Journal January 27, 1910 Pawtucket Times May 26, 1910 Providence Journal October 14, 1910 Providence Journal October 18, 1910 Click to enlarge Torpedo Station 1910 Click to enlarge
Newport Torpedo Station 1910 Providence Providence Journal December 9, 1910 Providence Journal December 11, 1910 Providence Journal October 12, 1911 Bristol Phoenix November 1, 1912 Electrician and Mechanic, 1912 Torpedo Station 1912 Click to enlarge Torpedo Station 1912 Telephone and Telegraph Age January 1 1912 Providence Journal January 19, 1912 Providence Journal March 1, 1912 Woonsocket Call April 13, 1912 Providence Journal April 20, 1912 Click to enlarge Providence Journal January 12, 1913 Pawtucket Times March 5, 1913 Pawtucket Times August 16, 1913 Providence Journal September 24, 1913 Pawtucket Times September 25, 1913 Popular Eectricity September, 1913 Click to enlarge Providence Journal April 26, 1914 Woonsocket Call October 6, 1917 Woonsocket Call November 14, 1918 Click to enlarge
1914 Waterfront Torpedo Station Newport RI Click to enlarge
Providence Journal February 16, 1916 Pawtucket Times February 21, 1916
Pawtucket Times November 13, 1916
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1917 WW1 US Navy Torpedo Station Newport Click to enlarge
1918 Newport RI Torpedo Station Click to enlarge
1918 Naval Torpedo Station Click to enlarge
1918 Torpedo Station US Naval Training Naval Training Station
Newport RI Learning Wireless Telegraphers Date Unknown In 1919, Gould Island was purchased and placed under the Station's jurisdiction. 1 Click to enlarge
Providence Journal March 2, 1919 Click to enlarge
Pawtucket Times February 3, 1919 Bristol Phoenix
February 6, 1920 Radio October 1922
Radio World March, 1923
Popular Radio June, 1924
Pawtucket Times June 27, 1924
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Pawtucket Times December 23, 1927 Woonsocket Call November 18, 1929
1 THE MARITIME HERITAGE PROJECT |