| WHY?
THE BAY VOYAGE!
Reprinted
from the original booklet of 1889
A wild
scheme! A bold venture! A capital idea, but not possible!
Such was talk for weeks and the food for argument throughout
Rhode Island when it was know the owner of "Rhoda-Ridge"
had determined to transport his fine old country house from
Narragansett bay to the more prosperous shores of Conanicut
Island. It was standing o a site of rare natural beauty, but
since its erection social surroundings had undergone a marked
change and the house had fallen into disuse. (On this same
site is the new Wanumetonomy Golf and Country Club of Newport.)
Therefore, the owner said, as did Horace Greeley, "Westward
Ho!" to the newer town (Jamestown) and help grow up the
island that is fast becoming as famous as a summer resort.
Amid constant discouragement's, the many details were finally
arranged, and what was first termed a joke was fast taking
form.
At last the ponderous load is on wheels, the "I"
severed and left for a second trip, and the great house starts,
like a thing of life, on its downward trip to the sea. Across
the fields as the birds fly, over stonewalls, now down a decline
of 60 degrees, born across marshes on sunken timbers, lifted
aloft over high railroad embankments. - until it stands on
the sandy beach with the incoming tide awash its broad piazza.
The barges make ready for their strange load. The old "Reliance"
lies at anchor with steam up. Gangs of men impatiently await
the drop of tide. Then under direction of Engineer Titus,
a veteran in the business, wood piers are hastily thrown out.
And it is haste, for even in our days of Yankee reckoning,
the restless tide waits not for man. That done, the house
is rolled aboard with the same apparent ease as a bale of
cotton trundled down a steamer's plank. She is "stowed"
and, at the Commodore's command, the moorings loose, and she
starts out to sea sailing away like a yacht.
Flags and bunting fly from peak to sill, and the volume of
cheers from the shore attest the widespread interest taken
in the successful launching of the novel ship. While now afloat
Captain Sutton, the grey-bearded old 'sea-horse', is in command,
and with his weather eye open he sights in the distance dark
clouds fast thickening up; and not to imperil his cargo, he
puts into Newport Harbor for safety while his ship finds a
berth alongside the great "Pilgrim". And for one
night certainly a palace steamer has a strange bedfellow.
Next morning, with calm sea and favoring winds they sail away
to their destination. A successful voyage and easy landing,
- a delightful new abode. And now we welcome you to the spacious
rooms of "The Bay Voyage".
-I.W.T.
The voyage
of 1889 across the Narragansett Bay has immortalized our name.
We invite you to inquire with our Concierge to learn more
of the Bay Voyage. For the pleasure of your viewing there
are several pictures depicting the Inn's history over the
last century. These pictures are displayed in our Lobby and
Common Room. On behalf of the management and staff of the
Bay Voyage Inn and Restaurant, we sincerely thank you for
your patronage. We welcome you to celebrate your next special
occasion with us.
THE
BAY VOYAGE 150 Conanicus Avenue
Jamestown, Rhode Island 02835 (401) 423-2100
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