[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 83 (Thursday, June 9, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3673-S3674]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            350TH ANNIVERSARY OF BLOCK ISLAND, RHODE ISLAND

  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I am pleased to rise today along with my 
colleague, Senator Whitehouse, to help mark the 350th anniversary of 
the settlement of Block Island, RI.
  Block Island sits 12 miles south of coastal Rhode Island, and for 
over three centuries has contributed to the economic and ecological 
vitality of my home State. It has a rich history.
  In 1614, the Dutch merchant and explorer Adriaen Block charted the 
Island, which is named for him.
  In 1661 colonists from Massachusetts sailed to Block Island and 
established a community that would later become the town of New 
Shoreham.
  During the Revolutionary War, Block Islanders warned American 
soldiers of approaching British ships by lighting fires on Beacon Hill, 
the island's highest point. And, over the past 200 years, Block Island 
has constructed two lighthouses that have provided safe passage for 
countless sailors and travelers.
  Today, Block Island is home to over 1,000 permanent residents and 
welcomes up to 20,000 visitors each day during tourist season.
  Block Island has been graced by visits by two sitting Presidents--
President Ulysses S. Grant in 1875 and in 1999 by President William 
Jefferson Clinton. I was pleased to have guided President Clinton as 
well as First Lady Hillary Clinton, who is now Secretary of State, 
around the Mohegan Bluffs and the historic Southeast Lighthouse, which 
overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, during their visit.
  Throughout the years, the local community has worked hard to preserve 
the Island's natural beauty and landmarks. In the 1980s and early 1990s 
Captain John R. Lewis, a Block Island resident known to all as Rob, 
spearheaded a campaign to save the Southeast Lighthouse, which was 
threatened by an eroding shoreline. With a coalition of friends and 
local residents, Rob worked to secure nearly $1 million in Federal 
funding and he persuaded Block Islanders to help raise $270,000 through 
donations.
  I must also applaud the efforts of John Chafee and Claiborne Pell, my 
predecessors--particularly Senator Chafee--who worked hard to ensure 
support for the movement of the Southeast Lighthouse. Their efforts, in 
conjunction with Federal and State leaders, saved this historic 
landmark, which still stands today.
  Over 40 percent of the Island is now preserved land. The Island 
boasts dramatic bluffs, pristine beaches, and 25 miles of public hiking 
trails. Over 40 kinds of endangered species call Block Island home and 
thousands of migratory birds pass through each year making this a truly 
exceptional place.
  Indeed, Block Island was included on the Nature Conservancy's list of 
``Last Great Places.'' This honor identifies sites in the Western 
Hemisphere with significant biodiversity and ecosystems with rare or 
endangered species.
  Block Island is not only unique for its rich history; it also has a 
beautiful landscape.
  Generations of Block Islanders have preserved what the Narragansett 
Indian tribe called ``God's Little Island.'' As we celebrate the 350th 
anniversary of Block Island's settlement, it is fitting that we 
recognize and congratulate Block Islanders for all of their efforts to 
preserve one of our country's most treasured places.
  I yield to Senator Whitehouse.
  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleague 
Senator Reed in commemorating the 350th anniversary of Block Island and 
thank him for his leadership in this moment of recognition.
  Every Rhode Islander can recall their first trip to Block Island. For 
most it starts with a drive down to Galilee where countless visitors 
have boarded the Block Island ferries--the Carol Jean, the Block 
Island, and the Anna C. The ride from Galilee lasts about an hour, 
winding out of the Pt. Judith harbor of refuge and into the open ocean. 
And as the mainland--with all its cares and concerns--slips away off 
the stern a small speck on the horizon ahead grows larger with each 
passing minute. Soon the great bluffs of the island come into view, 
followed by the friendly hustle and bustle of Old Harbor.
  As the ferry pulls into dock, the full scene unfolds: the National 
Hotel, Ballard's Inn, the docks and moorings, and all the shops and 
restaurants along Water Street. As you step ashore, you can't help but 
feel enchanted by the scene. A mere 12 miles separate the island from 
the mainland of our Ocean State, but it can easily seem a world away.
  Generations of young Rhode Islanders have made that trip, and most of 
them will continue returning, year after year, only to find with a sigh 
of relief that the scene is just as they left it. It is no wonder that 
the Nature Conservancy has named Block Island as one of the Earth's 
``Last Great Places.''
  Formed by a receding glacier thousands of years ago, the land was 
first inhabited by the Narragansett Indians, who named their home 
``Island of the Little God.'' It took its modern name from Adrian 
Block, a Dutch explorer who charted the island in 1614. It was later 
settled by a group of families from Massachusetts in 1661--350 years 
ago this year. In the centuries since, Block Island has been occupied 
by British Redcoats during the War of 1812, served as home to artillery 
spotters in World War II, and become a favorite destination for 
sailors, fishermen, and families across the region.
  Today the island is a mainstay of Rhode Island's tourism industry. 
The Southeast Lighthouse is one of the many ``must-see's'' for Ocean 
State tourists, right up there with historic Newport and Slater Mill. 
And the jobs generated by Block Island--from the ferry workers to the 
shop owners--are

[[Page S3674]]

a real help to our economy in these tough times.
  Today I join with Senator Reed to commemorate 350 years of history 
for the people of New Shoreham. Congratulations on this historic 
milestone.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Tennessee is recognized.

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