1939 Map of Prudence Island

About this map

Narragansett Bay dominates this late-1930s survey, illustrating the maritime and military character of Newport County before mid-century development. The land is divided between the rural interior of Prudence and the more densely settled coastal strips of Middletown and South Portsmouth. Military activity is prominent along the shorelines, from the US Naval Reservation and US Naval Hospital to historical fortifications like Fort Butts. The map reveals a landscape still largely defined by its early institutional foundations, featuring numerous local schools such as Coggeshall Sch and Oliphant Sch, alongside the landmark Whitehall estate. Transportation relies on the New Haven and Hartford RR and a network of named lanes like Braman Lane and Wyatt Road, while the island of Prudence remains largely undeveloped, characterized by features like Schoolhouse Swamp and the small settlement at Homestead.