Aquidneck

 

Indian and early colonial name for the island in Narragansett Bay, between Newport and Goat Island. Aquidneck is an Algonquin word meaning "at the island" and was suggested to the Navy by the mayor of Newport, R.I., Henry S. Wheeler.

 

(YFB-14: dp. 544; l. 151'0"; b. 53'0"; dph. 14'6"; dr. 9'6"; s. 9 k.; cl. Aquidneck)

 

The steel-hulled ferryboat Aquidneck (YFB-14) was laid down on 28 July 1936 at Bath, Maine, by the Bath Iron Works Corp. (Bath's hull no. 167); launched on 13 February 1937; sponsored by Miss Valnessa Easton, daughter of Lt. Comdr. Glenn H. Easton, CC, USN, Superintending Constructor at Bath Iron Works; and delivered to the Navy on 22 May 1937.

 

Aquidneck—built to replace Narragansett on the run from Newport to Goat Island, servicing the needs of the Naval Torpedo Station, Newport—commenced her service on the morning of 28 May 1937 from the Government Landing at Newport. Over the next three decades, Aquidneck operated as a ferryboat within the 1st Naval District, principally servicing Newport, R.I., until placed out of service, in reserve, in October 1971. Stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 July 1975, Aquidneck was transferred to the state of Washington on 19 December 1975

 

 

Aquidneck (YFB-14), underway circa 1937. (80-G-457679)