Quonochontaug Historical Society
Welcome
The Quonochontaug Historical Society was a fortunate recipient last year of an artifact from the steamer “Larchmont” that sunk off our coast in Block Island Sound on February 11, 1907. The steamer had been struck during a cold dark night by a schooner, the “Harry Knowlton”. Over 150 people lost their lives in the frigid waters that evening along with the contents of the ship.
Palmer Pendleton of Quonochontaug (1870 – 1964) was on the beach shortly after the ship sank and rescued this chair from the surf. Unfortunately, the ship had been far enough out in the ocean that it could not be seen by the crew in the Quonochontaug Life Saving Station making it impossible to save more lives.
Palmer Pendleton
(1870 – 1964)
The chair was passed down in the Pendleton family over the next several years and was actually refinished and reupholstered by Palmer’s brother, Alfred Pendleton.
Claire Pendleton Card, the granddaughter of Palmer Pendleton, was the most recent family member who used the chair in her Warwick home.
Claire recently decided to donate the chair to QHS for safe-keeping and to bring a lost piece of history to our community.
From the Archive:
SPOTLIGHT
Shipwrecked Steamer the Larchmont
2022 Membership
Join/Renew
Please consider becoming a 2022 member of the Quonochontaug Historical Society. Your membership will help support our organization’s unique historical work in the Quonnie community.
“Reflections of Quonnie”
featuring the photographs of
Bob Petrone
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A new QHS Exhibit spotlighting the photographs of Bob Petrone is now on display in the downstairs hall of the Quonnie Grange.
Bob’s latest video of the Quonnie area is now available online at:
A special thank you for all Bob has done for QHS.
More information about the
Shipwrecked Steamer Larchmont
at the
Quonochontaug Grange
A special display on the 1907 shipwreck of the steamer “Larchmont” and the schooner “Harry Knowlton” will be available for viewing for the entire summer season. Please visit us at the lower level of the Quonochontaug Grange during posted open hours. Members will receive an announcement noting the summer open hours.
The Society is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to recording and preserving the history of Quonochontaug Neck in Charlestown, Rhode Island. Please explore this website to learn more about the history of this wonderful area.
