portsmouthhistorynotes

The Stone Bridge began as a toll bridge.

From the earliest days, there was a ferry across the Sakonnet River to Tiverton at Howland’s Ferry or Anthony Ferry. The Rhode Island Bridge Company in 1795 constructed a bridge in the area as a private, tolled bridge. The area around the bridge has treacherous currents and the bridge washed away in 1796. They tried rebuilding in 1798 and it was forced to close until 1808. It was ‘rebuilt after destruction by the Great September Gale of 1815 and received its name as “the Stone Bridge.” After the draw bridge portion was washed away in 1869, it was sold to Tiverton and Portsmouth. The towns turned it over to the state. The structure was rebuilt and reopened in 1871 as a free bridge. In 1957, it was replaced by a new Sakonnet River bridge. Now it serves as a picturesque fishing pier on the Portsmouth side.

This ferry, the West Side, was used in the Howland Ferry area when the Stone Bridge was not operating.