100+ Years of the Calabrese Club
Ever build a tree fort or start a neighborhood club when you were a kid? That feeling of getting together with your friends where everyone [...]
The Next Big Hurricane : Not If But When
On September 21, 1938, a storm of biblical proportions slammed into the northeastern coast of the United States from South Jersey to Boston creating the [...]
The Westerly Town Band and The Chorus of Westerly: Musical Traditions
The following is part six in Westerly Life’s “Behind the Murals” series discussing the history behind all of the recently created murals throughout downtown Westerly. [...]
A Tour of Downtown Westerly: 1962, Part I
The date is April 27, 1962, and it is a Friday afternoon in late spring, the perfect time to travel up and down the streets of Westerly. [...]
Diamonds are Forever at Nigrelli’s Jewelry
Nigrelli's was founded in 1947 by Joseph Nigrelli Sr., fresh out of his service in the Air Force. Originally operating out of his mother's home [...]
The Many Lives of the Martin House
In March 2016, the Savoy Bookshop and Café opened in downtown Westerly, completing the long-awaited and much-needed facelift of the Martin House, a building that [...]
Old Faithful – The Steamboat Block Island
For more than 32 years the steamboat Block Island led a charmed life and was never involved in a major accident. This picturesque steamboat was [...]
Christmas in Westerly: Holiday Traditions Throughout History
When thinking of Christmas and the holiday season, it's hard not to envision beautifully decorated stores, familiar songs of the season, and despite the rise [...]
Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
In 1897, a young girl’s belief in Christmas magic was shaken. Virginia O'Hanlon's friends teased her for believing in Santa Claus. She wrote to the [...]
A Christmas Mystery: A Visit from St. Nicholas
In downtown Newport, there stands an old Victorian house. The house was once the summer residence of Clement Clark Moore, the author of the most [...]
Nathanial Palmer and the Discovery of the Antarctic
November 18, 2020 marked the 200-year anniversary of the sighting of the continent of Antarctica by Nathaniel Brown Palmer of Stonington, Connecticut. He was one [...]
Don Panciera: Westerly’s Own NFL Star, Part 2
Read Part 1 first! After three seasons of college football, Don Panciera made the decision to take his game to the professional level. In the [...]