Historic boat house burns on Hog Island

Posted 7/1/21

One of the most recognizable structures on Hog Island was engulfed in flames earlier this evening, before firefighters got the blaze under control around 6 p.m. Commonly known as "Knight's Boat …

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Historic boat house burns on Hog Island

Posted

One of the most recognizable structures on Hog Island was engulfed in flames earlier this evening, before firefighters got the blaze under control around 6 p.m. Commonly known as "Knight's Boat House," the structure may be the largest visible  from the nearby Bristol shoreline or from motorists on the Mt. Hope Bridge, where it sits on the eastern  side of the island.

It is believed to have been built in 1904 by Walter Knight, who purchased all of Hog Island in 1901. Many of his descendants still own properties on the tiny island, which hosts a small summer colony. Part of Portsmouth, the island does not have public water or electricity.

Boats  from Bristol, Portsmouth and Newport responded to the scene.

We will share more details as we get them.

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.