On August 31st 1954, Hurricane Carol came ashore the coast of Newport, RI with a massive surge and winds of 115 mph.

In one hour, Carol destroyed 3,800 homes, sank or damaged 2,000 boats and yachts, and leveled almost all of the island’s powered and telephone lines.

While the storm was less powerful than the ’38 hurricane, Carol was still able to destroy many of Newport’s coastal attractions, such as the Merry-Go-Round at Easton’s Beach and Johnny’s Atlantic Beach Club.  All of Rhode Island lost electrical power due to the storm, and 65 people were killed in Southern New England.

According to reports, the hurricane left in its wake over $200 million in property damage in Rhode Island alone, and electrical service was cut off for over six days.

Several of these photos are from the Newport Historical Society. For more information on what they do, visit www.newporthistory.org.

Significant flooding resulting from Hurricane Carol is visible in this photograph; note the Brick Market building at right. | Photo via Newport Historical Society
This snapshot reveals destruction from Hurricane Carol on Clinton Avenue, a residential street off Broadway. A note on the reverse of the photograph recounts that “…5 trees all on the same side of the street fell.” | via Newport Historical Society
via Rhode Island State Archives
via Rhode Island State Archives

This story was originally published on August 31, 2015.

Ryan Belmore is the Owner and Publisher of What'sUpNewp. Although not the founder or original owner, Belmore has been with What'sUpNewp since its early beginnings in 2012.

Belmore was born in Providence, Rhode Island; grew up and graduated high school in Coventry, Rhode Island; and lived in Newport, Rhode Island for more than ten years. He currently serves as Vice President of the Board Of Directors for Fort Adams Trust and on the Board of Directors for Potter League For Animals.

He and his wife, Jen, as well as their two dogs (Aero and June), recently moved to Alexandria, Virginia. Belmore travels back and forth to Newport every couple of weeks to cover events, work on story ideas, to meet with What'sUpNewp's on-the-ground contributors, to visit friends, and to eat as much seafood as possible.

Belmore is a member of Local Independent Online News Publishers, Society of Professional Journalists, and the North American Snowsports Journalists Association.