The U.S. Naval War College was established this week in 1884 and Commodore Stephen B. Luce was appointed its first president. The college occupied the building now known as Founder’s Hall on Coaster Harbor Island, which had an interesting life of its own before naval strategy was taught within its halls.
Founder’s Hall was originally built in 1819 by the City of Newport as the Newport Asylum and Poor House and in 1822 occupants from the earlier poor house on Broadway were moved there. Residents included the indigent, mentally ill and substance-dependent citizens of a city that was still struggling from the economic destruction of the American Revolution and War of 1812. In later years, Asylum residents were moved to state hospitals and sanitariums and the building was sold to the federal government in 1880.
Engraving from the NHS Collection, 2004.13.119. Artist, G. Wall; engraved and printed by Fenner, Sears & Co.