♪ >> EIGHT JIM OF RHODE ISLAND’S NARAGANNSETT BAY. THIS SMALL TOWN ON CONNECTICUT ISLAND MEASURES JUST UNDER 10 SQUARE MILES IN LAND AREA BUT JAMESTOWN IS ABUNDANT AND WATER VIEWS, HISTORY AND CHARM SHOULD >> I CAME TO VISIT AND FELL IN LOVE WITH THE ISLAND. HOW COULD YOU NOT? IT IS JUST INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL. >> LESLIE RETIRED TO JAMESTOWN 10 YEARS AGO AND EVERY DAY SINCE, SHE HAS VISITED ONE OF THE ISLAND’S MOST BEAUTIFUL VANTAGE POINTS, BEAVER TAIL STATE PARK. >> AS LONG AS IT’S NOT SNOWING OR RAINING. IT IS BEAUTIFUL. I LOVE BEING DONE ON THE ROCKS. NOT TOO CLOSE. THE SOUND OF THE WATER. THE WAVES CRASHING. >> AT THE VERY END OF THE PARK ON THE SOUTHERN TIP OF THE ISLAND STANDS THE HISTORIC BEAVER TAIL LIGHTHOUSE. THIS 64 FOOT GRANITE STRUCTURE WAS BUILT IN 1856 TO REPLACE ITS DETERIORATING WOODEN PREDECESSOR CONSTRUCTED A CENTURY EARLIER. >> THERE’S SOME BEAUTIFUL SITES AND SCENERY HERE. >> THE STATE DIVISION OF PARKS AND RECREATION OVERSEAS BEAVER TELLS MAINTENANCE. ROGER IS THE REGION’S MANAGER. >> THAT IS BASICALLY OUR MISSION HERE, TO KEEP IT A SAFE FUNCTIONAL SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO ENJOY. >> PEOPLE REALLY ENJOY BEAVER TAILS BEAUTY DURING THE PEAK OF THE PANDEMIC. THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES THAT VISITED THE PARK INCREASED BY MORE THAN 50% BETWEEN 2019 AND 2020. >> IT IS A GREAT PLACE TO COME AND SIT AND READ, LOOK OUT OVER THE WATER. PEOPLE FISH HERE A LOT. >>>> THE PARK OFFERS 10 MILES OF WALKING TRAILS OVER ITS 153 ACRE SPAN. >> EACH PLACE HAS ITS OWN IDENTITY, HITS OWN GROUP OF PATRONS THAT LIKE TO VISIT HERE. WE HAVE A LOT OF GROUP OF REGULARS. THEY WILL CARE EVERY DAY. >> IF I’M UNDER STRESS, THE FIRST PLACE I COME IS HERE. I’M HAPPY, THE FIRST PLACE I COME IS HERE. IT IS INVIGORATING IN GENTLE WAY IF THAT MAKES SENSE. >> BEAVER TAIL POINT IS THE SOUTHERNMOST TIP OF JAMESTOWN. DRIVE JUST NINE MILES NORTH AND YOU END UP AT THE OTHER END HERE AT CONNECTICUT POINT. IT IS A 20 MINUTE DRIVE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM ON AN ISLAND THAT IS ONE MILE WIDE WITH ONE ZIP CODE IN A STATE WITH ONE AREA CODE. ROUTE 138 IS THE ISLAND’S ONLY STATE HIGHWAY STRETCHING FROM THE JAMESTOWN VERRAZANO BRIDGE ON THE EASED TO THE NEWPORT PELL BRIDGE ON THE WEST. BUT AS YOU MAY HAVE GUESSED BY THE SIGHT OF ALL THIS WATER, CAR TRAVEL IS NOT THE ONLY WAY TO GET AROUND. >> WELCOME TO JAMESTOWN. >> THE JAMESTOWN NEWPORT FERRY OPERATES OUT OF THE CONNECTICUT MARINA FOUNDED BY BILL MONGER. >> I WILL FOLLOW YOU. >> AFTER LEAVING JAMESTOWN’S EAST FERRY WHARF, THIS HOP ON HOP OFF SERVICE MAKE STOPS AT FOUR FOREST DESTINATIONS IN NEWPORT. WERE YOU BORN AND RAISED IN JAMESTOWN? REALLY? >> MY MOM WAS A SCHOOLTEACHER. MY DAD WAS A BOAT OLDER. >> HE DISCOVERED EARLY ON HE WANTED TO FOLLOW IN HIS FATHER’S FOOTSTEPS. >> TOOK MY BOAT TO HIGH SCHOOL IN NEWPORT BECAUSE THAT WAS THE PREFERRED TRANSPORTATION OF THE DAY. I DID NOT CARE ABOUT BASEBALL, FOOTBALL. I JUST WANTED TO GO HOME AND CUT WOOD, BOATS. THIS WAS BEFORE FIBERGLASS. KEEPING THE STOVE GOING. SWEEPING THE FLOOR. I JUST GOT ADDICTED TO ALL OF THAT. >> THAT INFATUATION ENDURED FOR DECADES PROMPTING A TRUE LABOR OF LOVE, REHABILITATING NEWPORT’S OLD VIKING QUEEN THAT FELL INTO DISREPAIR. THEN SANK OFF STATEN ISLAND DURING HURRICANE STANDING. -- HURRICANE SANDY. >> WE TOLD HER HOME FROM THE HUDSON. AND WENT TO WORK. LAUNCHED IT IN 2018 TWO YEARS LATER WITH THE HULL RECONDITIONED. >> TELL ME WHAT MAKES JAMESTOWN A SPECIAL PLACE. >> IT IS A GREAT AREA TO BE. WE ARE SHAPING UP TO BE A MINI NANTUCKET. THE ISLAND IS BEAUTIFUL. >> AFTER MORE THAN FOUR DECADES OF OWNERSHIP, BILL AND HIS FAMILY RECENTLY SOLD THE MARINA BUT THE FAMILY CONTINUES TO OPERATE THE FAIRY BUSINESS. BACK TO BEAVER TAIL LIGHTHOUSE, IT IS THE THIRD OLDEST LIGHTHOUSE IN AMERICA. SEVERAL GROUPS HAVE SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PRESERVE THE LIGHT, PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.