In 1970, a 70-acre donation from the
Audubon Society of Rhode Island led to the establishment of Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge. Today, with land transfers from the Navy, the Refuge totals 242 acres that provide an important stopover and wintering area for migratory birds. Sachuest Point was home to several military facilities in the 20th century. During the US participation in
World War I, two
4.7-inch Armstrong guns were transferred from
Fort Strong in
Boston Harbor to provide some protection against
German U-boats. "Sachuest Point" is misspelled in Army records for these guns as "Sauchet Point". The guns were removed in 1919; one was scrapped and one is a memorial in
Ansonia, Connecticut. During
World War II, the
United States Navy established a communications station (NAVRADSTA Sachuest Point, part of NAVCOMMSTA Newport) and a rifle range. The remains of the rifle range still exist. The communications station was closed and demolished in 1973. At some time the
United States Army Coast Artillery Corps erected
fire control towers on Sachuest Point, probably in World War II to support
Fort Church in
Little Compton, which guarded the
Sakonnet River and the eastern approaches to
Narragansett Bay. These were probably abandoned after the war, and were demolished in the late 1970s. ==See also==