History of Newport

The Newport Wharf Light was a tower built on Lake Memphremagog in 1879. It has since been demolished.

The current county courthouse was built in 1886. That was the year that the legislature moved the shire town here.

In 1879, the Field Opera House and Clock Tower was constructed. In 1896, it was destroyed by fire. The municipal building is now at this site.

By the late 19th century, the Boston & Maine and Central Vermont railroads were routed through Lake Bridge and the small village experienced a population boom.

The now-historic Goodrich Memorial Library was built in 1899.

The Memphremagog Hotel burned in 1907.

In 1917, the city of Newport was formed from portions of the towns of Newport (former village of Newport) and Derby (former village of West Derby). It was organized on March 5, 1918.

The current federal courthouse was built in 1904. Then, it included the post office.

In 1917, the city paved Main Street. By 1930, 4,000 motor vehicles a day, during the summer, traveled the street.

In 1932, the city had a poor farm for the indigent.

In August 1942, a single-engine Royal Canadian Air Force training plane crashed into the lake near the west shore near the city, killing the only occupant, the pilot.