#AtoZ Stay Home! Wear a Mask! "D" is for DAVISVILLE

2021 A to Z

Apr 4

Written By

It seemed appropriate this year to feature a theme that kept me close to home, so I give you my A to Z within the small acreage that is Rhode Island. I tried to be creative (you’ll see!) but I hope you learn something about Little Rhody, too. Whether you’ve lived here all your life, grew up within the boundaries, or have never set foot on one of our many beaches, come along for a virtual tour.

Davisville is a village within the town of North Kingstown, about 18 miles south of Providence. In 1942, the Navy established the Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) in Davisville, and in 1968, NCBC Davisville became the homeport of the Atlantic Fleet Seabees (CBs, for Construction Battalions).

After World War II, the Naval Air Station remained in operation, but the NCBC was inactive until 1951, when the site was designated Headquarters, NCBC. The Naval Air Station was decommissioned in 1974. NCBC Davisville was selected for closure during the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC 1991) program and operational closure occurred on April 1, 1994. The land eventually was obtained by the State of Rhode Island.

Between 1942 and 1994, the Seabees participated in every war involving the United States. The Quonset Hut and the Davisville Pontoons were both developed at the Davisville Seabee Center. The base has schooled and trained thousands of officers and tens of thousands of Seabees.