Little Compton plunged into its 350th year in dramatic fashion Wednesday, ushering in the New Year with a first — an organized polar plunge at Sakonnet Harbor. The plunge attracted a crowd of around 200 people, many of whom went to the community center afterwards for soup and hot drinks.

Phil Warren, who helped organize the swim on behalf of the Little Compton 350 Committee, was one of the roughly several dozen swimmers to brave the water. While many people came to see and support the event, only a handful jumped in, which did not surprise the people involved.

“In this town, you get support. You do something positive, people will show up for it,” Bill Boudreau of the Little Compton 350th Committee said. He, like many others, did not jump in the water.

But Warren did jump in. Having planned the event with co-chair Beth Ryan, this was his first-ever New Year's swim.

The 350th Committee, which is planning a host of events to celebrate the town's big birthday, has much more planned for the year, culminating in a parade and the opening of a time capsule at Richmond's Field over the summer. For more information on the town's 350th birthday celebration, click here.