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In 1638, feisty colonists settled in Cranston and a century later defied the British over taxation. From the early town meetings that were rife with heated debate to the incorporation of a fully
functioning city, local historian and attorney Steven Frias charts the turbulent evolution of a democracy. Frias takes the reader through twenty consecutive mayors' terms, starting with Cranston's first mayor, Edward Sullivan, who never raised property taxes during his term while successfully managing to lower the debt of the city. Frias continues on with such mayors as John Horton, who provided liberal support for public education. Discover the corruption and scandal surrounding the installation of the sewer systems, and learn why the area was dubbed "City of Farms" and how current circumstances in Cranston reflect on past leadership.

The City by the Sea boasts an ambitious baseball history dating back to the early days of America's favorite pastime. In 1897, the Newport Colts became the first professional baseball team to ever tie in a playoff series. By the 1900s, baseball was being played daily on open fields and diamonds throughout Newport. The city has sported six major ball fields, including Cardines Field, host to the oldest continuously running amateur baseball team in the country. Discover the humble beginnings of players like Newport native Frank Corridon, who allegedly invented the now outlawed spitball, and the legacy of the great Trojans baseball club. Team up with baseball historian Rick Harris and walk through the history of Newport baseball from amateur games to the major leagues and all the strikes, homers and grand slams in between.

In 1765, settlers to the west of Providence petitioned to form their own township. Their prayers were answered, and North Providence, Rhode Island, was born. While it sheltered religious dissenters, North Providence was also the sparking point of the Industrial Revolution--native sons and industrialists Samuel Slater and Zachariah Allen reinvented the cotton industry and altered the course of the nation. In this history of North Providence, author Paul F. Caranci celebrates the town's colorful characters and provides walking tours for the villages of Lymansville, Allendale, Centredale and Fruit Hill. Learn how North Providence native Stephen Olney became a Revolutionary War hero when he pulled an injured James Monroe from the battlefield and how Frank C. Angell became a spokesman for Centredale. Caranci reveals the unique history of North Providence and the people who shaped it.