Rhode Island

The story of Barrington, Rhode Island, began in the 1640s with a small outpost on the shores of Narragansett Bay. Despite its total destruction during King Philip's War in 1675-1676, by 1717, it was incorporated as a town named Barrington after the brother of the governor of Massachusetts. During the 18th century, Barrington grew into a strong agricultural community. In the 1850s, the brickyard became a full-scale industry, and the new railroad accelerated population growth by attracting people seeking a summer resort and others to work in the brickyard, especially Irish and French Canadian immigrants. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Rhode Island Lace Works brought a new wave of Italian families, yet the town remained primarily an agricultural community, combined with oyster culture. Elegant residences sprang up along the shores of the Barrington River and Narragansett Bay, while Maple Avenue became the center of a large Italian community. After World War II, the population exploded and Barrington became the premier bedroom community of Rhode Island due to an outstanding school system, a remarkable housing stock, and excellent recreational and boating opportunities.

A collection of archival images, Pawtucket brings to life the history of this city, including the people, places, landmarks, and events that shaped it.

Pawtucket is a thriving and proud community with a rich history that spans over one hundred years. This compelling visual history is a valuable contribution to the movement to preserve Pawtucket's heritage. For decades, the Pawtucket Public Library and the Spaulding House Research Library have built up two remarkable archives chronicling the vivid history of Pawtucket from the 1820s to the 1990s. Now, these institutions have published over two hundred of the most fascinating images from their archives, bringing to life over one hundred and seventy years of Pawtucket's history--the people, places, landmarks, and events that have shaped this vibrant city. Accompanied by the authors' lively and authoritative text, these images invite us to journey back into the past and meet legendary Pawtucket characters such as Peter Palagi, aviator Jack McGee, and Fanny the elephant; to experience the bustle of Main Street or Broad Street in the 1870s and 1920s; and to rediscover landmarks such as the Music Hall building and Shartenberg's department store. As we meander through these pages, we see how much has been lost and yet how a sense of community has endured across the decades. It will be a source of education and fascination for young and old, resident and visitor alike.

Bristol, a shire town in the smallest county in the smallest state, is nestled between the Narragansett and Mount Hope Bays. Most of the town is surrounded by water, and its history lies therein. Bristol is ever changing, yet it manages to retain a small hometown character. This nostalgic postcard history of Bristol leads readers down dusty, mid-19th-century streets and into the bustling mid-1950s historic center. Today, people sail leisurely into Bristol's snug harbor, dock at the many public landings, and dine on the waterfront. Other visitors stroll down tree-lined streets, take in the many beautiful seascapes, or marvel at the aristocratic 18th-century homes built by wealthy merchants, slavers, and privateers.

The Pawtuxet Valley, though only a few square miles in central Rhode Island, has a rich and varied history. From the 1790s to the 1960s, the textile industry blossomed, expanded, and gave birth to nationally known brands such as Fruit of the Loom, helping to clothe America. The industry drew thousands of immigrants to the banks of the Pawtuxet River to make new lives for themselves. Yankees, Quebecois, English, Polish, Irish, Italians, Portuguese, Swedes, and many others created communities among the villages clustered up and down the valley.

Pawtuxet Valley is an introduction to the people and places of the valley, from its heyday of industrial power to its suburban evolution in the late twentieth century. Even more, it is a tribute to the many thousands who settled here and their descendants who left a legacy now being rediscovered. In this book, you will visit the Paine House, a Colonial-era tavern in Washington Village; St. Mary's Church, the oldest Roman Catholic church in Rhode Island; the annual St. Patrick's Day parade; and the many factories and mills that helped shape this exciting community.

In the late 1880s, pharmacist Elwin "Doc" Young began to photograph the people, places, and events in his bustling crossroads community of North Kingstown. He turned the best of these images into postcards and sold them in his
apothecary shop. Today, readers can admire Young's impressive art in this volume, North Kingstown: 1880-1920. These pages highlight North Kingstown's golden era--a time when elite East Coast families on their way to Newport
would stop in quaint villages and mingle with the residents. These captivating images show the people, technology, and architecture of an important city at the beginning of the
20th century.

Although residents of East Providence are proud of the development their city has seen in the 20th century, there still remains an allegiance to the community's small-town heritage.

The town of East Providence was incorporated in 1862, the same year it was ""traded"" to Rhode Island by Massachusetts. Two bridges across the Seekonk River gave easy access to people to and from East Providence, helping it transform from a sleepy fishing village to a central hub of commerce and entertainment. The East Providence Historical Society pays tribute to their little town in this delightful collection of photographs from the first one hundred years of the town's existence.

In honor of George Washington and the colonists' separation from the king's rule, the territory once known as Kings County was renamed Washington County. Rich in history, this once densely wooded region was transformed, and by the dawn of the 20th century, many villages and hamlets had taken root. In the early 1900s, photographer Walter Rogers captured the evolution of this area, and the images in Washington County are all drawn from his collection of glass-plate negatives. The text originates from historic accounts during this period. Readers will encounter pirate treasure in Richmond, sea serpents, Kickapoo Indian medicine men, village mishaps, and more.

The Providence River begins its journey from the confluence of the Moshassuck and Woonasquatucket Rivers, in the capital city from which the river takes its name. A short distance downstream, the Seekonk River joins with the Providence as they flow on toward the mouth of Narragansett Bay. The history of the Ocean State was made on the banks of this historic river. It was here that Roger Williams established the first settlement dedicated to religious liberty, Rochambeau's army made its first encampment on the road to Yorktown and the Walsh-Kaiser Shipyard built World War II vessels for the Allied maritime effort. Along its waters glided boats and ships engaged in the slave trade, the raid on the Gaspee" and all manner of coastal commerce. Historian Robert A. Geake has paddled the river's length to uncover the mysteries coursing within."

Originally named Pleasant View, Misquamicut is a lovely stretch of beach located in southern Rhode Island. Court Bliven and his wife named the area for its remarkable views. They built the first cottage, called the Pioneer, in 1894 and the Wigwam Hotel in 1905. The trolley came to the area in 1908, and by 1911, there were three major hotels, a casino, a village square, and 150 cottages. Its Victorian charm attracted visitors from all parts of the country, but the Hurricane of 1938 devastated Misquamicut and destroyed many of its photographs. Misquamicut brings together more than 200 vintage postcards, many very rare, in chronological order dating from 1894 to today.

The town of Bristol, Rhode Island, has been celebrating Independence Day in grand fashion since 1785.

Americans from near and far have long regarded the town as a center of patriotism and history. With this pictorial history, Bristol resident and ""Fourth of July Historian"" Richard V. Simpson presents a lively tribute to his town's heritage. Simpson has combined carefully selected images--many rare and previously unpublished--with informative and compelling text to take his readers on a journey through the history of this dynamic and diverse community. Readers are taken inside Hope Street's historic mansions and family-run shops, gaining valuable insight into the lifestyles of Bristolians in the early 1900s. By contrast, the growth and development of the town in the 20th century is revealed in aerial views taken over a period of 50 years.