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THE CIVIC AND ARCHITECTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF PROVIDENCE
JOHN HUTCHINS CADY
Gc 974.502 P948cad 1768197
M.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01146 7443
The Civic and Architectural Development of Providence
R.I.H.S.
Rhode Island State House
The Civic and Architectural® Development of Providence
1636-1950
by JOHN HUTCHINS CADY, F.A.I.A.
And having in a Sence of Gods mercefull providence unto me in my destresse called the place providence I desired it might be for a shelter for persons destressed for Conscience . . . Roger Williams
THE BOOK SHOP, PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
1957
COPYRIGHT, 1957, BY JOHN HUTCHINS CADY
AKERMAN STANDARD PRESS PROVIDENCE, R. I.
Foreword 1768197
P ROVIDENCE is one of the oldest cities in America. It has an important heritage covering more than three centuries. While many of its ancient landmarks have been sacrificed to the march of civic progress, and many of its traditions almost lost to memory, the atmosphere of early years is still retained in some old sections of the city. This tangible evidence of the city's cultural and architectural past is a present-day asset of great significance.
In the past few decades there has been a growing understanding of the value of pro- tecting the monuments of our nation's past. The Providence Preservation Society was organized in 1956 to help safeguard our local heritage. Our new society is fully aware of its responsibility for the protection of the city's historic sites and buildings. It is also conscious of the need to make them part of the life of today and of the future. We hope that the plans which are now being developed under a Federal Grant for Urban Renewal will result in a significant experiment in community rehabilitation and at the same time will be the means of "protecting, improving and making proper use of" some two hundred and fifty Colonial and Federal dwellings still standing in the confines of the original town area, known as the Providence Neck.
One of the Society's aims has been the publication of a book giving an account of the architectural treasures of the city. As a fulfillment of this aim, we feel honored to have the opportunity of endorsing The Civic and Architectural Development of Providence, which John Hutchins Cady, the Society's Historian, already had in preparation. It contains an important analysis and evaluation of Providence architecture as well as a description of the city's physical growth and development. Mr. Cady's broad interests as an architect, a pioneer in city planning and a student of the nation's architectural history have amply qualified him for the task he has set for himself.
The Preservation Society believes that this comprehensive study of Providence from its original settlement in 1636 through three hundred and twenty years of subsequent development will be invaluable not only to local residents but to all concerned with the continuous history of civic and architectural change. The book should stimulate a knowledge and appreciation of the city's historic and architectural worth.
ANTOINETTE F. DOWNING for the Providence Preservation Society
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2019
https://archive.org/details/civicarchitectur00cady
Preface
T HIS history had its inception in an address, entitled "The Architectural and Civic Development of Providence," delivered by the author at the Second Annual Institute of Art, held under the auspices of the Community Art Project, spon- sored by Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design, in Faunce House Theatre, Brown University, November 24, 1933.
It describes the town's physical growth, through its chronological periods of develop- ment, from the settlement in 1636 to the birth of modern city planning in 1950; and it is projected, in some instances, beyond the mid-century in order to show more recent trends in contemporary architecture, and to record initial steps in civic projects resulting from the new planning technique.
Part I of this volume, in its original form (later revised), was published serially in Rhode Island History, 1943-45, under the caption "The Development of the Neck."
When the manuscript was in its initial stages the author was privileged to receive the advice and counsel of Mr. Norman M. Isham and Mr. Howard M. Chapin, whose published works and word-of-mouth information concerning the early settlement and the Colonial period were of significant aid.
Acknowledgment is also made to Mr. Clifford P. Monahon and Mr. Clarkson A. Collins, 3rd, of the Rhode Island Historical Society, for assistance in research and in the assembling of illustrations; to Mrs. George E. Downing, Professor and Mrs. Benjamin C. Clough, Mr. Robert N. Cool and Mr. Paul F. Gleeson for reading the manuscript and making helpful suggestions; to Mr. Frank H. Malley, Mr. Harvey Flint and Professor Albert E. Simonson for reviewing and correcting certain sections of the text; to the City Engineer's department for supplying maps and plats; and to the author's brother, William H. Cady, for assistance in proofreading.
And, finally, the author's thanks are extended to the Board of Trustees of the Providence Preservation Society for their endorsement of the book.
J. H. C.
Did you ever hear the story told Of Roger Williams, the preacher bold, That settled this State in the days of old This little State of Rhode Island? Charles T. Miller, 1874.
Contents
INTRODUCTION
I
PART I. THE NECK
CHAPTER I
1636-1676
3
CHAPTER 2 1676-1720 13
CHAPTER 3
1720-1760
25
CHAPTER
1760-1772
37
CHAPTER 5
1772-1784
47
CHAPTER 6
1784-1800
57
PART II. WEYBOSSET SIDE
CHAPTER 7 1800-1812 71
CHAPTER 8
1812-1822
8I
CHAPTER 9
1822-1832
89
CHAPTER IO 1832-1845
IOI
CHAPTER II 1845-1860 II5
CHAPTER 12
1860-1870
13I
CHAPTER 13
1870-1880
I43
CHAPTER 14 1880-1890 159
CHAPTER 15 1890-1900 177
PART III. EAST SIDE, WEST SIDE
CHAPTER 16 1900-1910 197
CHAPTER 17 1910-1920
213
CHAPTER 18 1920-1930 233
CHAPTER 19 1930-1940 255
CHAPTER 20 1940-1950
273
INDEX 29I
Abbreviations of Most-used References
A.&R.
Rhode Island Acts and Resolves
Arnold Samuel Greene Arnold, History of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (New York, 1859).
Bronson Walter C. Bronson, The History of Brown University (Providence, 1914).
C.C. City Council.
C.D. City Document.
C.E. City Engineer.
Chace Henry R. Chace, Owners and Occupants of the Lots, Houses and Shops in the Town of Providence, Rhode Island, in 1798 (Providence, 1914).
C.M.
City Manual.
C.O. City Ordinances
Dorr
Henry C. Dorr, The Planting and Growth of Providence (Providence, 1882).
E.R.P. Early Records of the Town of Providence, collected and printed by the Record Commissioners (Providence, 1892-1915).
Field Edward Field, State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at the End of the Century: A History (Boston, 1902).
Greene Welcome Arnold Greene, The Providence Plantations for Two Hundred and Fifty Years (Providence, 1 886).
Hopkins Charles Wyman Hopkins, The Home Lots of the Early Settlers (Providence, 1886).
Isham Isham and Brown, Early Rhode Island Houses (Providence, 1895).
Kimball
Gertrude Selwyn Kimball, Providence in Colonial Times (Boston, 1912).
P.B. Plat Book.
P.L. Public Laws.
P.S.H. Plats of Streets, Highways &c, indexed in Fourth Report of the Record Commissioners relative to the Early Town Records (Providence, 1895).
R.I.C.R. Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New England, edited by John Russell Bartlett (Providence, 18 56-1865).
R. I. Hist. Rhode Island History, publication of the Rhode Island Historical Society (1942 et seq.).
R.I.H.S.C. Rhode Island Historical Society Collections (1918-1941).
R.I.H.S.P.
Publications of the Rhode Island Historical Society, New Series (1893-1900).
Staples William R. Staples, Annals of the Town of Providence (Providence, 1843).
Stone Edwin M. Stone, The Life and Recollections of John Howland (Providence, 18 57).
Maps and Illustrations
T HE Daniel Anthony maps of 1803 and 1823 and the city directory maps of 1870 and 1899 are reproductions of originals. The Providence maps for the years 1700, 1750 and 1850, and the four Rhode Island Boundary maps (reproduced from Rhode Island Boundaries, 1636-1936) were prepared by the author from docu- mentary records and drawn by William A. Perry, staff artist of the State Planning Board, 1935-36. The Proposed Public Improvements map is by courtesy of the City Plan Commission. The other maps were drawn by the author. The illustrations marked R. I. H. S. are by courtesy of the Rhode Island Historical Society. Sources of other illustrations are as marked. Photographs not otherwise identified are by the author.
Page
Rhode Island State House
Frontispiece
Map of Rhode Island showing territorial bounds 1636-1659 .
2
Roger Mowry house, 1653 9
Typical 17th century house plan 9
Map of the home lots, 1636-1650 IO
Map of Providence, 1700 14
Thomas Clemence house, 1680, Johnston, as restored 1938
17
Fifteenth century cottage, Twineham, Sussex 17
Eleazer Arnold house, 1687, Saylesville, as restored 1951 18
Clemence house, fire room, as restored 1938 18
Map of Rhode Island showing territorial bounds 1659-1703 . 20
Jones-Crawford house, c. 1715 - c. 1898, Mill Street .
22
Philip Tillinghast house, c. 1710-c. 1910, South Main Street
22
John Tripp house, c. 1725, 95312 Manton Avenue
24
King's Church, 1722-1810, North Main Street
25
Christopher Sheldon house, c. 1735 -c. 1908, South Main Street
31
Stephen Hopkins house, c. 1743, 12 Hopkins Street, as restored 1928
31
Abbott Still House, c. 1730-c. 1867, South Main Street
32
Map of Rhode Island showing territorial bounds 1703-1750 .
34
Colony House, 1762, North Main Street, showing tower added 1851
38
The town of Providence in 1762, sketch by Henry A. Barker, 1914
40
Shakespeare's Head, 1772, 21 Meeting Street
42
"A S.W. view of the college in Providence" 43
Joseph Tillinghast house, c. 1767, 403 South Main Street . 44
Russell house, 1772, 118 North Main Street 44
Typical 18th century house plans 46
First Baptist Meeting House, 1775, North Main Street 49
Joseph Brown house, 1774, 50 South Main Street
51
Map of Providence, 1750
27
Richard Brown house, c. 1731, Butler Health Center 32
MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS
Page
Hoyle Tavern, 1783-1890, Westminster and Cranston streets 53
Golden Ball Inn, 1784-1941, Benefit Street 54
Betsey Williams Cottage, 1773, Roger Williams Park 55
Map of Providence in the middle of the 18th century 56
Coffee House, c. 1792 - c. 1850, Market Square 59
John Brown house, 1786, 52 Power Street 65
Joseph Nightingale house, 1791, 357 Benefit Street
65 66
Edward Dexter house, 1799, 72 Waterman Street
Houses on Thomas Street, c. 1789, 1791 66
First Congregational Church, 1795-1814, Benefit Street 67
The Town House (original Congregational Church), 1723-c. 1870, Benefit Street
68
Map of Rhode Island showing territorial bounds, 1750-1806
69
Map of Providence, 1803, by Daniel Anthony 72
70
Providence Theatre curtain, showing view of East Side, c. 1808
Beneficent Congregational Church, 1808 (as altered 1836), Weybosset Street 73
Saint John's Cathedral, 1811, North Main Street 74
76
Thomas P. Ives house, 1806, 66 Power Street .
77
Edward Carrington house, c. 1812, 66 Williams Street
77
Houses at 18-20 Arnold Street, c. 1800
78
Samuel Aborn house, c. 1810-c. 1890, Weybosset Street 79
80
The great storm of Providence, September 23, 1815 . 82
Exchange Place during the hurricane of September 21, 1938
82
First Congregational Church, 1815, Benefit and Benevolent streets
86
Hope College (1822) and University Hall (1770), Brown University
88
Map of Providence, 1823, by Daniel Anthony
90
Cheapside, 1843
9I
A view of Market Square, c. 1823
92
Map of the central part of Providence, 1832
93
A view of the cove from Smith's Hill, 1827 94
Whitman Block, 1825-1912, Turks Head 96
Benjamin Hoppin house, 1816-c. 1875, Westminster and Aborn streets 97
The Arcade, 1828, Weybosset Street 98
Candace Allen house, 1822, 12 Benevolent Street 99
City Hotel, 1832-1903, Weybosset Street IOI
Standard primary school design, 1842 IO2
High School, 1843, Benefit Street IO3
Boston and Providence Railroad carriage IO4
View of India Point, c. 1840 106
View of Providence from the south, c. 1819
Sullivan Dorr house, 1809, 109 Benefit Street
MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS
Page
Lonsdale Wharf, India Street, c. 1885 106
Manning Hall, 1834, Brown University 108
Providence Athenaum, 1838, 251 Benefit Street 109
Historical Society Cabinet, 1844, 68 Waterman Street IIO
Marine Corps Arsenal, 1840, Benefit Street II2
Early 19th century houses on Williams Street . 113
View of the Cove basin and promenade, c. 1860 II6
A map of the center of Providence, 1856 II7
Union Passenger Depot, 1848, Exchange Place II8
View of Market Square, c. 1849 I20
View south from Market Square, c. 1865 . I20
Map of Providence, 1850 I22
Providence Institution for Savings, 1854, 86 South Main Street 125
Providence Institution for Savings as enlarged, 1898 125
Grace Church, 1846, Westminster and Mathewson streets I27
View of College and Benefit streets, showing Central Congregational Church (c. 1853) and Truman Beckwith house (1827) 128
Federal Building, 1856, Weybosset Street 129
A map showing the re-annexations of Providence
130
Union Railroad Depot, 1867, Market Square
132
View of Market Square, c. 1885 I33
View north from Turks Head, c. 1867
136
Rhode Island Hospital, 1868, Eddy Street I38
Thayer Street Grammar School, 1868
139
Thomas F. Hoppin house, c. 1853, 363 Benefit Street
140
Henry Lippitt house, c. 1860, 199 Hope Street . 140
B. B. Knight house, c. 1865-1915, 159 Broad Street . I4I
Map of Providence, 1870, by D. G. Beers & Co. 142
Maps of Weybosset Bridge and vicinity, 1711-1940 I44
Prospect Terrace, 1867 148
Superior Court House, 1877-1930, Benefit and College streets 151
View east on Weybosset Street, c. 1880 153
Infantry Building, 1879-1942, South Main Street 154
George W. Prentice house, c. 1880, 514 Broadway 156
George H. Corliss house, c. 1875, 45 Prospect Street .
156
A Narragansett bay steamboat
158
Cable tramway, c. 1891 . 162
Map of revision of Cove lands as adopted in 1889 164
Hotel Dorrance, 1880-c. 1920 167
Sayles Hall, 1881, Brown University
168
MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS
Page
Houses at 19 and 23 Charles Field Street 169
William Gammell house, 1882, 170 Hope Street 169
Dr. George M. Carr house, c. 1885, 29 Waterman Street 170
Brown and Sharpe Manufacturing Co., Promenade Street 172
American Screw Company, Eddy and Henderson streets 174 Slater Mill, Pawtucket, established 1793 175
Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, 1889 176
View south from Canal Street, c. 1890
178
Market Square, c. 1898, showing College Hill cars
180
View of Market Square toward west, 1892 183
Providence Public Library, 1900, 229 Washington Street 186
Robert W. Taft house, 1895, 154 Hope Street . 187
View of Dyer and Westminster streets, c. 1905 . 189
Blessed Sacrament Church, 1905, Academy Avenue . 190
Central Congregational Church, 1893, Angell Street 191
Hope Street High School, 1898
192
Rhode Island School of Design, 1892, 21 Waterman Street
193
Map of Providence, 1899
196
View of Seekonk river bridges, c. 1910
202
John Carter Brown Library, 1904, Brown University 204
Van Wickle Gates (1901) and John Hay Library (1910), Brown University . 205
Pendleton House, 1904, Rhode Island School of Design 206
Providence Journal Building, 1906, Westminster and Eddy streets
207
View southeast from City Hall, c. 1920 208
First Church of Christ Scientist, 1908, Prospect and Meeting streets . 209
Saint Ann's Church, 1910, Hawkins Street 210
I. Gifford Ladd house, c. 1900 (Bryant College), I Young Orchard Avenue . Bajnotti fountain, 1902, City Hall Park
212
East grade approach to East Side, proposed by John R. Freeman, 191I
214
East Side tunnel portal, 1914, North Main Street
215
View of Exchange Place, 1915
216
City Hall, 1878, showing upper stories as remodeled 1914 .
218
Map of Providence Harbor, 1918
220
George J. West Junior High School, 1916, Beaufort Street
224
Harkins Hall, 1919, Providence College 225
Saint Michael's Church, 1915, Oxford Street 226
Proscenium of Majestic Theatre, 1916, 201 Washington Street
228
Ellen D. Sharpe house, 1912, 87 Prospect Street 230
Nickel Theatre 231
View of the upper harbor toward southeast c. 1920 232
21I
MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS
View down College Hill c. 1930
Page 236
Air view of civic center from southeast c. 1924 . 238
Temple of Music, 1924, Roger Williams Park
241
Faunce House, 1903 (addition 1931), Brown University
244
LaSalle Academy, 1924, Smith Street and Academy Avenue 245
State Office Building (1928), Saint Patrick's Church (1916) and State House (1900) 246
Turks Head Building (1913), new Industrial Trust Building (1928) and old Indus- trial Trust Building (1892) 248
Temple Emanu El, 1928, Morris Avenue
View of City Hall Park and Union Station c. 1930
249 250
Sheraton-Biltmore Hotel, 1922, Dorrance Street
251
House at 768 Elmgrove Avenue, 1930
252 252
View of Market Square and Canal Street c. 1950
254
Providence County Court House showing park treatment as proposed in 1931
258
Federal Building Annex, 1940, Exchange Place
261
Oliver Hazard Perry Junior High School, 1930, Hartford Avenue 263
Mount Pleasant High School, 1938, Mount Pleasant Avenue 264
Medical Arts Building, 1938, Waterman and Thayer streets 266
267
House at 323 Laurel Avenue, 1940 . 268
Roger Williams Memorial, 1939, Prospect Terrace 269
War Memorial, showing facing of railroad viaduct as proposed in 1931
270
Rice house, 1932, 25 Cooke Street . 271
Air view of civic center, 1951 272
Sharpe Refectory, 1951, Brown University
275
Proposed Public Improvements, 1957, City Plan Commission
280
View of the Market Square area, 1951 284
Temple Beth El, 1954, Orchard Avenue .
285
Providence Washington Insurance Building, 1947, Washington Place .
286
Elmwood branch, Providence Institution for Savings, 1949
287
House at 270 Laurel Avenue, 1949 . 288
A section of Old Providence on John Street
289
Huntoon house, 1925, 55 Cooke Street
California Artificial Flower Company, 1939, Reservoir Avenue
Brook Street Fire Station, 1950 279
Introduction
H ENRY VII of England established a claim to the territory of New England following the voyages of John Cabot in 1497-1498. The first permanent colony was settled by the Pilgrims at Plymouth in 1620. The Puritans were granted a charter by Charles I, in 1629, creating the Massachusetts Bay Company with control of territory extending from sea to sea, its north and south bounds, at their easterly ends, following lines located, respectively, three miles north of Merrimack river and three miles south of Charles river. Under a Royal patent, granted in 1629, the bounds of the Plymouth colony were defined as including all of New England south of the Bay Company's territory (a line extending, roughly, from the south shore of Boston bay southwesterly to Blackstone river north of Pawtucket falls) and east of the center line of "the river called Narragansetts," identified as the sequence of the present Blackstone, Seekonk, and Providence rivers, Narragansett bay, Mount Hope bay, and Sakonnet river. The Plymouth Colony was merged with the Bay Colony in 1691.
Two years after the settlement of Massachusetts Bay Colony, on February 9, 1631, the ship Lyon, 66 days out of Bristol, England, arrived in Boston harbor. Among the passengers were Roger Williams, a young chaplain of 28, and his wife, Mary Barnard Williams. Roger was born on Cow Lane, London, in 1603, the son of James Williams, a merchant tailor, and Alice Pemberton Williams. He received his education at Pembroke College, Cambridge, graduated with honors in 1626 and, subsequently, was admitted to orders in the Church of England. His theological ideas proved to be too liberal for adher- ence to that church, however, and he elected to share his lot with other dissenters in New England.
For two years after his arrival at Boston Roger Williams preached, successively, at Salem and Plymouth, at the same time cultivating the friendship of the Indians and learning their language. He returned to Salem, in 1633, as pastor of the First Church where his doctrine of freedom in religious worship and other radical opinions resulted in a summons to appear before the General Court of Massachusetts by whom, in October, 1635, he was adjudged guilty of having "preached and divulged divers new and dangerous opinions against the authority of magistrates."
Williams was not unprepared for the sentence of banishment which followed. Through his intercourse with the Indians he already had made negotiations for a settlement near the head of Narragansett bay, a spot suggested to him by Governor Winthrop of Massa- chusetts. His departure was postponed until the following spring, by consent of the Court, on condition that he should not, in the meantime, "draw others to his opinions." As that condition appeared to have been violated Captain John Underhill was commissioned, early in 1636, to apprehend him and deport him to England. In order to avoid seizure Roger Williams left Salem hastily, in the night time, and fled into the wilderness.
MASSACHUSETTS
Awumps Pond
A Map of the State of.
RHODE ISLAND
showing
TERRITORIAL2
Wayunhehe Hill
River
1636-1659
LOQUASQUSSUCK
Prepared by the State Planning Board
Pawtucket Falls
John H.Cady - Consultant 1936
Ponagansett
PondPRO
D
E
Bounds as extended, 1659 Moswansicut Pond
Walling's Pond
Oxford
SETTLEMENT
PROVIDENCE 163 6
iver
De Hoxes
REHOBOTH
MILES
Neutaconbanut Hill
Vipses
PAWTUXET
Rock
Division 16 \Line / 1640
Mashapoug
Pond
PAWTUXET
ive
MACHANTATOCT
River
Division Line until 1648
Sowhomes
Bay
IST. SETTLEMENT
WAR
I
1642
1
1
Shawhomett Weck
Called SHAWOMEN until 1648
POTOWOMO
Patience
91659
ATHERTON'S
PURCHASE
₹ Hope
Y
R
Cocumeussuc # Trading Post
R
.B
circa 1639
8
Nanigunzett
fox
NARRAGANSETT
COUNTRY
x
Could
ISLAND OF RHODE ISLAND
Settled 1638
PEQUOT
SAKOXNEI
Western Boundary according to Charter
1679
Great
Pond
Purchased 1657
E
River
Pawcotuch
MISQUAMICUT
BLOCK JSIAND
MANASSES
E
From Rhode Island Boundaries, 1636-1936
ATHERTONS NAM COOK S
Dutch
Coasters
Goat Ist
#
Namequota formerly AQUIDNECH
POCASSET
QUIDNESSET
AUDIENCEIS. Purchased 1637
RIVER
CONANICUTIS
Purchased16572
PURCHASE1659
1640 5 Line Established NEWPORT $1639 Settled
SALONNET
- West Line of Purchase Established-
AQUAMSCUTT
00
MY. HOPE BAY
MT HOPE
CONNECTICUT COUNTRY
River
Pocasset
foswansicut
TH COLON
Moshassk
Twenty Mile Line 1659
BOUNDS For the Years
Pawtucket
PART I
The Neck
CHAPTER I
1636- 1676
E ARLY in the year 1636 Roger Williams, an exile from Massachusetts, started from Salem on a pilgrimage to found a colony that would be free from religious control. Accompanied by William Harris, John Smith, Francis Wickes, and Thomas Angell he steered his course in a southwesterly direction, through snow and ice, arriving in April at a spot on the shore of Ten Mile river, near its confluence with Seekonk river.1 Several weeks were spent there during which time other followers of Williams arrived from Salem, among whom were Joshua Verin, William Arnold, Benedict Arnold, William Carpenter, Thomas Hopkins, and members of their families.2
Roger Williams wrote concerning the settlement: "I first pitcht & begun to build & plant at Secunk: But I recd a Letter from my ancient friend Mr Winslow, then Govr of Plymmouth, professing his owne & others Love and respect to me, Yet lovingly advising me (since I was fallen into the Edge of their Bounds, & they were loth to displease the Bay) to remove but to the other side of the Water,3 & then he said I had the Country free before me."4
Heedful of Governor Winslow's admonition Roger Williams set out, on a day in the early summer of 1636, to seek another spot. Accompanied by Thomas Angell he proceeded in a canoe down Seekonk river, paused on the opposite shore, at Slate Rock, to receive the greeting "What cheare Netop"5 from a group of Indians, rounded Fox Point, swung north on Great Salt river, passed through the narrows where Weybosset point projected from the westerly shore, entered a tidewater cove into which Moshassuck river flowed from the north and Woonasquatucket river from the west, and landed on the east shore near a fresh water spring.6
I. The spot, landscaped and marked in 1936 (page 268), is in the town of East Providence, which be- came a part of Rhode Island by an exchange of territory with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1862.
2. Howard M. Chapin, Documentary History of Rhode Island (Providence, 1916), pp. 11-16.
3. Seekonk river.
4. Letter from Roger Williams to Major Mason, June 22, 1670, original in Massachusetts Historical Society's collection.
5 . Roger Williams, Key into the Language of America (London, 1643), p. 2. Slate Rock was buried to a depth of about 20 feet during re-grading operations in 1878. A monument on Roger Williams Square, at Gano and Power streets, marks the spot. See pages 146-147.
6. See map, page 10. The spring site, located at the corner of North Main Street and Alamo Lane, is marked by a well curb and tablets. See page 259.
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