USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume I > Part 90
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
generation. On May 5th, 1790, another company was chartered under the name of the Cranston Blues. It continued like its predecessor until after the training days, when both of them threw up their charters.
There has been little successful manufacturing done in the town aside from that carried on at the Cranston Print Works. After the revolutionary struggle the people began to look about earnestly for some paying industry besides farming. From 1812 to the present time different parties have tried the manufacture of cotton and woolen goods, but these attempts have proved unsuccessful. On May 5th, 1790, the Elmwood Bank was chartered, with William Daboll president, and Charles H. Bassett cashier, and in February, 1818, the Cranston Bank was started. Upon the changing of the state to national banks in 1865, both of these institutions were closed.
The ore bed owned by John Herod, previously mentioned, furnished employment at one time to various parties. The first company organ- ized to dig iron ore was in 1767, and proved very successful. Ore was taken from here to Hope Furnace, and to Ponaganset, and proved valuable for the manufacture of some of the cannon made and used in the war of the revolution.
In 1849 a company was chartered to work a mine of coal at Socka- nosset hill. During the late war another attempt was made, but the coal was of an inferior quality and the project was abandoned. Gold and silver have been found here in small quantities, and also black lead of a very fine quality, the working of which proved a profitable industry.
It is a singular fact that out of the many attempts to establish permanent manufactories in the town, only one succeeded in remain- ing a generation under one management and that one brought finan- cial ruin to its proprietors. Mashapaug, once the site of a flourishing cotton factory, retains to-day nothing of its former appearance. Elm- ville presents a scene of ruin so far as its manufacturing interests are concerned, the factory having been burned several years ago, and even the dwellings are fast going to ruin. Pawtuxet has seen the same decadence, so far as its factories and mills are concerned, and other places have shared in the same fate.
James A. Budlong & Son, whose place of business is in Providence, cultivate one of the largest vegetable farms in New England. It contains 470 acres, most of which is arable land, devoted to raising such crops as are put annually upon the market. They also cultivate what is known as the Sprague farm in Cranston. The business was begun in 1850 on a small scale at first, but now the yield sometimes amounts to $100,000 in a single year. The quantities of asparagus, beans, ears of green corn, cabbage, lettuce, spinach, green peas, toma- toes, peppers, squashes, turnips, cucumbers and melons, taken each year from this land are enormous, and the business requires hundreds
48
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
of hands. The winter crops raised under glass are also enormous, there being 112.000 square feet of hot beds in use.
William Sprague built a mill where the Cranston Print Works now are in 1807, and commenced the spinning of yarn. The mill was burned in 1815. It was immediately rebuilt and considerably en- larged. In the meantime Mr. Sprague hired the Union Mills at Olney- ville. In 1812 he erected a grist mill and a saw mill. These build- ings stood in front of the old store. In 1825 Mr. Sprague commenced to print a style of goods called " bird's-eye." These were then blocked by hand. James Doran laid the first block machine, and printing was commenced by him in 1837. He began with one machine, and had the goods blocked after the first colors, blue and white, they be- ing laid on with paste.
From this simple process, and from that time the business pros- pered, and large mills were erected from time to time, until 1.600 hands were employed. Every convenience that could be obtained by skilled labor and money was brought into requisition. Rails were laid so that cars could be taken to any part of the works, and every accommodation made for supplying the help with meat, ice, store goods, vegetables, etc. Mr. Hunt, the station agent at this place, both before and during the time of the prosperity of the Spragues, has re- ceived for them whole train loads of turkeys, chickens, etc., at a time.
The Spragues also erected numerous tenements for those having families, and for the single help a large three story boarding house, in two sections. The mills when in full operation ran over 30 print- ing machines, turning out about 60,000 pieces of 40 yards each weekly. The vast manufacturing interests of the Spragues, extending as they did all over the New England states, required the very height of ex- ecutive ability to manage successfully, but much to the regret of everybody, the depression in all branches of business that followed as the result of the war, overtook them in 1873, and a few years after- ward brought the collapse. Perhaps no concern in the nation shared more the respect and confidence of the people than this, and their failure was the severest financial shock ever given to the business circles of Rhode Island.
After the failure of the Spragues the works remained idle for a long time. In 1888 the property was purchased by B. B. & R. Knight and J. P. Campbell, and the Cranston Print Works Company was or- ganized, and began the business of bleaching, dyeing and printing cotton goods. They employ about 200 hands. John P. Campbell is president, John B. Anthony, treasurer, and Lyman B. Frieze, agent.
The Cranston Woolen Company owns a plant here also, started in 1886, Charles H. Rockwell, treasurer. This company manufacture woolen yarns, and give employment to 150 hands. A dye house, owned by Schonacle & Eastwood, in which a dozen men are employed, was started here also at the beginning of the year 1889.
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
The Cranston Steam Fire Engine Company was organized in 1887 at the Cranston Print Works, under the management of Lyman B. Frieze, chief engineer, and is connected with the mills, the village hav- ing the benefit also of the organization.
Thomas D. Hunt came to Cranston Print Works about 1840, and began work for the Spragues. Thomas D. Hunt, his son, the present station agent, became connected with the railroad office at this place in 1858 at eight dollars per month, and has been there ever since. His memory reaches back to a time when all was an open plain about the depot. The last in the old brick store were Hunter & McCarthy. They leased the store of the Spragues and operated it till 1886. The old Yellow Block was sold by Benoni Sprague to T. O'Dowd about 1875. He runs it now. P. Mclaughlin occupies the old town clerk's office, which was also built by the Spragues. Mr. Mclaughlin came to the place in 1886. The post office is kept by J. H. Barry. He erected his place of business in 1888.
Knightsville is among the older places in the town. There were in former times a bank and two hotels in the place. There are now three stores, one church and one hotel here. It is also the seat of the town house. Nehemiah Knight was tavern keeper in this place at all early day. He died in 1780. The old tavern stood on the site now occupied by the town house. Following him was Sylvester Rhodes. He married Harriet Knight, who kept the house after his death. She sold the property to James Aldrich in 1822. It next passed into the hands of Horace Prior. He came from Connecticut to the place to teach school, and married Orrie Knight. He was followed by Lyman Barney, who sold the property in a short time to Job Wilbur, and during his proprietorship the house was burned, about the year 1847. The tavern that stands there now was built about the year 1844 by Henry King. The deed was made by Joseph Harris. It passed from King to John R. Burrows, and from him to the Cranston Bank. Job Wilbur owned it at the time the old tavern was burned, the bank re- serving the right of office room. William Ross, the well-known ex- pressman, bought it next, and his son William Ross took it after his death. It is now owned by the Ross heirs, but is leased to other parties.
The Cranston Bank was located at Knightsville. It was chartered in 1818, and did business till 1865. Joseph Harris was the first presi- dent, and Caleb Congdon was the next and last one. Jerre Knight was the first cashier. He only lived a year or so afterward, and was succeeded by Jesse Howard, and he by W. H. A. Aldrich, who was there last. After the railroad was built in 1853, the business of the place was largely diverted.
J. S. Richardson, a prominent vinegar manufacturer, came to Knightsville in 1852. At that time Jeremiah Pearce kept store at the Four Corners. His brother also traded there and their father
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
kept a tailor shop in the same building. In 1867 N. W. Pearce built the first store in Knightsville. He kept here till 1878, and since then the business has been carried on by his son, N. H. Pearce. The old residence property of William Stanfield was purchased by T. W. Platt in 1880, moved back and the store now on that site was erected by Mr. Platt during that year. The store owned by George Hill was built by E. S. Remington about the year 1873. He was succeeded at the Corners by James Cornwell, the last at that place. In 1880 the present owner leased the property of Mr. Remington and in 1888 pur- chased it. Mr. Richardson, before mentioned, began manufacturing vinegar about 25 years ago, and has gradually increased his business till the present time. In some seasons he consumes over 5,000 bushels of apples. S. Mathewson does a lively business packing ice at this place. He gathers his products from Randall's pond, which is fed wholly by springs. He usually puts up about 12,000 tons. He built his residence here in 1846 and began the ice business in 1878.
The church at Knightsville was erected about the year 1804 or 1805. from the proceeds of a lottery. The amount authorized was £1,300. It was stipulated with the society that the building should be used as a town hall. The society continued to use the house till 1865, when trouble of a serious nature broke out among them, which ended in the dismemberment of the society-the old Six Principle Baptist church, of which Elder John Tillinghast was the pastor so many years in this place.
June 16th, 1878, the Union Congregationalists formed a society consisting of 13 members, and have occupied the building since. The names of these first members were: Rhoda B. Briggs, Hannah A. Briggs, Nicholas Briggs, Lizzie A. Bellows, Adeline A. Richardson, Mary J. Richardson (present clerk), Abbie E. James, Willard R. Snow, Alfred H. Briggs, Henry Proctor, Belle Proctor, Angeline F. Greene, and Nancy R. Whitehead. The pastors have been Reverends Jere- miah Taylor and Thomas Crocker. A good Sabbath school is main- tained in the place.
Pawtuxet village is situated in the southeastern part of the town of Cranston, a portion of the village being in the town of Warwick. It has two manufacturing establishments, two churches and several stores and shops, and is connected by street railway with Providence. This place was the abode of William Carpenter, Benedict Arnold and William Arnold, who in 1642 placed themselves and their lands under the protection of Massachusetts and became a source of considerable vexation to their neighbors. The difficulties were finally settled and the people and their lands on the south side of the river united to those of Warwick, which was the earliest settled portion of the terri- tory within the limits of the town.
The house at Chappequansett, now occupied by the Country Club, in Warwick, was built by the Honorable James Rhodes of Warwick.
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
The Arnolds, Browns and Rhodes owned originally nearly a thousand acres of land here. Honorable James Rhodes was engaged in busi- ness in this place during a period of 60 years. He was the first who embarked in the manufacture of woolens in Rhode Island. He was twice elected a member of the state conventions and was once a presi- dential elector. He was the brother of General Christopher and Colonel William Rhodes of Pawtuxet. He had one sister, the mother of Robert Rhodes Stafford. The firm of James Rhodes & Sons was long known in this and other places. His daughter and family were residing here in 1844, when the farm was sold to Mr. Josiah Chapin. Mr. Chapin engaged in farming until 1849, when he sold the property to General Charles S. James. It was subsequently sold to Nicholas Brown.
The next estate toward Pawtuxet was that of Colonel Ephraim Bowen, where he lived for many years. He was the father-in-law of Honorable John H. Clark. He was the last survivor of that heroic party connected with the "Gaspee." His place was sold to Joseph Butler and was always considered a very beautiful residence. John A. Brown owns it now. These houses were homes of true hospitality, and many noted men were entertained there.
James Tucker, father of George L. Tucker, was an early settler. He was a sea captain. He built the residence now occupied by George L. Tucker in 1804. Rhodes Greene was also an early settler. He was born August 21st, 1755. By his wife Phebe, he had two daughters, Phebe and Nancy, who together became the mothers of 21 children. Phebe married Benoni Lockwood and Nancy married James Tucker. The Greene homestead was built about 1802. Abel Slocum, Reming- ton Arnold, George C. Arnold and William Utter Arnold, also were early and prominent citizens of this place.
Among the prominent early traders of the village was Remington Arnold, Jr., who was born here and died after keeping store for 40 years. His father, Remington Arnold, Sr., died here 50 years ago, · his homestead being the house now owned and occupied by H. N. Slocum. His children were: Edmund, Mary, Samuel and Remington, Jr. Remington, Jr., kept store in a one story building on the site now occupied by the building erected by his son, Elisha S. Arnold, the latter having been there since 1858. Father and son have kept store there since 1818. In 1858 Samuel Slocum was also trading here. His store is now used as a tenement house and is owned by William R. Barton of Providence. Daniel Harris kept store at the bridge on the Cranston side. Albert Fisher was also an old trader, his store being on the Warwick side. Nelson and Samuel Slocum, John F. Carr, George H. Arnold, Sidney Smith, and others also traded considerably in the place.
Honorable James Rhodes was the first who embarked in the man- ufacture of woolens in Rhode Island. He carried on business at this
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
place 60 years. The Rhodes Mills were burned May 2d, 1859. They were then operated by Stafford & Co., who also made large additions to the mills on both sides of the river, and employed 75 hands in the manufacture of cotton yarns. The mills on the Cranston side were owned by Brown & Ives, of Providence, when they were destroyed by fire January 15th, 1875. The city of Providence now owns both priv- ileges.
The most considerable manufacturing now carried on in the place is at the jewelry establishments of C. G. Bloomer's Sons and S. K. Mer- rill & Co., each company employing a force of help numbering about 50 hands. This business was established in 1878 by C. G. Bloomer. March 13th, 1888, a fire swept away the building, but luckily the prop- erty was insured, and soon after the present structure, two stories in height, was erected. S. K. Merrill & Co. began business in the place in 1888. They occupy the second story of the building erected by Bloomer's Sons.
Pawtuxet Baptist church dates back to colonial times. In April, 1764, Peleg Arnold donated half of the lot on which the building was erected, and the other half was given by Abraham Sheldon October 24th, 1765. The Pawtuxet Baptist Church Society, upon petition of 28 men to the legislature, was organized May 11th, 1805. On June 1st 15 more persons were added to the membership, and the number has been increased from time to time ever since. The society raised $1,200 and built a church with balcony. It is a singular fact that the ladies raised this money, with the exception of $93.603 cents. The old house was sold July 21st, 1855, for $199.873 cents. In 1855 the present edifice was erected, the lecture room being completed July 31st, 1856, and the audience room three years later, and dedicated August 16th, 1859, the total cost of the whole structure being $8,300. Within the past five years the society has spent $4,000 in making additions to the building.
On November 18th, 1806, the church was formed. consisting of seven males and 27 females. The pastors have been as follows: Ferdi- nand Ellis, September 12th, 1807, to April, 1810: Bela Jacobs, Novem- ber 10th, 1810, to 1818; David Curtis, November 7th, 1818, to 1822; Flavel Shurtleff, November 18th, 1822, to 1832; B. Miner, to 1834; Abial Fisher, October 3d, 1834, to November 9th, 1836; David Curtis, Octo- ber 10th, 1836, to April, 1838; Levi Barney, from September, 1838, to 1842; Solomon Tobey, May 10th, 1844; George Pierce, 1850 to 1856; Foster Henry began before the war and was succeeded by John G. Benglass, who staid but a short time and then entered the navy as chaplain. He died in Japan in 1888, while still officiating as chaplain in the navy. Following him came supplies for several years, S. W. Field officiating principally. Reverend J. B. Child took charge in September, 1871, and in October, 1882, he was succeeded by the present pastor, Reverend C. W. Burnham, who came from Manistique, Mich. During Mr. Child's pastorate the parsonage was bought. The church
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
numbers over 100 members. The deacons are Newell Lee, Henry C. Budlong, who is also clerk of the church and superintendent of the Sabbath school, and Thomas A. Bateman. The Sabbath school consists of about 240 members and is very flourishing. Elisha S. Arnold is president of the society of the church. During the Dorr war a num- ber of members withdrew from this church and worshipped during a short time in the building now owned and occupied by the Episco- palians.
The Episcopalians established a church at Pawtuxet in 1883, under the ministry of Hamilton M. Bartlett. The society worshipped first in the police station and subsequently in the town hall, which property they purchased in 1885. Mr. Bartlett was followed in the rectorship of the church by Reverend Samuel Webb, one of the assistant rectors of Grace church, Providence. He is the rector at the present time. The society numbers about 40 members, Doctor William J. Burge and William B. Rhodes being the wardens. Martin Budlong is Sunday school superintendent.
The Rhode Island Yacht Club was formed in 1886, and has a mem- bership of 500 persons. The society is incorporated, having the fol- lowing officers: Commodore, William H. Lowe, Jr., of Providence; vice-commodore, Fred. P. Sands; rear commodore, Charles F. Handy; president, Sayer Hasbrouck; secretary, George H. Slade; treasurer, Robert L. Greene; trustees, Charles G. Bloomer, Benjamin Davis and George Slade. The elegant club house was recently completed at a cost of $7,000. The club has 75 yachts.
The Continental Steamboat Company are about erecting a wharf at Pawtuxet for a place for the boats on the bay to stop, which will be an improvement to the place.
The Society of Knights of Honor in Pawtuxet was formed in October, 1888, and although of recent origin is one of the finest in the state. It was officered as follows when formed: Past dictator, R. E. Budlong; dictator, Zachariah Taylor; vice-dictator, H. H. Franklin; assistant dictator, Walter L. Mahoney; reporter, Almon C. Burnham; treasurer, George B. Arnold; financial reporter, Charles S. Hawkins. The membership at present is about 50. Meetings are held on the second and fourth Thursdays of every month.
Harmony Lodge, No. 9, F. & A. M., is located here, but belongs to the history of Warwick properly. The Lodge was instituted under a dispensation of the Grand Lodge May 20th, 1805. The first meeting was held at the house of Anthony Aborn April 19th, 1805. Under the dispensation Jonathan Nichols was appointed Master Mason. The Lodge was properly constituted September 8th, 1808, the first master under the charter being William Rhodes. In 1889 William B. Rhodes was master; George R. Babbitt, senior warden; Frank D. Livermore, junior warden, and Forrest A. Peck secretary. The society held their
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
meetings formerly on the corner of Fair and Main streets. In 1849 they moved to the Old Arsenal building.
Oak Lawn is a small village on the New England railroad in the southeastern part of the town, having one store, a post office, a church and a number of houses. Mr. Francis S. Turner, one of the principal men of the place, came here in 1849, and purchased the old Searle place, the house of which was probably built soon after the revolu- tionary war. This property passed from Richard Searle, an early and prominent settler, to his son Ezekiel Searle, and after him the posses- sors were Henry Searle, son of Ezekiel; Thomas Budlong, Pardon Spencer and F. S. Turner. In 1854 the railroad was built, and after- ward, through the efforts of Mr. Turner, a daily mail was established, he being postmaster for a number of years. For the past ten years it has been kept by H. H. Potter, the station agent, and his successor, Mrs. Nellie R. Potter. The first store in the place was built by Joseph E. Johnson in 1875. The present store, kept by C. R. Williams, was built by Edwin W. Searle in 1884. Mr. Walter Brayton maintains two good houses.
The first meeting house at Oak Lawn was built by the Friends or Quakers in 1730. For a good many years before this the society held meetings in the vicinity at private houses. After the house was built it continued to be occupied by them regularly until about 1856, and after this time occasionally until 1866, when it was sold for $400, and used by the Baptists, Lodowick Brayton becoming the purchaser, and donating it to the village for religious uses. The present church was erected about the year 1882, at a cost of $2,000. William Briggs is the regular pastor at the present time, and a good Sabbath school is maintained. Fox, the founder of the Friends' Society, preached in the old church building.
Fiskeville is in the southwest corner of the town of Cranston, lying partly in Scituate and Coventry. The portion in Cranston consists principally of residence property, the Fiskeville House, a blacksmith shop and carriage shop, and one or two stores, the principal one of which is owned by B. B. & R. Knight. "The Tabernacle " is sitt- ated just over the line, on the Scituate side, but is patronized largely by the Cranston people. The society was established wholly through the exertions of Reverend Benjamin B. Cottrell in 1872, at which time the house was built at a cost of $2,500, John Battey giving the land and making a donation of money besides. Reverend Mr. Cottrell owns the church and is still its pastor.
Joseph V. Briggs came to Fiskeville in 1841, and hired out to Richard Knight. In 1843 he bought him out and hired the shop he now owns of Daniel Baker. He afterward bought the property, and has continued the business of blacksmithing ever since. In 1851 he erected his residence. His son, J. E. Briggs, now operates the wheel- wright shop. J. B. Potter, a harness maker, began his trade here in
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
1866. Paris G. Johnson more recently purchased the estate now owned by him and went into the hotel business. The post office is kept in the store of James Brown. The office was kept by Mrs. Dutee Colvin from 1860 to 1888, when she resigned.
Arlington is a modern suburban hamlet, situated near the city limits, and comprises numerous beautiful villas, with commodious surroundings. The site was originally owned by Mr. Whipple. Wil- liam Dyer afterward bought of him, and in 1872 Remington South- wick purchased about 50 lots of Mr. Dyer, and since that time the place has received its growth. William H. Johnson and William H. Dyer each erected houses here, which were the first in the place. Mr. Dyer erected the first store about the year 1867. The Union Horse Railway Company began running cars through the place in 1865, and in 1876 they erected their commodious stable with accom- modations for a large number of horses, and also a large waiting room, and a storeroom for cars. William S. Viall, the superintendent, has been here in that capacity since the stables were built. Cars run from this point to the city every ten minutes.
The Dyer store is an old building that stands opposite the com- pany's office. The business was first run by James Downey. A num- ber of traders have been in that place since then-Mr. Chase, Mr. Nevens, C. D. Beeman, A. S. Havens, Albert Spencer, and after him came Fred. Oldall, who was the last merchant at that stand. The building has remained vacant since 1887. James Crofton and the Arlington Hay & Grain Company each have stores in the place, but of recent origin. The most important business done in the place in earlier years was the quarrying of building stone from a large ledge which was opened in 1820 by the Messrs. Fenner. At the present time the Arlington Hay & Grain Company and Mills, under the man- agement of Anthony Corcoran, are doing a thriving business. The grist mill was erected in 1886, and since then have been built their warehouse and brick block and other buildings. They employ about 20 men constantly. They also operate a wood and coal yard in the place. Their mill grinds corn only. It has a capacity of 80 bushels per hour. They have a branch store at Olneyville. About the year 1880, the blacksmith and wheelwright shop was built by Frank Gar- diner. After running it himself for a few years he sold to Joseph Warren, who transferred the property in 1885 to the present owners, W. F. Kenison & Co.
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