USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume I > Part 91
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97
The Arlington Free-will Baptist church was originally a mission chapel of the Roger Williams church, and was started about 1872. At that time meetings were held under the ministration of the Reverend Mr. Heath, and about two years later the present edifice was erected. Reverends Burgess, Given, Dudley and others preached here. About the year 1883 it became a regularly organized society, and has since had its regular pastors. The present pastor, Reverend George N.
762
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
Musgroves, successor to Reverend Mr. Neally, took charge of the society in 1887. The church has a resident membership of about 70 persons, and maintains an excellent Sabbath school under the superin- tendency of William R. Spaulding. The deacons are William Hanney and John S. Tripp.
Auburn is a thriving village of recent but rapid growth, situated on the New England railroad, south of the city of Providence. The village is largely made up of residences. The churches and stores have principally been built within the past half dozen years. The place was originally called Mashapaug, as before mentioned. In 1838 Caleb Y. Potter moved from the town of Richmond, R. I., to Providence and came here about 1840. At that time it was a rough look- ing place and without improvements. Mr. Potter took up 60 acres of ground, most of which now covers the site of the village. William Williams, Thomas Grace, Henry Jenison, George Cunliff, Frederick Williams and probably a few others then lived here and in this vicinity. Mr. Potter sold lots and afterward built a store. Nelson Follett started a grocery store soon after, but in a short time it was sold to William Potter. In 1884 L. D. Remington, Jr., opened at this stand and has been trading here since. The grocery store of White Brothers is of very recent date. About the year 1876 John Dudley came to the village and began improving property. He erected the drug store now occupied by Doctor F. W. Bradbury in 1888. The post office was established in Auburn by Caleb Y. Potter. William F. Potter was postmaster from 1877 to 1883, when he was succeeded by Caleb A. Potter. Joseph L. Sanders, the present postmaster, was appointed August 5th, 1889, suc- ceeding William Streeter.
F. W. Bradbury, M. D., druggist at Auburn, and also practicing physician, came to the village in 1883. He is a graduate of Brown University, class of 1873, and of the New York Homeopathic College, New York city, class of 1875. Doctor Bradbury is superintendent of health and town physician of Cranston. James A. Budlong, king of gardeners, lives in the place. Mr. Budlong employs 200 hands and upward and is one of the most successful men in the town. Daniel Potter also has a number of hot houses, but he operates on a much smaller scale. George A. Spink, of the firm of Murray, Spink & Co., wholesale dry goods merchants, of Providence, Robert T. Thurber, a member of the council and jeweler in the city, and also other promi- nent men in business in Providence, live in the place.
There are three churches in the village of Auburn, two of which are of recent date. The Episcopal church has a society here, of which John Matteson is reader. Services were first begun in the school house in 1885. In the summer of 1888 a neat, substantial house of worship was erected. The society is prosperous and growing and maintains a good Sunday school, under the superintendence of John Howland. The church of the Messiah (Advent) was established under the ministry of Reverend Mr. Remington about the year 1880. It is
763
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
an offshoot from the Baptist church of this place. Succeeding pastors have been Reverend Mr. Cunningham and Reverend E. A. Chase, the present pastor. A small house of worship was erected some five years since.
Howard Station is on the Pawtuxet Valley railroad at the state farm. E. R. Tefft is ticket agent. This locality is one of the oldest in the town, it having been settled by the Williams and Stafford families. John, Stukeley and Edward Stafford owned large tracts of land in this vicinity. The descendants of Roger Williams were also land- holders in the town. Caleb Williams resided near the Old Red tavern in the vicinity of Auburn. He was the father of Pardon Williams, who was born December 20th, 1790. He married Mary, daughter of John Stafford April 7th, 1813, and settled in the vicinity of Howard, where his descendants still live.
The Corliss Safe Manufacturing Company's works are located at Auburn, and though of recent construction the buildings are large and an extensive business is carried on. An extended description of these works has been given in Chapter XXIV, of this volume.
This town has always taken a great interest in the cause of educa- tion. The town is divided into ten school districts, each containing a good school edifice, furnished with modern appliances for the success- ful instruction of the young. District No. 7 opened school October 10th, 1888, in its new building. District No. 6, Auburn, has recently had a new house built and will soon require more room. Some of the school buildings, as at Arlington, are too small to meet the grow- ing demands of the thriving communities. District No. 2 is the only one in the town where a music teacher is employed. The total num- ber of pupils in public schools for the year 1888 was 970; total town appropriation for public schools, 1888, $5,650; school officers: H. B. Bain, chairman; Joseph A. Latham, clerk; Aaron S. Havens, superin- tendent.
Home No. 4, at the Sockanosset School for Boys, was begun in 1887 and has been recently completed at a total cost of $14,528.09. In order to remove the smaller boys of the school from the larger ones, so that they may eat, work and play, as well as sleep by themselves, Home No. 1 has been changed somewhat in its interior plan. A portion of the basement, formerly a play room, has been fitted with benches, etc., for brush making. On the first floor, the room which was the school room is now a dining room, and an adjoining smaller room has been made a pantry, with shelves, sink with hot and cold water, and a dumb-waiter running to the basement. A new doorway connects these two rooms. No cooking is done in the building, the food being prepared in and brought from the kitchen in the main building com- mon to all. The front dormitory on the second floor has become the school room.
764
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
Much indoor work has been done by the boys. Besides making brushes under contract with the Herbert Brush Company, the printing office has given employment and industrial instruction, the report of the board for 1887 having been set in type and printed by them, the value of the work done for the institution being $519.94, also the Howard Times is printed fortnightly at the school and some unsolicited job work, besides much out-door work has also been accomplished in the way of improving the grounds. The number of boys now in the school is about 200.
The Oak Lawn School for Girls was opened July 13th, 1882. The average number committed that year for six months was 22. The daily average in 1888 was 34. The number remaining in the school January 1st, 1889, was 38. The number of commitments in 1888 was smaller by two than in 1887. Of those committed in 1888, fourteen were from Providence, three from Johnston, one from Pawtucket, one from Woonsocket, one from Cumberland, one from East Greenwich and one from Westerly (White Rock). Nine were sentenced for va- grancy; six for being lewd, etc., persons; five for theft, and two for being disorderly persons. The sentences were imposed by the courts of the judicial districts as follows: Third Judicial district, one; Fourth, one: Sixth, thirteen; Eighth, four; Tenth, one; Eleventh, one; Twelfth, one. The ages were: two, 10 years; one, 12; one, 13; five, 14; eight, 15: one, 16; and four, 17. Expenditure for the year for each girl, $117.01; weekly rate, $2.25; total expenses of the school for the year, $3,978.41 (including salaries $1,765.33).
The State Farm is located in the town of Cranston. The general assembly, in the May session of 1869, passed an act looking to the ac- commodation and confinement of the dangerous classes. By that act a board of state charities and corrections was formed, each member to hold office for six years. The first board was elected Tuesday, June 1st, 1869, and consisted of Henry W. Lathrop, of Providence; Thomas A. Doyle, of Providence; Jonathan Brayton, of Warwick; James M. Pendleton, of Westerly; Samuel W. Church, of Bristol; and Henry H. Fay, of Newport. Thomas A. Doyle was elected president and Doc- tor Snow secretary, and at the next meeting, on June 5th, Mr. George Whitman was elected superintendent of the farm, at a salary of $1,500 per annum. The farm originally consisted of 417.7 acres, and was purchased for $32,000. In 1869 and the year following the board perfected its plans and carried them into execution. Temporary ac- commodations were then erected for the men, there being that year (1869) 101 men and 54 women.
During the year 1870 two pavilions were completed for the insane poor. Each building was one story high and built of wood, 163,5. by 29 feet. Since then a building for the female shops of various kinds, cottage for the superintendent, a cottage 182 feet long by 40 wide for the violent insane, a building 40 by 70 feet for the male inmates of the
765
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
workhouse, a suitable stone building 22 by 28 feet for the protection of the pumping engine, and a carpenter shop, blacksmith shop and some other buildings have been erected. In 1871 a reservoir was com- pleted capable of holding 1,200,000 gallons, and another reservoir was afterward completed at the engine station capable of holding water enough for all needful purposes during a season of drought.
The State Asylum was opened November 7th, 1870, and from that date to the close of the year 118 inmates were received. The State Work House was opened July 1st, 1869. In 1871 an addition was made to the male workhouse, and 16 cells were added. April 6th, 1872, the first fire occurred, burning down the kitchen, bake house, laundry and chapel. The insurance paid on this loss amounted to $7,333.47. The loss to the state was trifling. The next year a new workhouse was completed, and consists of a center building 50 by 60 feet, and two wings, one 44 by 921 feet, the other 44 by 1053 feet. The entire build- ing is three stories high and is built of stone. In the rear of this build- ing was erected a large workshop 118 feet long and 50 wide. A hos- pital was afterward built one story high and 64 by 30, also engine and boiler rooms, and such other shops and buildings as were needed. In the rear of the insane building a lot of seven acres was fenced off with a high board fence for the inmates who were capable of working in the garden. The chapel or school was fitted up in the upper story of the workhouse, capable of holding 350 persons. During the year 1874 a line of telegraph from the farm to the Providence Police Station was erected, at a cost of $1,115. Its length is between seven and eight miles. In 1875 a new barn was erected, and other improvements were made.
The State Almshouse was established by law in 1869, but not in fact until 1874. The building occupied by the almshouse was, from 1869 until 1874, the state workhouse and house of correction, and when the institution was moved in 1874 to the new stone structure erected for it, the old building, after some remodeling, became the state almshouse. The new almshouse is located near the old one, on the edge of the hill overlooking the railroad and Howard Station. It will accommodate 300 adults and 60 children; the total number in the institution Janu- ary 1st, 1889, was 230. The buildings were constructed with stones taken from the farm, and although constructed in the simplest manner pos- sible, the elevation of the ground and the shape of the crest of the hill forms an agreeable grouping as approached from either direction. The central building contains the residence of the keeper and his assistants, with an office for the transaction of business; a small room, where inmates, who are able, can see their friends, which room is also used for the Board to meet in and for the reception of inmates when brought to the building before being assigned to their rooms. There is an officers' dining room and an officers' sitting room, where both male and female officers may sit when off duty. The male attendants
766
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
occupy one story of the rear projection and the females the other, each having separate bath rooms, and over them a room used as a chapel. In the basement is a kitchen for cooking food for the officers' and attendants' table and for preparing special food for the sick, and also the heating apparatus for the building.
The wings on each side of the center building, for the adult male and female inmates, are connected by covered corridors, with windows on either side of the same for thorough ventilation and to cut off in- fection from the wings to the center building. The wings are divided into congregate dormitories, which contain from twelve to fourteen beds; separate sleeping rooms for persons who are sick with loath- some or contagious diseases, or who are sick unto death, and in the female wing lying-in rooms. There are also day sitting rooms and rooms in the basement for noisy and demented patients, and single rooms well lighted, but separated from the other rooms, for medita- tion and for inmates who make so much noise as to prevent others in the dormitory from sleeping.
In 1887, lack of accommodations made necessary the enlargement of the two stone buildings erected and occupied scarcely two years be- fore, and an appropriation of $20,000 was made therefor. At first it was thought that the additional separate rooms in the new wings, heated from the boiler house built in 1885, would supply all urgent wants, and, especially, that no plumbing would be required; but it was soon learned that this would not be so, and an appropriation of $5,000 was made at the November session, 1887, and a further one of $1,000 at the May session, 1888, to equip more thoroughly these wings. The two appropriations, however, were intended to cover other needed expenditures, namely, for drying apparatus for the asylum laundries, for fences, etc. "Twenty very heavy and strong oak settees have been built for these buildings, as well as for some of the other buildings which had been for some time without sufficient seats in the corridors, or halls."
After the visitation of tuberculosis in 1887, the floors in the barn where the cattle stood and their stalls were replaced with new ma- terial. There are now in the barn stalls and stanchions for 70 head of horned stock, a cow box and calf pen, and 22 stalls for horses and mules.
In 1872 the State Asylum for the Insane received 70 men and 78 women. This number increased to 370 (total) in 1885, in which year the law relieving the cities and towns from the burden of supporting their insane poor went into effect. The statistics for the year 1888 are as follows: number of inmates January 1st, 1888, men, 214; women, 232; total, 446. During the year 161 were received. 2 escaped (1 re- turned ), 79 were discharged, 51 died, leaving a total remaining Janu- ary 1st, 1889, 476 persons. Through the enlargement of the hospital of the asylum more will be done than has hitherto been possible for
767
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
the comfort of the patients who are physically ill or infirm from old age. In common with other asylums for the insane, a trial has been made without restraints, which so far has proven successful here.
Larger accommodations for patients physically as well as mentally ill having become a necessity through increase of numbers, the gen- eral assembly, at the January session, made an appropriation for add- ing two wings, one for either sex, to the hospital of the asylum for the insane; and an appropriation was at the same time made for a two story addition to the cottage for excited patients, the first story to be used for dining rooms and store-rooms, and the second as an " assem- bly room." or hall, where religious services, as well as readings, lec- tures, concerts, etc., are held.
Additions to hospital .- " The hospital wings measure, each, 72 by 36 feet, and each contains for patients, one room 19 by 32 feet, with re- cess 14 by 16 feet; one room 13 by 22 feet; one room 10 by 14 feet: two rooms 10 by 15 feet, each; one room 7 by 10 feet; a bath room 6 by 14 feet; a clothes room 5 by 10 feet, and a room for the supervisor, 11 by 17 feet. On the second floor, within the roof, are four well- lighted rooms, namely, two 14 by 20 feet each, and two 15 by 22 feet each, for patients or attendants as they may be needed; with a bath room for attendants, 8 by 10 feet, a store-room 11 by 18 feet, and clothes closets, etc."
The addition to cottage for excited patients contains dining rooms and the assembly rooms, and measures 84 by 48 feet. On the first floor is a dining room for each sex 29 by 44 feet; two store-rooms, one 10 by 18 feet, the other 10 by 25 feet, and an office for the supervisor, 10 by 18 feet. The assembly room on the second floor measures 44 by 80 feet, including the platform, which is 18 feet in depth. Four separate stairways lead to the assembly room.
The state workhouse and house of correction was established in 1868. In 1873, the fifth year of its existence, 566 persons (the largest number ever enrolled) were committed. Of the 521 persons com- mitted in 1888, 273 were common drunkards. The number of women committed for prostitution in 1888, including under this head com- mon prostitutes and night walkers, was 39. Tramps committed under the special law for this class, were more numerous in 1888 than during at least the two years preceding, their number, 24, having been somewhat above the average since the law was passed in 1880. Indoor work for both women and men is provided, the skilled in- mates doing the repairs of the institutions to a large extent, and the women making the clothing, washing, cooking, etc. The men work largely out of doors. Men from the workhouse and house of correc- tion excavated the cellars for the buildings at the asylum for the in- sane, which have been described.
The state prison was established in 1838. During that year five persons were committed. The following is from the report for 1888:
768
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
" The labor of the prison and jail has been largely utilized, as before, in making boots and shoes and in working upon wire goods under contract. The contract with Mr. George Campbell, who employs about a dozen men upon wire goods, has been renewed for another year upon the same terms as heretofore. About 40 of the jail men have worked without the grounds in cultivating the 30 acres of land set apart for this purpose, and in preparing the prison sewage field. The warden reports that they raised all the vegetables used at the in- stitution during the year, the crops having amounted in value to over $4,000. The same men also cleared nearly two acres of land in the valley of the brook which runs just north of the prison, improving at the same time the slopes by grading, terracing and seeding with grass. The repairs upon the buildings have largely been done by the inmates.
"An iron dark cell has been set up in the basement of the prison. It is for confining any convict who may require discipline and who is at the same time so noisy that, when placed in a dark cell in a wing over night, he disturbs his neighbors. The cell measures six feet, eight inches in length, four feet in width, and six feet, four inches in height. It is made with double walls of sheet iron, the space between being filled with sand to deaden sound."
The statistics for the year 1888 are as follows: number committed January 1st, 1888, men, 89; women, 3; total, 92; committed during the year, 69; discharged, 38; pardoned, 2; transferred to the insane asy- lum, 1; in prison January 1st, 1889, 120.
" After the war of 1812 there prevailed throughout the country, and more particularly in New England, a very strong feeling against im- ported articles, more especially woolen goods and cloths. Congress was trying to pass acts to assist the agricultural and mechanical indus- tries of the nation, and our own state legislature was doing what it could to encourage home manufactures. It was this feeling of inde- pendence, this growing desire to produce from the land and out of the factories all that was required for home consumption, that led the pro- gressive thinking men to devise and form plans to create and maintain organizations for the purpose of encouraging the farmer and manu- facturer. This feeling grew throughout the land until it took tangible shape in the form of a National Convention for the Promotion of Agricultural and Mechanical Industry, held in New York, in the winter of 1818. This convention received the support of congress, and invitations were sent to all of the states to send delegates. At this convention plans were laid for the forming of societies to hold annual fairs and offer premiums of reward to farmers and manufac- turers. New York state took the lead, and in 1820 had thirteen organ- izations formed. New England was next to follow. Societies were formed at Providence, Hartford, Worcester, Essex and Brighton. The Rhode Island Society for the Encouragement of Domestic Industry
769
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
was formed February 25th, 1820, at a meeting of citizens held at Blake's Hotel, or as it was more generally known, the Old Manufac- turers Hotel, and stood where the What Cheer Building-that has changed its name to the Providence Washington-now stands, and the first Fair and Cattle Show was held in Pawtuxet, in October of the same year, which attracted a great deal of attention.
" It was the custom in those days to send delegates about the coun- try to visit the fairs and learn what they could about conducting them. It was considered quite an honor to be a delegate, and when the dele- gations arrived they were received with great dignity and were given a prominent place in the procession and at the table, and their judg- ment was much sought after. The meetings of these men, and the friendships formed did very much toward keeping up the interest in the Cattle Shows.
" The annual dinners were deemed of great importance, and the invitations 'to walk in the procession and dine with the committee,' were highly appreciated. Among the exhibits at these fairs were woolen cloths, straw bonnets and hats, twilled Nankin cloth, counter- panes, braided carpets, butter, cheese, cider, hogs and cattle.
" The most prominent feature was the exhibition of cattle, and it was from the fact that so many were exhibited that they were called Cattle Shows.
" Ploughing matches excited the most interest, and a pair of cattle that won in a well contested match, 'gained as great a reputation as a successful trotting horse in a race in after years. At this time there were no races and no premiums offered for horses. The ploughing matches continued until they almost became a race. One account states that one-eighth of an acre was ploughed to the perfect satisfac- tion of the judges in 14 minutes and 5 seconds. As many as eight teams would enter at a time, and the cheering and applauding of the friends of the respective teams would be very enthusiastic.
" Great encouragement was given to the raising of young stock, and cash premiums were given from the meagre treasury for steers and calves. Great pains were taken to procure imported stock, and committees were formed to petition Congress to remove the duties on all importations of stock. A great deal of attention was given to the growing of grasses, and seed was in much demand, and premiums were offered for any invention or improvement of a farming utensil by which the labor of any branch of industry may be economized, the utility of said invention to be attested by the signatures of two respect- able farmers. These early fairs were usually held on two days, Wed- nesday and Thursday. The first was given to the receiving of ex- hibits, the addresses by prominent men, singing of national and patriotic songs, annual dinners, and judging by the committees. An auction or public vendue was always held upon the last day of a fair. The auctioneer was appointed by the legislature, and no commission
49
770
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
was charged to persons entering articles for exhibition. Some of the prices paid could not be taken as a standard for their true value, for swains purchased the handiwork of their sweethearts at high prices; for example, one straw hat made by a handsome lady was run up by her admirer to the sum of $30.
"It was upon the last day that the annual horse trade was made. Many were the men who drove miles to be present and take part in those trades, and any undesirable animal with tricks, faults or unsound- ness, was taken to the cattle shows to be exchanged. It was here that the strong men delighted to gather and perform great feats of strength. Wrestling was one of the more prominent features, and it is said of one who stood 6 feet 8 inches in his stockings, that he threw all comers for one whole afternoon-that some tried to tire his strength, but he lasted until the sun went down.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.