USA > Rhode Island > The "Old Stone Bank" history of Rhode Island, Vol. IV > Part 18
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Many generations ago, probably about the beginning of the last century, a dis- tinct race of beings used to reside some- where on the outskirts of the Town of Providence. They were called Blue Pointers, and, isolated as they were, their habits, manners and customs varied very materially from those of their neighbors, the Up-Streeters, the Up-Towners, the Down-Towners, the Ship-Streeters, and the Up-Hillers. The older Blue Pointers were, with few exceptions, honest and in-
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dustrious folks engaged mostly in the me- chanical trades. From the days of Roger Williams they had intermarried closely and the blood that flowed through their veins was so happily mixed that it was difficult to tell whether they were, or were not, all brothers, and all cousins. The children were a ruddy, plump-faced, rag- ged and dirty set of ignorant urchins; and, as it was contrary to the laws of the Blue Pointers to wear hats, they usually went bareheaded, and as result of being thus exposed, the flaxen locks which at first covered their homely skulls, in a little while, assumed a light blue color, from which circumstances they were referred to by the descriptive title.
Their travels were confined to Cow-pen Point, old Will Field's orchard, Brown's Woods and the Bog Meadows, though on certain occasions such as Muster Day and Commencement Day they would venture farther into civilization much to the terror of law-abiding citizens. Sometimes they would journey as far as the town pumps, or the bridge; but since they generally re- ceived bloody noses and sound drubbings administered by their eternal foes, the Up-Streeters, before they returned, these excursions were undertaken with extreme caution, and only after a calm and deliber- ate consultation among the leaders of the blue-headed population. But if the Blue Pointers had to contend with their vindic- tive foes, they also had their times of re- taliation, for woe unto the Down-Towner or Up-Streeter who happened to wander within the boundaries of the Blue Point- ers' dominions. The moment he entered their border, he was quickly recognized, and if he did not make his escape before heavy hands were laid upon him, hard was his fate, and great was the distress he must endure. As the Blue Pointers were bound together by a sacred league they could, at any moment, give a signal that would summon the entire gang, and when an out- sider was found among them the war cry was sounded without delay. The unfortu- nate interloper was doomed to submit to all manner of insult, followed by a severe thrashing, and a forceful and physical ejection out of the kingdom.
It was maxim among the Blue Pointers to act on the defensive only, hence they
rarely attempted to invade the dominions of their foes - the Up-Streeters. Whether they adhered to this maxim from coward- ice or from principle, was never decided, but it was certain they were never pro- verbial for their chivalry or their bravery. On the contrary they were known to be a cowardly set of bipeds, who never fought unless the opponents would agree to meet them "up by our house" or "down to Uncle Joe Eddy's," or at some other place where they knew they would be enabled to collect additional force, and thereby insure victory.
If some stranger in town from Newport, New London or Boston happened to enter the sacred precincts of the Blue Pointers he would be approached by the gang and told that he was in for a hiding. Though they had never seen or heard of him before they would very civilly knock him down and proceed to jump on him. This done - and it was always done very civilly - they considered themselves perfectly ac- quainted, and an inviolable intimacy for life resulted as a sequel to the impressive introduction. The "Head Devils" of the Blue Pointers, as they were called, were lads of singular dispositions, fanatically loyal to the tenets of their unscrupulous legions. Nothing was so repulsive to their eyes as a decent, clean youth, attired in a suit of new clothes and well-blacked shoes. The boy who was so fortunate as to obtain a new jacket and a pair of new trousers was looked upon with abhorrence, and hard was his fate if, on a Sunday, he hap- pened to be caught by his contemporaries, decorated with new vestments. He was frowned upon as a proud young rascal, and the Head Devils would contrive some means to get him behind a nearby ware- house, or under some vessel on the stocks in the shipyard, and there punish him for daring to wear new clothes. Once the new clothes had been properly and completely ruined he was again considered a good Blue Pointer and returned to good stand- ing in the clan.
It was rule with the Blue Pointers never to call anyone by his right name; - Bill Jones was known by the name of Old Pepper Jones. Elisha Warner was recog- nized by the name of Washa-Lala; Peleg Peckham was Pudler Pooh; Hay Simmons
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was Stringbean Chub; Joseph Manchester was Old Tud; Thomas Cranston was Old Crannyhorn; William Tallman was Old Tolly-wolly, and William Salisbury was Uncle Pardon's White-Eyed Devil. Hun- dreds of other nicknames were given --- and they were so descriptive and so fully recognized, that but few boys answered when addressed by their proper names. The Blue Pointers gave the school-masters plenty of grief. The school room offered many temptations to these lawless rogues who were by no means remarkable for their industry or for any other good qual- ity. The birch rod and the ruler were laid heavily and often upon hands and backs, and many an old master of the class room boasted of his occasional triumphs over these unbreakable blueheaded colts who thought little of books and much less of behaving.
Taken as a whole, the Blue Pointers were a singular race of beings since they held their property practically in common. Dwelling as they did in close communion, each one made free use of the property of others, and the bake kettle that fried eels for Aunt Dolly, roasted coffee for Uncle Eph, baked beans for Joe Pratt and stewed greens for old Lem Sumner. The Blue Pointers once took into their heads to have a headquarters of their own, a sort of lodge room or secret temple where they could repair for social activities and where their foes could not disturb them. The
"Hut" as it was called was finally erected and here they would gather at night and sing songs, drink eggnog and eat roasted potatoes. To supply themselves with the necessary essentials for these feasts nearby barnyards were laid under contribution, and all of the hen-roosts in the vicinity suffered whenever a foraging party set out for the evening's supply. One Christ- mas Eve as the Blue Pointers gathered for a feast in the "Hut" a phalanx of Down- Towners crossed the river on the ice, made a quick sally, obtained possession of the out-posts, soon gained ascendancy over the celebrators, put them to flight, and pillaged their temple. From that day the Blue Pointers swore eternal hatred for the Down-Towners, and unlucky was the in- dividual who happened to stray within the boundaries of their premises. The war carried on after that by the blue-haired clan and their foes raged with unmitigated ferocity until one or the other, or perhaps both gangs, were destroyed in the fury of prolonged battle.
Needless to say the Blue Pointers were gradually heard of no more. Some mi- grated to other parts of the country, and some probably "went down to the sea in ships." A new race of people populated the same dominions and soon were for- gotten the days when the Blue Pointers strutted their hour upon the stage, and shone forth in the dazzling lustre of their original pride and glory.
FIRST LIGHT INFANTRY
NE of the most widely-known groups ever organized in the interests of gen- uine patriotism, a body famous for its hospitality and for its enviable roster of prominent Rhode Island citizens as mem- bers, is the First Light Infantry which was formed in Providence considerably more than a century ago. Strangely enough, this colorful unit in the Militia of the state was an outgrowth of a local debating so- ciety that held periodical meetings in a room somewhere on lower Westminster Street. What it was that turned the youthful club members from argumenta-
tion and logic to inspections and drills will never be known, for no record exists of the proceedings that brought about the organ- ization of the first military company. However, complete records of the early days of the First Light Infantry have been preserved, and a history of the organiza- tion's activities from the beginning to the present is today available because of the zeal of many past officers and of others who appreciated the priceless value of accurate and interesting historical data.
The debaters became soldiers when a paper was drawn up in the year 1818 and
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Courtesy, Earl R. Dinis
THE OLD UNION STATION (DEPOT) OPENED ON MAY 3, 1848 AND DESTROYED BY FIRE FEBRUARY 20, 1896. ABRAHAM LINCOLN MADE A CAMPAIGN SPEECH IN RAILROAD HALL ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE NORTH END OF THIS BUILDING, FEBRUARY 28, 1860.
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"THE OLD STONE BANK"
signed by forty-six men at a meeting on the 24th day of March. This paper was worded as follows: "The undersigned being desirous of instituting a company of Light Infantry to be attached to the 2nd Regiment of the 2nd Brigade of the Militia of Rhode Island subject to the command of the Colonel of said Regiment, but ex- empted from the law which requires 'That every free able-bodied male from the ages of 18 to 45 shall do duty in the district to which he may belong' provided he do duty in this company, have set their names to this paper for that purpose. When forty subscribers or more shall have af- fixed to this paper a meeting of the mem- bers shall be called to fix on an appropriate name by which they are to be distin- guished, appoint officers, choose a com- mittee to frame a constitution and form a Charter embracing the above and such other privileges as may be deemed ex- pedient to transact what business may at that time come before and be for the good of said company."
At this first meeting Nehemiah S. Draper acted as chairman, committees were appointed to prepare various pro- posals to be acted upon later, and it was resolved that James W. Mitchell be re- quested to notify the members when it was thought proper to call a meeting of the body. The following month a meeting was called and Mr. Draper was elected an honorary member when he declined the honor of serving the organization as its first commander. Job Angell was elected captain, Stephen K. Rathbone, first lieu- tenant; John Padelford, second lieutenant, and John Hartshorn, ensign. At a special meeting earlier in the same month the Company adopted a distinctive uniform and, from an historical standpoint, the recorded description of this equipment is interesting to review: "Round hat, with full silk cockade, to the center of which shall be attached a small white eagle. Blue cloth coat, white Bell buttons, the number same as commonly worn, with the addi- tion of one to each fold behind, between the upper and lower buttons. White Jean Pantaloons or Overhalls, with boots under the same. White vest. Black silk cravat. White belt to clasp around the Body to which shall be affixed black cartridge box
and bayonet scabbard, and as it will be necessary in obtaining a Charter that Knapsacks and Cantines should be men- tioned, we have thought proper to propose that said Knapsacks be red; on back of which shall be painted with black the in- itials of the name of this Company, with the number of the Knapsack. Cantines with number only. In selecting the above we have consulted not only our own opin- ions, but those of military men. It has not been proposed for a showy and dazzling appearance, but for its true military style and neatness, in which we are confident the above cannot be surpassed."
Later, the official name of the organ- ization "First Light Infantry Company in the Second Regiment of Militia" was selected; a charter was granted by the Gen- eral Assembly and by-laws were adopted. We of the present can believe that those who founded this patriotic military Com- pany were men of serious thought and purpose when we look back upon the last clause of the by-laws which read as fol- lows: "And as this Company have asso- ciated, not for the purpose of parade or ostentation, but to form a corps at all times prepared to resist sudden invasion, and repel internal commotion, it is ex- pected that every member will hold him- self ready at a moment's warning; and whenever ordered, that he will instantly repair to the rendezvous appointed by the Commanding Officer, with a heart resolved to support, at all hazards, his country's rights, and the government which protects him; and unless com- manded, he NEVER will quit his stand- ard, unless forced from it by an honorable death.'
The first drill was held on May 13, 1818, and for the first six years the meet- ings of the Company were held at the Court House, at the Town House, and at times in the school room of Samuel P. Bullard, clerk of the Company. The members first paraded as a body on July 4th and the following September the Com- pany acted as escort to the graduates of Brown University at the Commencement exercises, establishing a custom which was continued for many years. Before the days of railroad transportation travel through and to Rhode Island was by stage
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PROVIDENCE INSTITUTION FOR SAVINGS
coach and by packet. Whenever a mili- tary organization from outside the state passed through Providence it became the custom for the First Light Infantry to meet the visitors at the border of the town and entertain them until departure. On August 20, 1821, the cadets from the U. S. Military Academy at West Point were received in this manner, and the Infantry soon became famous for its hospitality.
Thereafter, this loyal and well-trained body of patriots enjoyed a career of growth and interesting activities. Trips were made to other towns and cities to take part in parades and important exer- cises; the Company always took a leading part in local celebrations of the birthday of George Washington; and, in August, 1824, the members marched to Olney- ville to escort General Lafayette to the Court House in Providence where the dis- tinguished French nobleman was given a reception in keeping with Rhode Island's devotion to him. The first armory, located on Benefit Street near Meeting, was not very pretentious but it served for drilling and meetings until 1839. When we see the First Light Infantry and other similar uniformed commands on parade in this day and age we are apt to wonder how soldiers equipped with such colorful and ornamental trappings could ever be of any value in actual combat. Children raise the same question when they see pictures of Hessian soldiers with their tall, top- heavy headgear, and Colonial fighters usually shown wearing wigs in battle. Perhaps simpler, lighter uniforms were worn in action displacing the resplendent accoutrements of full dress which the In- fantry and other companies today wear on parade displaying the glory and glamour of the early days. At any rate the First Light Infantry did see action as a unit just about a century ago and this engage- ment took place in Providence during what is known in history as "The Olney Street Riot." Called by Governor Arnold to help quell a riot in the north section of the Town, the Company made several
expeditions to disperse the ruffians who were demolishing houses and destroying property. The final expedition ended in bloodshed after Captain Shaw had been ordered by the sheriff to open fire upon the rioters - four of them were killed and two score of the Infantrymen were injured by stones and other missiles.
Records of the Company disclose facts concerning the part taken during the fa- mous Dorr War in Rhode Island, and each year found the organization participating in many varied activities that must have been entertaining for the members and most fascinating for the youth of the Town. At the first call for troops after the fall of Fort Sumter two companies of one hundred and ten men were recruited from the Infantry and became known as companies C and D, 1st Regiment Rhode .Island Detached Militia. This Regiment saw three months' service in the field, tak- ing part in the first battle of Bull Run. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, three companies of the Infantry, which became a Regiment in 1872, marched in a body to the recruiting offices and enlisted in the regiment of infantry which the War Department had directed Rhode Island to furnish. After eleven months of service in reserve, the Rhode Island troops were mustered out at Camp Fornance, Columbia, South Carolina. During the World War, the First Light Infantry was recruited up to a strength of five hundred men, these companies with other Chartered Com- mands in the State taking place of the National Guard as a home protective force.
The record of the First Light Infantry is a glorious one - for it has always been the medium of expression for genuine American loyalty and enthusiastic pa- triotic fervor. Young men who cherish the principles upon which this Nation and State were founded have found member- ship in the Infantry and in other Chartered Commands an enjoyable and inspiring experience.
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"THE OLD STONE BANK"
THE YEAR 1819
SINCE most of the commercial activity of Providence in 1819 centered around the old Market House, and up and down the original Towne Street, or, as we now call the highway, North and South Main Streets, it was quite proper that the Provi- dence Institution for Savings should be es- tablished in the center of the town's busi- ness district. Less than a goodly stone's throw from the Market House, in the old Providence Bank building, located at what is now 50 South Main Street (the struc- ture, still standing, was once the home of Thomas P. Ives or Thomas Poynton Ives), the people of Providence and vicinity had their first opportunity to deposit money in a savings bank on November 20, 1819, although banking hours in the beginning were strictly limited, for the published notice in the press of that very day an- nounced that "deposits would be received from half past twelve till two o'clock," and that "each person who makes a deposit will receive a Book containing the Charter, By-Laws and Regulations of the Institu- tion." Old records of the bank reveal that the first day's operations resulted in a total deposit of $1,014, represented by twenty-seven accounts, one of which has remained open until this time.
But, what was Providence like one hun- dred and twenty-five years ago when this successful experiment in mutual savings was first undertaken in a community that then had a population of about 10,000?
The first quarter of the nineteenth cen- tury marked many vital developments in the growth and prosperity of Providence. It had already gained recognition and fame as a great shipping port, and pros- perous merchants had built beautiful mansions for themselves near the heart of the town, many of them along Benefit Street and on the hill to the east. By the year 1819, the community was definitely on a firm foundation, physically, commer- cially, and financially, although it had suffered two serious setbacks, the War of 1812, and the Great Gale of 1815. The locally unpopular war with England had caused a temporary lull in shipping and
brought heavy losses to some merchants. However, it should be noted that many alert and enterprising shipowners avoided wartime reverses by engaging very actively and enthusiastically in the profitable pro- fession of privateering.
PROVIDENCE INSTITUTION
SAVINGS."
.
Office in the Providence Bank .- Open every Saturday, from half past 12 until 2 o'clock. P. M.
THOMAS P. IVES, President.
THOMAS LLOYD HALSEY. ) OBADIAH BROWN,
Ficc-Presulents.
JAMES BLICHILI,, JUN.
DIRECTORS.
NICHOLAS BROWN,
3
WILIAM BLODGET,
PHILIP MARTIN. WILLIAM WILKINSON,
CHA LES DICH.
JUIN PERRIN. B -- NJASIIN ABONN,
ZACHARIAH ALLEV.
JOMETHE SHIT AKEH.
JAMES PET . Y.
ĐCATER INIUEBER.
JOHN HOWLAND. Treaserrr,
JEREMIAH LIPPria, Secretary.
The drug of this insitution is an procende babate of excoming in theer for whose benefit it is established, aus to word them a safe and pomoctive method of increasing the simonus of their little
placed il, have lost the whole; or if this have received it again, it has been without fon erst. In this Invitation, such person will find a wife plus of depenute, and bass the scholarship to know that it is Continually increasings and man who are in the basis of spreading all their carnings, wal have no penispest before them, but that of suffering. is try alcance in life, ut when varkens may ercruke chỉ wy may britt bạn bod toed te lav bt a few » enis cach dar, or at the end of the work, and by depochiog it in the Savings Institution, tocaler the whole again with interest. when they may find in uncessary to call for it
Depostes will be received as low as one dettie, and when any person's deposte De partarats shall seanders is for dollars, they will be pat agon interest, hat depenses rolle at any time between the quarters, tinding the second Wednesday its January. April, July and itsbet, will see or pas wan Interest till the thing W'sdorsally of the quarter succeeding the depasse, as it would be impraticaale to compute interest un numerous deprice, bile it is med e commerce et bud promde; and
establishment of the Invitation, a dividend of payment of interest with he made, on all this which shall bang buch de posted three insulin or mort, ajal leurs that time, a duldend ve payment of interest will
Thore nhu do nul choose ir tako their interest, from time to tinte, may be atoare-t that it will be
Those who chowy mixy withdraw these de patates on the second Wodneschets in January, April, July and (october, by giving one week's wolke of their inteation of andtracing
It is not the intention of the trustees to lean the money to interinale, but to rest is in some productive Hecke
Similar invitations, le other places, hver enraged to pay for per cent annually, or two dollars anet Any coute in every hundred, semeninually, and at the expectations of secrythe years. to pay the excess of interest which shall have been received duslog that term.
The Trustees of the Institution, . Abord many ara caprese angulation hope to be side to dit de ise and the half per cent. semai-wan lly, and to make a susjust dividend water in five years, for allowing for the necessary responses of the Institution creeping only where it may be un wish of the degestion to have the interest added to the capital with by them deposited.
No depositre will be received from thy corporate bodies.
Such money caly will be received as depositen, as is required by the Banks in Providence
By Center of the Board of Directors:
JEKANTATE LØPPITT, Arverg
REPRODUCED FROM ORIGINAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF BANKING SERVICES OFFERED BY THE PROVIDENCE INSTITUTION FOR SAVINGS IN 1819.
As far as the Great Gale was concerned, most of us have a vivid picture of how rapidly a resolute people can recover from untold destruction caused by the combined forces of wind and water. Within a month after the 1815 catastrophe, regarded by most of us as a fantastic legend until the years 1938 and 1944, a passable temporary structure had replaced the ruined Weybos- set Bridge, and rebuilding was underway
SAMUEL. G. ARNOLD,
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on all sides. In fact, there was considerable improvement in the physical appearance of the town after the Gale, which observa- tion can be made again now along some sections of the Rhode Island waterfront. The valuable wharves that lined both sides of the harbor of Providence had suffered greatly, but they, too, were en- larged and improved during the period of reconstruction. South Water and Dyer Streets were products of the early nine- teenth century disaster, and many other improvements in waterfront traffic facil- ities appeared shortly thereafter. In order to gain a picture of the town on the west side of the water, in other words, of what is now strictly downtown Providence, imagine Weybosset Street as the main thoroughfare of the area with Pine Street running parallel for quite a distance, as the waterfront, or nearest solid ground to the water. Most of the present east and west streets running east from Pine Street were originally wharves, or wharf areas, that extended out from the solid ground across long sloping beaches, and into the water a sufficient distance to provide docking facilities for the largest sailing vessels built in those days. One of the largest wharves during the period in ques- tion occupied the space now designated as Custom House Street, and was called Long Wharf. Although this point may be obvious, the only way to cross from one section of the town to the other was by way of the Weybosset Bridge that spanned the head of the Bay at a point near the foot of present Weybosset Street. There was no bridge at Point Street, of course, and the water above the Weybosset Bridge was then spread over a wide area in front of the present State Capitol, and referred to as "The Cove." On the so- called East Side of Providence, there were practically no residences north of George Street, although the area between the College and Fox Point was fast becoming a thickly-populated part of the town. One more fact about the west side - near the corner of Pine and Dorrance Streets once stood the Second Baptist Church, and very close at hand was a strip of sandy beach that gently sloped down to the water, unusually pure and clear at that point. Here the members of the church
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