USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Pawtucket > The lower Blackstone river valley; the story of Pawtucket, Central Falls, Lincoln, and Cumberland, Rhode Island; an historical narrative > Part 10
USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Central Falls > The lower Blackstone river valley; the story of Pawtucket, Central Falls, Lincoln, and Cumberland, Rhode Island; an historical narrative > Part 10
USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Lincoln > The lower Blackstone river valley; the story of Pawtucket, Central Falls, Lincoln, and Cumberland, Rhode Island; an historical narrative > Part 10
USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Cumberland > The lower Blackstone river valley; the story of Pawtucket, Central Falls, Lincoln, and Cumberland, Rhode Island; an historical narrative > Part 10
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1765. The region west of the River set off from Provi- dence, and became the town of North Providence. This included the village of Pawtucket on the west.
1766. Eliphalet Slack purchased house at 33 Main Street, opposite Trinity Church. During and after the Revolution known as the Slack Tavern. General Wash- ington and Lafayette are said to have stopped there.
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1767. Thomas Sabin started weekly stage coach service to Boston, leaving Pawtucket on Tuesday mornings and returning Thursday mornings.
1774. North Providence Rangers chartered as an in- dependent military company.
1774. Land given by members of Jenks family to start Mineral Spring Cemetery. "The land to be used as a Public Burying Place for every Denomination and Society of people without Distinction."
1774. Captain Stephen Jenks patented, and began the manufacture of muskets for the militia companies of the Colony. He also made bayonets and ramrods.
1775. Sixty heavy cannon cast at Jenks iron works, first cannon made in America.
1776. General Washington stopped at "Old Pidge House" on North Main Street.
1783. Oziel Wilkinson and his five sons came to Paw- tucket from Smithfield. His daughter married Samuel Slater.
1785-90. The new Cemetery on Mineral Spring Road opened. No interments are supposed to have been made in the Old Jenks Cemetery, situated between High Street and Roosevelt Avenue, just south of Read Street, after this date.
1790. Schooner Tyre, built on the Pawtucket River, sailed around the world.
1790. Samuel Slater began the reproduction of the Arkwright models of cotton machinery for Moses Brown, and soon established the first successful cotton mill in America.
1792. Elijah Ormsbee and David Wilkinson built the first steamboat operated in this country, the "Experiment,"
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Main Street Square, about 1876
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Main Street from North Main Street, 1923
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in which they made a trip on the Seekonk River between Pawtucket and Providence.
1792. A dam was built across the Blackstone River, above the head of Sargeant's Trench, and about twenty rods above the lower dam.
I793. The Red School House, the first school house, and general meeting place for the freemen of Pawtucket, was built on High Street, on the site now occupied by the first City Hall, formerly the North Providence Town Hall.
1793. The first Church incorporated, the Catholic Baptist Society, on High Street.
1793. Hannah Slater, wife of Samuel Slater, made the first sewing thread of cotton in America.
I793. "Old Slater Mill " was built, by Almy, Brown and Slater.
1796. Samuel Slater started the first Sunday School in New England.
1797. David Wilkinson invented the slide lathe.
1798. Samuel Slater formed a partnership with Oziel and William Wilkinson and Timothy Green, as Samuel Slater & Co., and built another factory, on the east side.
1801. First fire department organized in Pawtucket.
1806. John Slater, brother of Samuel Slater, came from England. The two brothers then started the factories at Smithfield, known as Slatersville.
1807. Post Office established, in Main Street square, Mr. Otis Tiffany first postmaster.
1807. Main Street bridge and fourteen buildings carried away by the most destructive freshet ever seen in Pawtucket.
1810. Oziel Wilkinson and sons erected stone mill near the Slater Mill.
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1812. The western part of Rehoboth, Massachusetts, incorporated as Seekonk, and Pawtucket on the east side of the river, became part of this new town of Seekonk.
1813. The first bank in Pawtucket incorporated, the Manufacturers Bank. Oziel Wilkinson was its first president.
1813. President Madison, at his second inauguration as President of the United States, wore a suit of woolen cloth made in a Pawtucket factory.
1813. Wilkinson, Greene and Company built a mill on the east side which later became the plant of the Dexter Yarn Company.
1813. Larned Pitcher started a shop which afterward became Pitcher & Gay, then Pitcher and Brown, and finally Captain James S. Brown, son of Sylvanus Brown, became sole owner.
1814. John Thorpe invented a power loom.
I816. St. Paul's Episcopal Church organized.
1820. Stephen Jenks, Jr., began making bolts, nuts and screws in "The Old Forge Shop." They were the first made in America. This later became the firm of Pinkham, Haskell and Company, and is now the William H. Haskell Company.
1825. The first issue of the Pawtucket Chronicle and Manufacturer's and Artizan's Advocate appeared.
1827. First Universalist Church erected on High Street, on lot given by Stephen Jenks.
1827. Coal and Lumber first brought up the Pawtucket River for commercial purposes.
1828. St. Mary's Church established, the lot was a gift from David Wilkinson. This was the second Roman Catholic Church in Rhode Island.
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1828. Settlement on the east side of Blackstone River, then a part of Seekonk, Massachusetts, incorporated as the town of Pawtucket, Massachusetts.
1829. The Pawtucket Congregational Church organized.
1829. David Wilkinson moved from Pawtucket to Cohoes Falls, New York.
1829. Samuel Slater sold his share in the Old Slater Mill to William Almy. He never renewed his business connec- tion with Pawtucket, having started a mill in Webster, Massachusetts, in 18II.
1835. Samuel Slater died at Webster, Massachusetts, aged sixty-seven. He was buried in Webster.
1835. Boston and Providence Railroad built, but it passed far to the eastward of Pawtucket, about three miles from Pawtucket Falls.
1836. Pawtucket Institution for Savings chartered, the oldest bank in Pawtucket.
1839. The Pawtucket Chronicle and Manufacturer's and Artizan's Advocate after passing through many hands, was merged with the Pawtucket Gazette and became the Gazette and Chronicle.
1842. Dorr War in Rhode Island. Martial Law pro- claimed in Pawtucket. Alvin Jenks was Captain of the Volunteer Company.
1845. Trinity Church established, on Main Street, in Pawtucket.
1847. First train passed through Pawtucket on the Providence and Worcester Railroad on the same roadbed which is in use today.
1848. Earl Express Company, first express company in Pawtucket, started.
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1848. The Boston and Providence Railroad Company built a branch road which joined the Providence and Worcester at Central Falls.
1852. Pawtucket Public Library secured its charter from the State.
I854. St. Mary's Church starts the first Parochial
School. The first school house was built on George Street.
I855. The Slater Bank incorporated.
1855. The first High School erected in Pawtucket, Mr. William Tolman, principal.
1856. Stone bridge opened for travel at Pawtucket Falls.
186I. Pawtucket Street Railway started with fourteen one-man one-horse cars.
1862. All of East Providence, and Pawtucket, east of Blackstone and Seekonk Rivers ceded to Rhode Island by Massachusetts in exchange for a part of Fall River. East Providence and Pawtucket, incorporated.
1865. Fales and Jenks Machine Company moved to Pawtucket from Central Falls, where the company started in 1830. Alvin Jenks, son of Stephen Jenks, Jr., was a member of the original firm of Stephen Jenks & Sons.
1867. To-Kalon Club started. Mr. Frederic Sherman was the first president.
1870 to 1880. Major Nathaniel Jenks' stone chimney house, which stood at what is now 210 Roosevelt Avenue, demolished. Joseph Jenks, father of Major Nathaniel, had moved his house from site of Boys' Club, and attached it to this house.
1870. Samuel S. Collyer elected first Chief of the fire department.
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1871. The old Town Hall erected by the Town of North Providence, on High Street, afterward used as a City Hall.
I87I. Marcus M. Cowing was chosen the first Chief of Police in Pawtucket.
1872. Exchange Street Bridge opened for travel.
I872. Wilkinson Paik, the oldest park in Pawtucket, officially named by the North Providence Town Council in honor of David Wilkinson who gave the land.
1874. St. Joseph's Church on Walcott Street was built.
1874. Pawtucket, Rhode Island, was set off from North Providence, and the two villages, one on each side of the river, were consolidated, having a population of about 18,000.
1875. Division Street Bridge built.
1880. Music Hall Building erected.
I88I. Pawtucket Business Men's Association organized by Franklin A. Steere. Frederick C. Sayles was the first president, James L. Jenks chosen Secretary in 1890, holding that office to the present time.
1885. The Pawtucket Evening Times started. George O. Willard, publisher.
1885. Pawtucket receives a City Charter.
1886. District Court established. Isaac Shove first Judge. Edward W. Blodgett, Clerk.
1886. Frederick Clark Sayles inaugurated the first Mayor in Pawtucket.
1886. Flood on the Blackstone River, augmented by failure of Diamond Hill Reservoir dam.
1887. St. Mary's Church built.
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1888. Dedication of monument in Collyer Park to Samuel Collyer. He was chief of fire department for many years.
1889. Young Men's Christian Association of Pawtucket and Central Falls established.
1890. Cotton Centennial celebrated in Pawtucket.
1890. David O. Black purchased the Pawtucket Evening Times.
1890. John W. Davis, of Pawtucket, elected Governor of Rhode Island.
1892. Pawtucket Day Nursery started. Mrs. Frances Pratt was the first president.
1892. Electricity first used as a motive power for street railroads.
1894. Daggett Farm purchased by the City. Now Slater Park.
1894. The last horse car withdrawn from the streets of Pawtucket.
I895. The Salvation Army was established.
1895. Masonic Temple built on High Street.
1895. The Pawtucket Armory on Exchange Street built.
1897. Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument in Wilkinson Park dedicated.
1899. Retail Merchants' Association of Pawtucket organ- ized. Six years later the name was changed to Pawtucket Chamber of Commerce. Jacob Shartenberg was the founder and first president.
1902. Deborah Cook Sayles Public Library dedicated. A gift from Frederick Clark Sayles in memory of his wife Deborah Cook Wilcox.
I902. Pawtucket Boys' Club Building dedicated. A gift from Colonel Lyman B. Goff.
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1905. Pawtucket Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, took over Daggett House.
1907. James H. Higgins, of Pawtucket, elected Governor of Rhode Island.
19IO. Memorial Hospital opened. A gift from William F. Sayles in memory of his wife, Mary Wilkinson Sayles, and his daughter, Martha Freeman Sayles. Charles O. Read was the first president of the corporation.
1914. The Young Women's Christian Association of Pawtucket and Central Falls was established, on Broad Street.
1915. Dr. James L. Wheaton, Sr., died at the age of ninety-two in Pawtucket, where for fifty-two years he had been active in his profession.
1916. The Pawtucket and Central Falls railway station opened on Broad Street, and the grade crossings were abolished.
1917. Red Cross Chapter organized at the home of Dr. Frank B. Fuller. Charles O. Read chosen chairman of the executive committee.
1921. Pawtucket and Central Falls celebrated the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the founding of Paw- tucket by Joseph Jenks. Captain William McGregor was chairman of the general committee. The celebration lasted for five days.
1921. The Old Slater Mill Association was incorporated. Mr. Henry C. Dexter was the first president.
1925. Governor Joseph Jenks' gravestone was found in the rear of 84 North Main Street, now Roosevelt Avenue, in what was once the Old Jenks Burying Ground. The Governor's remains had previously been taken to Mineral Spring Cemetery. The gravestone was placed in the Rhode Island Historical Society.
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1927. The New Senior High School on Exchange Street was built.
1929. The new cement bridge on Exchange Street was opened for travel.
1930. Pawtucket Chapter D. A. R. placed bronze tablet on milestone at 23 Pawtucket Avenue. Milestone was erected in 1753 by Benjamin Franklin, marked 37/2 M. C. H. Which meant 372 miles to Colony House, on North Main Street, Providence.
1931. The first trackless trolley entered Pawtucket, the first in New England.
1932. Pawtucket Business Men's Association and Cham- ber of Commerce were united.
1933. The new Post Office on Exchange Street was opened.
1936. The new City Hall on Roosevelt Avenue was dedicated on the fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the City of Pawtucket. Hon. John F. Quinn, Chairman, and Thomas P. McCoy, Secretary, of the City Hall Com- mission.
1936. Flood of waters on the Blackstone River.
1936. Pawtucket takes part in The Rhode Island Ter- centenary Jubilee. Judge Roscoe M. Dexter, chairman of committee for Pawtucket, Central Falls, and the lower Blackstone Valley.
CENTRAL FALLS
1676. Captain Pierce and soldiers killed by the Indians in Central Falls, near site of Boston and Providence Railroad Bridge.
1730. The town of Smithfield taken from the town of Providence, the northern line of the town of Providence to end about half a mile north of the Pawtucket Falls.
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Le Favour Block, corner of High and Main Streets, 1880
Main Street from foot of Broad Street, site of Oak Hall Building on left. The horse in the picture was used to help draw the horse cars up the hill to the Rough and Ready Engine House
East Avenue, about 1880. The street is being ploughed, with eight yoke of oxen pulling the plough
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Main Street, from site of Industrial Trust Co. View taken in 1872. before electric cars were used.
1763. Captain Stephen Jenks purchased three-fourths of an acre in Central Falls, on the Blackstone River, on which he built a trip-hammer and blacksmith shop in which to manufacture iron ship bolts, and other ship work, later known as blacksmith shop lot, and owned by the Mill Owners of Central Falls.
1777. William Jenks of Wrentham, Massachusetts, sold about ten acres of land, located near "the old dam," at Central Falls, to Benjamin Cozzens of Pawtucket.
1780. Charles Keene built a dam across the Blackstone River at Central Falls. Sylvanus Brown superintended the building of the dam.
1780. Charles Keene purchased of Benjamin Cozzens land which later was occupied by the Stafford Manu- facturing Company's mill estate, stone house and blacksmith shop lot, Chocolate Mill lot, and the dam lot, so-called. The stone house, just north of the Stafford Mill, was used as a place of worship for many years.
1806. The water power at Central Falls was principally owned by Stephen Jenks, Jr., including the blacksmith shop lot and the Keene estate.
1808. The Keene building, called the Chocolate Mill, was owned and occupied by the Smithfield Manufacturing Company, and used for the manufacture of cotton yarns.
18II. Stephen Jenks, Jr., erected a building in which to finish for the United States Government 10,000 muskets at $11.50 each, for the War of 1812. A part of this building later used by Stephen Jenks & Sons for a machine shop. The Duck Mill was later built on this site by Lemuel H. Arnold and Palemon Walcott.
1823. The owners of the water power at Central Falls had their property divided into six separate water privileges.
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1824. John Kennedy erected a brick mill for the manu- facture of cotton cloth, and later it was owned by the Stafford Manufacturing Company.
1824. Name of Chocolate Mills changed to Central Falls at a meeting held in the Stone Mill, just built by David and George Jenks. A man by the name of Wheat had manufactured chocolate in a building owned by Charles Keene, from which Chocolate Mills took its name.
1830. David G. Fales and Alvin Jenks began the manu- facture of cotton machinery, and fifteen years later perfected and began the manufacture of ring spinning frames, the first successful frames of that kind made in the world.
1835. Alvin Jenks and David G. Fales built a wooden mill on land later sold to the Central Falls Woolen Mill.
1839. Charles Moies, John Moies and George F. Jenks erected a wooden mill, which was afterward occupied by Green and Daniels for twenty years. On this site the Pawtucket Haircloth Mill was built.
1847. The Central Falls Fire District was set off in the town of Smithfield, thus giving the village certain corporate rights.
1860. Central Falls Fire District was given permission to light its streets.
1863. Rufus J. Stafford built the present dam over the Blackstone River at Central Falls, the old dam was just above the bridge, and the mill trench ran under the roadway.
1863. The main trench, leading to all the mills, and the Stafford independent trench were completed.
1863. The E. L. Freeman Company established. It was one of the first Steam Job Printing plants in the State.
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I864. The Stafford Manufacturing Company incor- porated, John A. Adams, president. The company was originated in 1859 by Rufus J. Stafford.
1864. The Pawtucket Hair Cloth erected the building now occupied by the Adam Sutcliffe Company.
1867. First Post Office established. G. F. Crowing- shield, first postmaster.
1869. Iron bridge built at Central Avenue, connecting Central Falls with Pleasant View.
I869. Central Falls Weekly Visitor, first newspaper in Central Falls issued. It was published continuously for twenty-two years by Edward L. Freeman.
1870. The Central Falls Woolen Mill, built by Phette- place and Seagrave on property purchased from Alvin Jenks and David G. Fales.
1870. Edward L. Freeman chosen Senator from the town of Smithfield.
1871. Town of Lincoln, which included Central Falls, was incorporated.
1871. Edward L. Freeman chosen the first Senator from the town of Lincoln.
1873. Lincoln Town House on Summit Street, Central Falls, built. Later used as Central Falls City Hall and now used by the School Department as a Trade School.
1873. Iron bridge built over Blackstone River on Broad Street, between Lincoln (now Central Falls) and Cumberland.
1875. Central Falls was authorized to maintain a police force. David R. Goldsmith was the first chief of police.
1882. Central Falls Free Public Library established, and was located in the upper part of the engine house on Cross Street.
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I888. Brick School House erected, adjoins Jenks Park, corner of Broad and Summit Streets, used since 1928 as City Hall.
1890. The Old City Hall, formerly Town Hall, on Summit Street, enlarged to its present dimensions. Now used as a Trade School.
1890. Alvin F. Jenks gave the land for Jenks Park.
1894. The Farwell Worsted Company purchased the Central Falls Woolen Mill.
1895. Central Falls, with a population of nearly 16,000 was taken from the town of Lincoln and incorporated as a City.
I895. Charles P. Moies elected the first Mayor of Central Falls.
1899. Mrs. Elizabeth Buffum Chace died at the age of 93 years, at her home on Broad Street. She was the widow of Samuel Chace, and their home was one of the stations of the "underground railroad" at the time of the Civil War.
1904. The Cogswell Memorial Clock Tower was erected in Jenks Park in memory of Caroline Cogswell of Smithfield, R. I.
1905. Cement bridge replacing iron bridge built at Cross Street, between Central Falls and Pawtucket.
1906. The E. L. Freeman Company incorporated, Joseph W. Freeman, president.
1906. Farwell Worsted Mill was sold to Bryan Marsh Company, a subsidiary of the General Electric Company.
19IO. Cement bridge, replacing iron bridge, built be- tween Central Falls and Pawtucket, on North Main Street, now Roosevelt Avenue.
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I9IO. The Adams Memorial Library, built on Central Street.
I913. The General Electric Company built the large brick building on Roosevelt Avenue, and later purchased from the Blackstone Valley Gas and Electric Company what was formerly the Stafford Manufacturing Company.
1923. The General Electric Company moved their busi- ness, and the real estate was taken over by the General Electric Realty Corporation.
1935. The Twin City Realty Company purchased the property formerly owned by the General Electric Realty Corporation.
1936. Pantex Pressing Machine, Inc., which began business in the Goff Mill, Pawtucket, in 1926, with Albert K. Newman as its first president, purchased the property previously owned by the General Electric Company.
1936. The City of Central Falls takes part in The Rhode Island Tercentenary Jubilee.
LINCOLN
1676-84. Eleazer Whipple House built on site of house destroyed in King Philip's War, afterward known as the Mowry Tavern, located near Lime Rock Village.
1687. Eleazer Arnold Tavern built near Quinsnicket Park, now part of Lincoln Woods Reservation.
1703. Old Quaker Meeting House near Saylesville, built.
I745. Samuel Arnold House built in Lincoln Woods.
18IO. Stone taken from Arnold's Ledge (sometimes called Smithfield Ledge), on the west bank of the Moshas- suck River, for building St. John's Church in Providence.
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18II. The Butterfly Factory built by Stephen H. Smith. He also built "Hearthside" about the same time.
1822. The limestone for the foundation of Hope College, Brown University, was taken from Harris Quarry, in the village of Lime Rock.
1828. The Blackstone Canal opened for use.
1829. Lonsdale, owned by Lonsdale Company, was started as a manufacturing village.
1847. William F. Sayles and Frederick C. Sayles estab- lished bleachery in Saylesville.
1849. The Providence and Worcester Railroad completed.
1854. The Dexter Lime Rock Company incorporated.
1868. Harvey and Samuel B. Chace built a bridge across the Blackstone River at Albion.
1871. The Town of Lincoln taken from the Town of Smithfield.
1887. John Street iron bridge built over Blackstone River between Lonsdale in Lincoln, and Cumberland. It was the first bridge built there.
1896. Saylesville was organized as a fire district.
1909. Lincoln Woods Reservation officially dedicated on February 12th, in honor of Abraham Lincoln.
1916. The State built a cement bridge over the Black- stone River at Lonsdale, between Lincoln and Cumberland, replacing the Whipple bridge, which was a divided bridge built of wood.
CUMBERLAND
1635. William Blackstone settled in what is now Lons- dale, and was therefore the first white settler in what is now Rhode Island. The Blackstone River was named for him. Abbott's Run was named for a servant of William Blackstone.
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166I. Wamsutta, called Alexander, son of Massasoit, Chief of the Narragansetts, gave Captain Thomas Willett a deed to Rehoboth North Purchase, which included the present towns of Attleborough and Cumberland.
1666. Captain Thomas Willett conveyed to the town of Rehoboth the land which comprised the North Purchase.
1676. "Nine Men's Misery," remnants of Captain Pierce's company killed by the Indians, and buried in one grave on Cistercian Monastery grounds.
I732. The Baptist Church organized in Cumberland.
1740. Old Ballou Meeting House erected near Iron Mine Hill. This hill is the source of many boulders of this peculiar iron ore carried south, over a large portion of the State, during the glacial period.
I747. Cumberland, formerly called "Attleboro Gore," was taken from Attleborough, Massachusetts, and ceded to Rhode Island. It was incorporated as a separate town, and included as a part of Providence County in Rhode Island. It has been called the mineral pocket of New England.
1812. The General Assembly granted a lottery of $12,000 the proceeds to be used in searching for coal in Cumberland.
1849. The Blackstone Canal closed and its charter revoked.
1853. Harvey Chace, Samuel B. Chace and Oliver Chace were incorporated by the name of the Valley Falls Com- pany, and the following year they built a large stone dam over the Blackstone River at Valley Falls.
1860. St. Patrick's Church dedicated in Valley Falls. It was the second Catholic Church in the Blackstone Valley.
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1867. A part of Cumberland was incorporated as the Town of Woonsocket.
1887. The Diamond Hill Reservoir completed, and a new dam at Happy Hollow was also finished. In 1927 a new reservoir at Arnolds' Mills was completed. From these two reservoirs by way of the Abbott's Run Stream, the water runs down into the Robin Hollow pond, thence into the Happy Hollow pond at Valley Falls, where a pumping station of the Pawtucket Water Works is located. These supply the water for Pawtucket and the lower Blackstone Valley.
1900. The Cistercian Monastery, located on the Dia- mond Hill Road, was started by seven members.
1902-1903. Lucius F. C. Garvin, of Lonsdale, elected Governor of Rhode Island.
GOVERNOR JOSEPH JENKS
The portrait of Governor Jenks was painted by John Smibert, in Newport, in 1729, and was in the collection of Governor Richard Ward of Rhode Island, "to whom it was presented by the sitter." In 1926 the portrait was hung in the Gallery of National Portraiture, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, and is now owned by Mr. Millard H. Jenckes, of New York City.
Governor Joseph Jenks, the first Governor to be chosen outside of Newport, was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, in 1656, and came to Rhode Island in 1669. He served twelve years as Deputy in the General Assembly at Newport, four years as Speaker of the House of Deputies, five years as Major for the Mainland towns, Assistant five years, Deputy Governor thirteen years, and Governor five years, from 1727 to 1732. He was in the service of the town and State almost forty-four years.
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