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 7
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 7
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 7
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 7
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Wardwell Braiding Machine Company.
Priscilla Braid Company.
Hemphill Company. United Nets Corporation.
Waypoyset Manufacturing Company.
M. Salzberg & Sons, Inc.
Pantex Pressing Machine, Inc.
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The population of the city in 1895 was 15,828 and in 1936 was 23,996, the highest point being in 1930 when it reached 25, 898.
Central Falls has often been referred to as a completed city owing to its small size and compactness but changes are always taking place and much remains to be done before it can truthfully be said that it is a completed city. One striking change that has been gradually going on for the past fifty years is the coming of people of many races and nationalities to live within its boundaries. In addition to the former Yankee, English, Irish, Scotch and French- Canadian elements, there are now large groups of Polish, Syrian and Portuguese extraction, thus giving the city a decidedly cosmopolitan tinge.
The Story of Lincoln
Since the Town of Lincoln was originally a part of the Town of Smithfield, not the Smithfield of today, but a much larger town by the same name, an historical sketch of Lincoln must go back to the origin of the parent town. At the beginning of the eighteenth century, Providence was a busy community, well on the way to becoming an industrial and commercial center, and, during the quarter century thereafter, activities became so varied and population so concentrated, that it was decided to create three towns out of the "outlands" of Providence to relieve congestion. Thus, Scituate, Glocester and Smithfield, "old" Smithfield, came to be incorporated in 1730. The area laid out for Smithfield was extensive, comprising seventy three square miles, bounded on the east by the Blackstone River, on the
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south by what is now Johnston, North Providence and Pawtucket, on the west by Glocester (this town then included present Burrillville) and on the north by Massa- chusetts. Of course, there were already a few pioneering settlers who had built homesteads within these boundaries before 1700, and who formed the nuclei of the new little villages and country seats that sprang up here and there after the incorporation of Smithfield. The first settlers and those who followed later turned to farming, reaping rich crops from the virgin soil, but the potential water power of the Woonasquatucket River, winding through the territory, was used, at first, for nothing more than to run the grist and saw mills that served the needs of an agricultural people.
The first town meeting of "old" Smithfield was held at the home of Captain Valentine Whitman in the Spring of 173I, and the first town council consisted of John Arnold, Captain Joseph Mowry, Thomas Steere, Samuel Aldrich, John Mowry and Benjamin Smith. John Sayles became the town treasurer, Uriah Mowry, town sergeant, and David Comstock, Elisha Steere and Joseph Herenden, Jr., the first three constables. It took a few years for the new settlers to build up their homes before town affairs came in for a major share of attention, but, by 1738, provisions had been made for the upkeep of the town roads, and stocks and a whipping post had been installed. Ten years later, with the population numbering a little less than five hundred, Smithfield was divided into sixteen highway districts.
One of the early industries of the town, following agri- culture, was the smelting and casting of iron in furnaces fired by charcoal. Andrew Waterman had such a furnace in Greenville, using iron ore from Cranston. Israel Wilkin- son established Unity Furnace, now Manville, where he achieved fame as a maker of cannon, and, by the middle of
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the century, the Farnums, John, the father, and Joseph and Noah, the sons, built large iron works at Georgiaville. The importance and success of this enterprise induced John Farnum to construct a turnpike from Georgiaville to Providence, just to accommodate his business. This explains the origin of the Farnum Pike.
AT THE TIME OF THE REVOLUTION
The town was well-established when the Revolutionary War broke out, draining the countryside of men and resources. Immediately, in 1775, three "foot companies" were raised and all available firearms were collected and put in shape for instant use in case of an invasion. As far as this period of military history is concerned, suffice it to say, that Smithfield answered the muster in full, with both men and supplies. Soon after the war, Smithfield plunged into State politics on two important issues; first, that of repre- sentation and taxation, and, second, that of the ratification of the national Constitution. In 1786, the town made up a petition concerning the unfair ratio between State repre- sentation and taxation of the town, and succeeded in remedying the difficulty to a great extent. On the matter of the Constitution, like most of the other outlying towns of Rhode Island, Smithfield was violently opposed to State ratification, fearing that it would curtail State rights.
COTTON AND WATER POWER
About 1812, cotton mills began to be built in various parts of Smithfield, starting an industry that has since dominated in the region. At first, small mills were built in Manville and Allenville, and, by 1829, there were twenty mills within the town limits. Others followed rapidly during the next forty years, until full use was being made of the Woon-
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asquatucket's water power. This was not reliable, however, particularly during the dry seasons of the year, and so, the natural result was the forming of the Woonasquatucket River Company, chartered by the General Assembly to build reservoirs to catch and store surplus water when it was plentiful. Slack's Reservoir, partly in present Smith- field, and in Johnston, was the first to be built, followed by the two Sprague Reservoirs. The Waterman Reservoir was completed in 1838, and with this amount of storage, ample to supply a steady flow of water, large mills sprang up at Georgiaville, Stillwater, Knight's Mills, Granite Mills, Windsor Mills, Greenville and Allenville, and these reservoirs actually became the determining factor in the general trans- formation of the area from a farming into an industrial center. In 1820, there were about five thousand inhabitants in "old" Smithfield, but, in 1860, the population had risen to more than thirteen thousand.
DIVISION OF TOWN OF SMITHFIELD
At that time there was considerable discussion as to the advisability of a division of the town because of the diversi- ties of occupations and interests of its inhabitants. Some were almost entirely interested in agricultural pursuits; others had interests pointing towards the manufacturing establishments along the river at the north end of the town; some were bound by business and social ties in the Town of Woonsocket, while others living in the area that later became Lincoln, had most of their attention directed to business and trade along the lines of the Blackstone and Moshassuck Rivers. But, nothing was done about a long- talked-of proposal to divide up Smithfield until January 21, 1871, when a town meeting was held for the purpose of discussing the idea. A vote was taken on the matter revealing that the town was in favor of being divided into
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three parts, according to a proposed act of the Legislature exhibited before the meeting. A committee was appointed to introduce the subject to the Legislature, and the members of this committee later reported that the division would be authorized.
LINCOLN INCORPORATED
There was much discussion as to names for the new towns, and there were many differences of opinion. Finally the name "Lincoln," in commemoration of Abraham Lincoln, was agreed upon for the proposed southeastern division; and when the act authorizing the division of the Town of Smithfield was passed, in March, 1871, Lincoln was the name given to that area. This same Act incor- porated the new town and fixed its boundaries as follows: "commencing at a point in the north line of North Provi- dence where the Douglas Pike crosses said line, then (bounding the town on the south) running easterly along said line till it reaches the center of the Blackstone River; thence running with the center of the Blackstone River, opposite the center of the mouth of the Crookfall River; thence (bounding the town on the west) running by and with the center of the Crookfall River to a point where the road leading from the Providence and Worcester Road (so -called) past the house of Ephraim Sayles crosses it; thence southerly in a straight line to the place of begin- ning." This explains how what is now Central Falls was first in Providence, later in Smithfield, and lastly in Lincoln, before its incorporation as a city in 1895.
Charles Moies, Job Shaw, Arlon Mowry and Cyrus Arnold were appointed a committee to run lines and set stone bounds between the towns. The boundaries of Lincoln have remained intact except that the town is now bounded on the south in part by North Providence and in
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part by Pawtucket, formerly a part of North Providence, and on the southeast by the city lines of Central Falls. At the time of its incorporation Lincoln had a population of 7,889.
HISTORIC SHRINES
One of the most interesting historic treasures in the Town of Lincoln is the ancient dwelling referred to at various times as the "Garrison House," "The Old Stone Chimney House," and "The Splendid Mansion of Eleazer Arnold." It stands on the northeasterly side of Great Road, a short distance from the junction of Chapel Street, Front Street and Great Road, and not a great distance from the Quins- nicket section of Lincoln Woods Reservation. It is believed that the original part of the structure was built by Eleazar Arnold as early as 1687, and tradition has it that it was then regarded as a sight worth traveling miles to behold. It appears rather small and unimposing today, although the huge stone chimney that covers nearly all of the north side of the building is something that present generations may properly admire. Writing about this old Arnold homestead, one of the descendants of the original owner said, that it required the services of three men to build this unusually large chimney. The first man who worked on it died before he could complete his task. A second worker, taking up the work where the first had suddenly left off, also died before he could finish. The third man, with courage, carried on until the last stone had been fitted into place. Thus this chimney stands today as a monument to its three successive builders.
Many charming stories have been told about those who lived in this old house with the huge chimney that is now in the possession of the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities. Not far away and near the Quins-
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nicket entrance to the Lincoln Woods Reservation stands another ancient landmark-"Hearthside," built by Stephen Smith in 1811. This gentleman had fallen madly in love with an ambitious young lady who promised her hand in marriage if she were provided with a dwelling house "better than any other in the country." So, the hopeful Mr. Smith bought a ticket in the Louisiana Lottery and, much to his surprise, won $40,000, a stupendous sum in those days. Happily the two agreed upon plans for a mansion that would meet the demands of the lady, and, without delay, granite was hauled from nearby fields for the walls and foundations of the dream house. Slowly the beautiful structure rose with its lovely curving roof lines, spacious porch, and mantels made from marble brought from across the ocean. When the house was finally completed, young Smith hung his fiancee's portrait on the wall in a golden frame, but, alas, his money had all been spent. The young lady declined to carry out her part of the bargain, leaving the disappointed Mr. Smith with a choice example of late Colonial type of American architecture on his hands. He remained a bachelor and lived out his life in a smaller house nearby. "Hearthside" was used as the model for the Rhode Island exhibition house at the St. Louis Exposition.
Across the road from this striking homestead stands the so-called "Butterfly Factory" also built by Stephen H. Smith, in 1811. The "butterfly" appellation comes from the curious coloring of two stones placed side by side on the walls of this structure, the two stones having the appearance of the wings of a butterfly. The bell which formerly hung in the belfry bore the date of 1523 and is said to have once been suspended in the tower of an English convent, and later to have been on the British frigate " Guerriere" at the time of its defeat by the U. S. S. Con- stitution, "Old Ironsides," during the War of 1812.
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Top-Butterfly Factory, built 18II
Quaker Meeting House, built 1703
Center-Hearthside, formerly Joseph Smith House, built 18II
Bottom-Eleazer Arnold House, built 1687
Mounting Stone at Quaker Meeting House
Fire Place in the Israel Arnold house at Moshassuck, Lincoln, R. I.
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PRINCIPAL LOCALITIES
Much of the history of Lincoln is in connection with the "old" town of Smithfield, as previously shown, and with Central Falls, the history of which is traced elsewhere in this volume. The principal localities within this town are Saylesville, Lonsdale (Old Village), Albion, Manville, and Limerock, together with a more recently closely built up section between Saylesville proper and Fairlawn in Paw- tucket, to which the name Fairlawn is also applied.
The valley of the Moshassuck River, closely paralleling that of the Blackstone River, began to be used early in the last century for various manufacturing purposes including cotton mills, flax mills, shoddy mills, print works and ultimately for the present most important industry, bleach- ing, dyeing and finishing. Mention has already been made of the famous "Butterfly Factory" but there were other factories making use of the water power and other facilities of the stream, some of which were successful for a while but ultimately passed out of existence.
THE VILLAGE OF SAYLESVILLE
However, in 1848, farther down on this stream was established the Moshassuck Bleachery, at what is now Saylesville. This was owned and operated by W. F. & F. C. Sayles (the latter being in 1886 the first Mayor of the City of Pawtucket). This enterprise was very success- ful and rapidly increased, without interruption, both in extent and facilities, and finally has developed into the present "Sayles Finishing Plants." The village that grew up in the vicinity was called Saylesville and still retains that name.
In it is the Sayles Memorial Chapel (Congregational) built, in 1873, for the people of the community at the
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expense of the firm of W. F. & F. C. Sayles. Saylesville has for years been, and still is, a desirable place in which to live. Thomas Steere, in the history of the Town of Smithfield written in the Centennial year of 1876, has this to say of Saylesville: "Here, where, a quarter of a century ago, there was nothing but the wilderness or a sandy waste, is now a thrifty, an attractive, a prosperous and exemplary village, destined to become still more conspicuous and progressive." This prophecy of so many years ago has been amply fulfilled. The Saylesville Fire District was incorporated in 1896, and a few years ago the Fairlawn- Lincoln Fire District was incorporated.
It is important to mention the fact that the Blackstone Canal, with 49 locks, between Providence and Worcester, which was opened for use in 1828 and which, after a com- paratively few years of activity, passed out of existence, due to the competition of the Providence and Worcester Railroad in 1847 and the hostility of manufacturers along the Blackstone River, passed through Saylesville, by way of the Moshassuck River and Scott's Pond, to Lonsdale and the valley of the Blackstone. (A special article on the Blackstone Canal will be found in the Appendix.) As a matter of fact, the existence of Scott's Pond, within a stone's throw of the Moshassuck River and the present bleachery pond of the Sayles Finishing Plants, but at a much higher level, so that its only outlet is into the Blackstone River at Lonsdale, is due entirely to the closing up of what must have been a very high lock at Saylesville near the junction of Chapel and Walker Streets.
In 1874, the flourishing firm of W. F. & F. C. Sayles, seeking an outlet for Saylesville by rail, secured a Charter for the Moshassuck Valley Railroad, said to be the shortest, or at least one of the shortest railroads in the United States. This railroad, extending from Saylesville to the old Wood-
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lawn station in Pawtucket, where it connects with the Providence and Worcester, now New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, is still in active operation, serving the Sayles Finishing Plants and other firms in Saylesville, the Lorraine Mfg. Co. at Mineral Spring Avenue in Pawtucket, and presumably all other firms on its route, which is only two miles in extent. In days preceding the trolley car and automobile era, passenger service as well as freight service was furnished, but at the present time, freight service only is furnished, passenger service having been discontinued in 1931. Many persons remember the old "dummy," so- called, which carried passengers on the trip from Saylesville to Woodlawn on scheduled time to connect with the trains of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad.
LONSDALE
The old village of Lonsdale in the Town of Lincoln (as distinguished from the so-called new village of Lonsdale across the river in Cumberland), as related in Steere's History of Smithfield, "was commenced as a manufacturing village in 1829 and the first mill started in 1832, the second mill in the same year." Whereas spinning and weaving were first undertaken, "the bleaching department was put into operation in 1844" and has since achieved wide fame as the Lonsdale Bleachery, later called Lincoln Bleachery.
This village, situated about seven miles from Providence and on the westerly side of the Blackstone River, at the point where the abandoned Blackstone Canal, coming from the Moshassuck Valley through Scott's Pond, joined the Blackstone River, has had an interesting history and seen many changes. Reference to the Blackstone Canal has already been made in describing the development of Sayles- ville, but it is equally important to note the effect of that ill-fated enterprise on the development of this village of
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Lonsdale where so many relics of the canal are still to be seen. The canal corporation, created in 1823, was required by an act of the General Assembly passed about 1848 (when the project was apparently a failure due to the advent of the railroad and interference with the water rights of manu- facturers along the Blackstone River) to close the outlet from Scott's Pond into the Moshassuck at what is now Saylesville, so as to prevent the waters of the Blackstone from flowing into the Moshassuck. Thus Scott's Pond, originally a tributary of the Moshassuck, became, at a very much higher level, a part of the Blackstone River system and, in 1850, when the canal company conveyed its rights to the Lonsdale Company, it became and still is a reservoir for the Lonsdale Bleachery (later called Lincoln Bleachery) owned by the Lonsdale Company. This com- pany, owning numerous mill properties along the Blackstone River and elsewhere in Rhode Island was until recently, for all practical purposes, the owner of this village and the cause for its original development. Controlled successfully by the Brown, Ives and Goddard interests, it has recently disposed of a large part and possibly all of its tenement and village property.
Christ Church, the first Episcopal Church in the Black- stone Valley north of Pawtucket, was organized January 8, 1834, and when, in 1882, the original building was burned, the present beautiful stone edifice was built at the expense of the Lonsdale Company. The Lonsdale Baptist Church was organized in 1840 and has its present building on the westerly side of Lonsdale avenue.
More about the products of the Lonsdale Company's mills will be told in that section of the history that recounts the story of the new village of Lonsdale, so-called, in Cumberland.
It is worth while relating, however, that, prior to 1886 and 1887 when the present iron John Street Bridge was
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built, the only connecting link at this locality between Lonsdale and Cumberland was the old Whipple Bridge (a divided wooden bridge) which was replaced in 1916 by the present cement bridge built by the State Board of Public Roads.
When Central Falls was set off from the Town of Lincoln in 1895 and incorporated as a city, Lonsdale became the seat of government in the Town of Lincoln and here are located the Town Records since 1895, the Town Hall being located on the westerly side of Lonsdale avenue near John Street and Christ Church.
ALBION
Albion, at one time called Monticello, located on the Blackstone River above Lonsdale and not far from the village of Manville, is a picturesque hamlet, whose history so far as manufacturing is concerned goes back to 1822 and 1823. The water privileges and the mill property at this location have from time to time passed through various ownerships, until in 1856 they became the property of the Albion Company, owned and controlled by Harvey and Samuel B. Chace. Curiously enough in later years, in the 1890's, the property again changed hands, the Albion plant being transferred to the Valley Falls Company in exchange for the plant of the Valley Falls Company at Valley Falls, both of these companies being controlled by different branches of the Chace family. In the earlier days when water power was at a premium, Albion, with its fourteen feet fall of water, had a value for manufacturing purposes that has been somewhat displaced by the advent of steam and electric power. In 1856, the Manville Company and the Albion Company together built a road between Man- ville and Albion, and in 1868 the Messrs. Chace built a continuation of the same, constructing a bridge across the
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Blackstone River at Albion, the road continuing easterly about a mile to the present Cumberland Hill Road, the so- called Mendon Road, leading to Valley Falls, Central Falls, Pawtucket and Providence.
MANVILLE
Manville, located on the Blackstone River about four miles south of Woonsocket, has a history antedating that of the textile era. Before the American Revolution a saw and grist mill here were in operation and also a foundry and smelting furnace, the ore being obtained from the so-called Iron Mountain a few miles distant in Cumberland. During the Revolution the ore was worked up into cannon balls. Here was located Unity Furnace belonging to Israel Wilkin- son, who in 1786 sold to the famous Oziel Wilkinson, later of Pawtucket but originally of Smithfield, machinery for the making of screw presses. Its name is attributable to the family by the name of Man which was prominent in its early history.
With the rise of the cotton industry in Rhode Island, due to the achievements of Samuel Slater in Pawtucket, the "Unity Manufacturing Company" acquired the property and water privilege at this location and in 1854 the same were conveyed to the Valley Falls Company, which in 1863 conveyed to the Manville Company. The new mill was built in 1872 and doubtless additions have been made since.
By this name the concern has since been known although there have been various changes in ownership, until in recent years a consolidation has been effected with another Rhode Island firm under the name of "Manville-Jencks Company." During this time various dams have been built, at this location, across the Blackstone River providing a fall of water of about 19 feet, which before the advent of steam power was sufficient to furnish all necessary power.
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Located in Manville also is the Contrexeville Manu- facturing Company, incorporated in 1887, with which for many years the Handy family have been and now are associated. Russell E. Handy, Senator for many years from Lincoln in the General Assembly is at present president of this firm.
LIMEROCK
Limerock, located in the northwesterly part of the town, is noted for its lime quarries, from which an excellent quality of lime has been produced for over two hundred years. The manufacture of lime here has been carried on very successfully for all these years, and still is, and the village was at one time the seat of considerable local business. A bank was at one time located here but, by reason of the concentration of population and general business in the industrial areas near the Providence and Worcester Railroad, Limerock lost its one time importance and it became as described by one historian "a deserted village" until in recent years the advent of state roads has again put it on the map as a fine locality to motor through.
The Story of Cumberland
The earliest known historical reference to that section of the Lower Blackstone River Valley in Rhode Island known as Cumberland, is contained in the story of William Black- stone, the first settler. Blackstone, described previously in this narrative, finally settled in what was later called "Attleborough Gore," on the banks of the river that now perpetuates his name. His house was called "Study Hall," and stood near the east bank of the river, a little east of
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