Johnston Historical Society Newsletter
First Issue, September 1984
Louis H. McGowan, editor

Dear Members,

I am so proud to have been elected as president of the Johnston Historical Society; thank you for this honor. We have many historic buildings and sites in our town and we intend to make all of the townspeople aware of their beauty and historical significance. We also will be happy to assist any homeowner or resident of our town with any historical projects that they are interested in.

In June the society sponsored a tour of some of the historic sites in Johnston. The tour was a tremendous success. Another is planned for the spring, check future newsletters for details.

The historic Farnum House on Putnam Avenue has been given to the society by the town of Johnston. Mayor aRusso, who initiated this gift, will present the deed on Sunday, September 23. A celebration is planned for this event. Please come and help us celebrate our good fortune in obtaining this wonderful, historic house for our headquarters.

Our first Fair and Flea Market is scheduled for September 15, to be held on the grounds of the Farnum House. We hope for a huge success as this is our first event to raise funds for restoration work.

On Sunday, October 14, we will hold our Annual Thanksgiving Dinner. It will take place at the pre-revolutionary war Clemence-Irons House on George Waterman Road. A traditional Thanksgiving feast will be prepared and served by members in colonial costume. Seating is limited so if you plan to attend make your reservations now. The Clemence-Irons House will be open for tours following the meal. Pie and coffee will be sold at that time for anyone unable to attend the dinner.

Tickets for the Thanksgiving Dinner will go out September 15 for members; unsold tickets and money must be returned by October 1 to John Nanni so that unsold tickets can be available to the general public. Tickets are $10.00 per person.

Our annual Christmas Party is still in the planning stages. We will once again have a beautiful candlelit dinner and a traditional form of entertainment. This elegant festive affair is for members only.

October first is the kickoff date for this year's membership drive. Applications for new members may be obtained by writing to our P.O. Box #XXXX, Johnston, or at the Marion Mohr Library. Please ask your friends and neighbors to join us and help us reach our goals and they will enjoy their association with a growing group of fine people.

Mr. Kim Carrera will present a slide show on the significant historical sites in Johnston as part of our October 22 meeting. Kim has assembled an impressive collection of slides. We are planning more slide shows, speakers, and demonstrations pertaining to historical facts for future meetings. Please attend our monthly meetings.

Thank you for your support,

Sincerely,

Shirley Beaune
President

Our September meeting will be held immediately following the conclusion of the ceremonies on Sunday, September 23 instead of Monday, September 24. Please attend.

Oak Swamp Dam
On the north end of reservoir Ave., a massive fieldstone dike is clearly visible in the woods along the west side of the road. This 19th century dam creates Oak Swamp Reservoir by backing up the headwaters of Dry Brook. Consider that large, stone projects such as this were constructed before the age of mechanization's tractors, steam shovels, and other earth movers.

The old textile mills relied upon a constant supply of running water to power their waterwheels. In turn, the waterwheels powered the carding, spinning, and weaving machines. But then as now, during the hot summer months, the brooks often dried up, leaving the mills without power and idle. A solution was to save large volumes of water in reserve during wet times of the year. In dry times, water was then released from this reservoir so downstream factories at Hughesdale and Morgan Mills could keep running.

Deacon Thornton House
This 1 1/2-story, wood-frame farm house sets on the east side of Hopkins Avenue. It possibly dates from the mid-eighteenth century. The family cemetery 200 yards northeast contains markers for the family of Abel Thornton, for whom the house is apparently named. Born August 18, 1799, Abel was the youngest of five children of Robert and Abigail Thornton, a Johnston farm family. In 1820 he was captivated by the earnest preaching of Clarissa H. Danforth and the Elder Joseph White of the Smithfield "Free-Will" Baptist Church. Abel became increasingly active in this Christian society. He died of consumption October 14, 1827, while wandering around New England as an itinerant preacher, spreading the word of God to all who would listen. His "diary," The Life of Elder Abel Thornton, was printed in Providence by the Baptists in 1828.

Belated Happy Birthday to Gilda Perrotta, society past-president, who celebrated her 70th on September 7.

Membership Drive
The Johnston Historical Society is in its first annual membership drive, September 1 through October 31. Anyone interested is welcome to attend our monthly meeting held the fourth Monday of each month at 8:00 pm. Meetings are held at the Farnum/Angell House, next to the Graniteville Fire Station, Route 44. Membership applications will be available at the Marian J. Mohr Memorial Library, or call Shirley Beaune (president) XXX-XXXX; John Nanni (first vice president) XXX-XXXX; P.J. Macari (membership chairman) XXX-XXXX.

Historical Teasers
See if you can answer these questions; if you can then you are truly on your way to becoming a Johnston Historian.

Which village in Johnston had its own spring-fed water system?

In the American Revolution many men of Johnston served in the Second Continental Regiment, but one served in the capacity of Commander. Who was this patriot?

In 1886 Johnston's first Chief of Police took office. What was this individual's name?

The Olneyville Annexation, 1898
contributed by Kim A. Carrera
During the latter half of the nineteenth century, the city of Providence embarked on a rapid expansion program designed to increase the capital city's influence in state affairs. One community adversely effected by this policy was Johnston. Johnston endured two annexations, one in 1898 and the other in 1919. However, it was the first transfer of territory which had the more profound effect on the community. It is not clearly known what convinced the town fathers to acquiesce to this deal. What is evident is that the annexation of 1898 dealt a severe setback to Johnston's progressive evolution.

The proposal was a relatively simple one. With the blessing of the General Assembly, Providence would receive approximately three square miles of territory inhabited by some 8,000 Johnstonians. The total taxable value of this real estate was set at $5,037,575.00, which was 71.5% of the total appraised value of the town. With a total population of 11,203, Johnston would also lose 72% of its residents. In return for their generosity, Johnstonians, (specifically the town council), would not have to worry about the town's cumulative dept of $360,000.00, as Providence would pay it for them. The annexation area would produce "not less" than $98,000.00 annually in new revenue. As a result, the city would be able to pay off the entire Johnston debt in less than four years, without raising the tax rate.

Once the proposal was formulated, it was presented to the citizens of the annexation area for a vote. As with any issue put on a ballot, this one was hotly debated in the newspapers. The Providence Journal favored annexation, claiming that Providence could administer to the needs of the area better than Johnston. Moreover, all of the city's modern public services would be available to the citizens of the annexation area.

The Olneyville Times, a small weekly tabloid, bitterly denounced the capital city's proposal as land grabbing. The Times urged tighter management practices and temporary tax increases to cure the economic ills of the town. Annexation, the Times warned, was an irrevocable step.

The influence of the Journal, as well as the tempting offers of sewers, fire, and police protection convinced the residents of the annexation district that the time had come for change, and they chose to join Providence.

Caesarville, a Forgotten Village
Most town residents probably have never heard of Caesarville. It lies along George Waterman Road, centering on Dexter Street. There is not much left to indicate there was a mill village here, but in the mid-nineteenth century there were two textile mills operating along the brook. In this century there was also a woman's hat factory in the same area. Nothing remains of the mills, but two gambrel-roofed mill houses are left on Dexter Street. The village was very likely named for a family of blacks that lived in the area between the Revolution and the Civil War. The Caesar name survives only in the Caesarville dam and pond, which lies to the west of George Waterman Road.

Heritage Bond Issue—November 6
On the upcoming ballot will be a $14 million bond issue which is being supported by a large coalition of historic preservation and environmental groups. Lumped together in the "R.I. Heritage Bond" are $4 million delegated to the R.I. Historical Preservation Commission for restoration projects, $4 million for acquisition, preservation, and development of natural, scenic, and recreation areas (DEM), $4 million for restoration of the State House, and $2 million for continuation of the Agricultural Land Preservation Fund's purchase of development rights to farmlands. This is the first such comprehensive effort since the Green Acres Program of the 1950s. Numerous historical societies have gone on record in support of the bond package.

Watch for historical tours and other events throughout the state by preservation-related organizations in support of the Heritage Bond, especially on the weekend of October 21.