Johnston Historical Society Newsletter
Vol. II, #4, March 1986
Shirley Beaune, president
Louis H. McGowan, editor
Robert S. Burford, assistant
Simmonsville Flood and Its Victims
by Louis H. McGowan
It seemed as through the heavens had opened and solid sheets of rain allowed to fall.
—from a Providence newspaper article describing the local rainstorm on the 11th and 12th of April, 1840.
Simmonsville today is a rather sleepy village, much the same as it has been for the past 140-odd years. In the 1840s, though, it was a bustling community with many dozens of people working in its textile mills. A prosperous future would have been predicted for this area, but a severe local rainstorm forever changed the fortunes of Simmonsville. On April 11th and 12th, 1840, a strong rain fell continuously for more than twenty-four hours. Today, we would not pay much attention to such a storm, but back then rain was often a killer in small mill communities. This was because no government agency regulated the construction of the dams that were built to supply the mills with a steady flow of water. Many of the dams were flimsy, earthen barriers, not suited to holding the overflow from surprise storms. This was the situation at Simmonsville. Following the steady, heavy rain the water level rose to such a height behind the upper dam (not the present Upper Simmonsville Reservoir) that the dam gave way on the morning of April 13th. This meant a torrent of water eleven feet high was now cascading down to the smaller and much weaker lower dam. It broke through easily and the water struck the village. Several houses, a store, a block printing shop, a machine shop, and the 1822 textile mill were all destroyed. Worse than the destruction of property was the loss of life. The Whittemore family had lived in the village for only thirteen days before the storm. Eight of them drowned. Six members of the Angell family also perished. Eighteen people in all died, making this flood the most deadly of its type in the state's history.
The flood continued down Cedar Swamp Brook to Lower Simmonsville (present-day Thornton), but there was little damage there except for the loss of a slaughter house. The flood had left its mark, though. Upper Simmonsville never returned to the level of prosperity that it had attained before the flood. Much of the monetary loss was sustained by James F. Simmons, and he could get no insurance on the property after the disaster. He thus concentrated his manufacturing efforts on the lower village, even moving there around this period.
The accompanying list shows the whereabouts of the graves of sixteen of the eighteen people that were killed in the flood. All the headstones were seen by the author during the past year except #7 and #16-18. #7 and #16 were present in their respective cemeteries a number of years ago, but neither are still standing. The burial sites for #17 and #18 have not been located although their names were given in the 1840 newspaper article. Their names do not appear in census reports or cemetery records for the town, but Hoels did live in Johnston at that time. The date of death was April 13, 1840.
Whitmore Burying Lot, Route 12, Attawagan, Connecticut
1) Matilda, wife of Captain Brayton Whitmore, age 48
2) Matilda, daughter of Captain Brayton and Matilda Whitmore, in 15th year
3) Alma Ann, daugh. of Capt. Brayton and Matilda Whitmore, in 13th year
4) Julia Ann, daugh. of Capt. Brayton and Matilda Whitmore, in 11th year
5) Lur_n_y, daugh. of Capt. Brayton and Matilda, in 6th year
6) Martha W., wife of Russell B. Whitmore in her 22nd year
7) Sarah, wife of Nelson Whitmore, age 24
8) Ann Frances, daugh. of ??, age 8 months
Scituate Historical Cemetery #22, East side of Elmdale Road
9) Phillip Angell, age 50 years and 3 months
10) Sally Angell, wife of Phillip and daugh. of Robert and Sally Bennett, age 45 years and 4 months
11) Benjamin, son of Phillip and Sally Angell, age 3 years, 11 months and 5 days
12) Emily A., daugh. of Phillip and Sally Angell, age 6 years, 2 months and 8 days
13) Phillip A., son of Phillip and Sally Angell, age 19 years, 8 months, and 5 days
14) Sally, daugh. of Phillip and Sally Angell and wife of Abner B. Rogers, age 22 years
Johnston Historical Cemetery #58, a few hundred yards north of Plainfield Pike and the same west of Route 295
15) William McAusland, died April 13, 1840, no age given
Randall Cemetery, Phenix Avenue, Cranston, between Animal Shelter and the road
16) Franklin Randall, son of Benjamin Randall, age 2 1/2 years
Burial site unknown
17) John Hoel (or Hull?), age 31
18) Lucinda Hoel (or Hull?), wife of John, age 28
Sources:
Members Attend Conference
On February 22, 1986, Shirely Beaune, Kathy Lobello, John Nanni, and Louis McGowan attended a conference hosted by the League of Rhode Island Historical Societies. Topics covered by the speakers included: setting up and running an archives, textile conservation, and securing grants for preservation work. Historical societies from all around the State were represented and all that attended seemed to find the event enjoyable and informative.
The cost of printing this publication for the year 1986 has been paid by the following sponsors:
Historical Teasers:
This month's questions:
Answers to last month's questions:
1) The three Johnston churches that were destroyed by natural disaster are shown in the accompanying photographs. See the caption for details.
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| Hughesdale Congregational Church is in center of this panoramic view of intersection of Central Avenue and Atwood Avenue (looking north and west), ca. 1910. The church was thrown off its foundation and lost its spire in the 1938 hurricane and was subsequently dismantled. Courtesy of the Rhode Island Historical Society. |
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| St. Peter's Episcopal Church, built in 1856 at Killingly and Waveland Streets, burned January 5, 1936. Refurbished within the year, it burned again in 1972, not to be rebuilt. |
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| Antioch Chapel, north side of Plainfield Pike, was built in 1891, the carriage shed on the right being erected the following year. This chapel burned shortly thereafter, as the present building was built to a different design in 1904. Courtesy of the Rhode Island Historical Society. |
2) The Fenner Stand was located on Plainfield St. on the site of the 1025 Club. It was said to be Rhode Island's most notorious gambling casino at one time and was later a fight club. It was destroyed by fire on May 2, 1938. John Toomey, a part owner of the building, said, at the time, that it was being renovated for use as a roller skating rink.
3) In 1874 Horatio N. Angell, owner of a farm on Hartford Avenue that included the soapstone quarry and Ochee Springs, was suffering from kidney trouble. Not helped by physicians, he decided to consult a widely known Boston clairvoyant, H.C. Lull. Coming out of a trance, Lull supposedly found the famous Ochee Springs for Angell which restored the latter to health. As the story goes, Lull also showed Angell the location of the soapstone quarry. Evidently the quarry really was buried for hundreds of years. When the excavation of the same took place in 1878, institutions from around the country rushed there for artifacts. Brown University, the Smithsonian Institute, the Peabody Museum at Cambridge, and the Boston Society of Natural History all shared in the loot.
J.H.S. to Erect Marker
Our society is planning to erect a marker on the site of the Chapel of the Good Shepherd at Brown Avenue. The property on which the Chapel stood was donated by Henry Dexter, the late husband of our member Jean Dexter. The marker will reflect our appreciation for the kindness of Mr. Dexter.
Fire in Thornton
On the evening of July 6, 1926, a fire broke out in John Saar's dry good store in the Ferri Block on Plainfield Street in Thornton. The blaze spread rapidly, destroying four buildings and badly damaging five others. Twelve volunteer firemen were injured. The fire threatened to wipe out a large portion of the village before it was brought under control.
As the fire raged, dozens of families moved their belongings to the nearby cricket field (now the baseball field in back of St. Rocco's Church). A large crowd also gathered on Plainfield Street to watch the fire. They were endangered when flames snapped electric wires and feed wires of the street car company. Chief of Police Hiram Kimball called the Narragansett Electric Lighting Company and the United Electric Railway Company to guard against the falling wires.
As the firemen fought the flames, they were severely hampered by the low water pressure in the six-inch main pipe. Some of the fire companies drove to the cricket field and took water from the Pocasset River. Soon Providence Hose Co. 20, the Thornton Company, the Auburn pumper, the Cranston regular company, and the Johnston Hose No. 3 were all using the same source. Not enough water was coming down the river and word had to be sent to the British Hosiery plant on Mill Street to open the dam gates so the flow would be greater.
Eventually the fire was brought under control but not before it had caused an estimated $75,000 in damage. The area was rebuilt but the memory of the fire's fury was not easy to erase.
Source:
Providence Journal, July 6, 1926, "Nine Structures Swept by $75,000 Fire in Thornton."
Hartford Pike Stagecoach
[Pieces of local history can be found recorded in many sources not ordinarily thought of as historical; for instance, the reports of the R.I. Supreme Court.]
Rhode Island and Connecticut Turnpike Society v. Albert W. Harris and Others—6 RI 244 (1859)
...in 1803, the plaintiffs were incorporated by the general assembly for the purposes of establishing and maintaining a turnpike road from Providence to the Connecticut line, through the towns of Johnston, Scituate, and Foster; and that by the third section of their act of incorporation it was provided that amongst other tolls, they should be entitled to receive at their toll-houses on their road, 'for a coach, chariot, or phaeton, thirty-three cents'; 'mail-stage, six cents.' [A] daily coach run by the defendants upon their road, which was a post-road,... gratuitously carried a daily mail over it from Providence to North Scituate, under a verbal agreement entered into in October 1855, between Welcome B. Sayles, postmaster at Providence..., and the defendants [Albert W. Harris and his company] for the convenience... of the people of North Scituate; that, in pursuance of this arrangement, mails were daily made up, forwarded from, and received at, the post-office at Providence, by the coach of the defendants, and that this service was performed by them until the next regular lettings of the contracts for the carriage of mails in July 1857, the arrangement being intermediate between these lettings and those which regularly took place four years before; that at the time when this arrangement was made and during its whole continuance, there was a regular contract for the carriage of the mail from Providence to North Killingly, passing through North Scituate, between the post-office department and one Richards, at specified hours, the purpose of the new arrangement with the defendants being to have a daily mail at different hours, so that the people of North Scituate could daily write to the city in the morning and receive an answer at night.
Evidence was submitted, on one side, to show that the purpose of the arrangement was merely to enable the defendants to avoid the rate of tolls proper to their coach by making the coach, colorably, a mail-coach, and on the other, that its purpose was to give proper mail facilities to the people of North Scituate.
Chief Justice Ames ruled that Mr. Harris' stage-coach was a mail-stage, that the mail contract was made for public good and not as a fraudulent contrivance for evading tolls, and that the contract provided good mail service upon the turnpike for the mutual benefit of the stage company and the citizens of North Scituate. The turnpike company was refused its plea to collect an additional $129.36 in tolls for stage coaches run between Sept. 25th, 1855, and May 10th, 1856.
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| The Conestoga wagon was moving pioneers and their supplies as early as 1750s in Pennsylvania but was probably rarely seen in New England after 1800. |
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| The Concord Coach, best remembered for service by such companies as Wells Fargo and the Overland State company of wild west fame, was actually built in Concord, N.H., from 1830 and saw as much use in the East as in the West. It could carry eight to fourteen passengers, baggage, and mail about forty miles a day. |
 |
| From 1908 catalog. |
Modern Fashionable Carriages and Vehicles in General Use
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History Day in Johnston
The annual History Day was held for Johnston's ninth and tenth grade students at the High School on March 22, 1986. Society members Bob Burford, Shirley Beaune, Louis McGowan, and John Nanni acted as judges. There were dozens of exhibits, several of exceptional quality.
Prizes awarded by the Johnston Historical Society: First Prize for local history to Kerri Macari for her "Child Labor in R.I."; Second Prize to Jennifer Stott, Sharon McGuire, and John Barish for their video, "King Phillip's War"; Third Prize to Patrick Neil, John Conti, John Paris, Kenneth Ricci, and Chris Gatta for their video, "Battle of R.I."; Honorable Mention to Jeanine Hurlbert for her "Annexation of Johnston."
Prizes were also given to three students by the Mohr Memorial Library. Melissa Gilhenney received First Prize in research for her "Paris Peace Accord"; Kerri Macari received an Honorable Mention for "Child Labor in R.I."; and the "King Phillip's War" piece received the award for best research in a video.
Index to Johnston Historical Society Newsletter, Volume I
by Robert S. Burford
#1 (Sept. 1984), pages 1-4;
#2 (Jan. 1985), pages 5-10;
#3 (March 1985), pages 11-16;
#4 (May 1985), pages 17-22;
#5 (July 1985), pages 23-28
** abbreviations "tl", "br", "ml" refer to top left, bottom right, middle left.
Aldrich, Arnold, 7br
Aldrich, Lucy Anna, 7tl
Allendale Insurance Company, 15
Almy, Sampson, 15
Alverson, David, 7tr
Alverson, Joseph, 7bl
American Legion Post, 11
Angelico Street, 19
Angell, Amev, 14br
Angell, Frank, 23
Angell, Isaac ?, 7tr
Angell, Israel Col., 5
Angell, James jr., 7bl
Angell, Lydia, 7bl
Angell, Jedadiah, 14tl
Angell, Thomas, 24
Angell, See: Johnston Historical Society—Angell House
Angell Avenue, 25
Angell (Daniel) House, 25
Angell (Emor J.) House, 25
Angell (Newton) House and Carriage House, 25
Angell (Phillip) House, 25
Annals of Centredale (1909), 23
Annexation (1898), 3
Anthony, John, 14br
Antioch, 11, 26
Antwerp Street, 15
Appleby, See; Smith-Appleby House
Archaeology, 13
Architects: Oresto DiSaia
Argonne Street, 15
Arnold, Peleg (Smithfield) 7bl
aRusso, Ralph (Mayor), 1
Atwood Avenue, 17, 19, 25
Baccari, Anne, 6
Bailey (Shang) Tavern, 25
Ballou, see: Blew
Baptist, 2, 14tl
Barnes, E. Josephine, 26
Barnes, Sarah Dyer, 27
Barton, Marey, 15bl, 15br
baseball, 24
Bates, Jon, 14br
Beandel ?, 15br
Beaune, Shirley (society president), 1, 6, 11, 12, 17, 23
Beaune, Walter, 6
Belknap, Abraham, esq., 7bl, 20
Belknap, Abraham, 7bl
Belknap, Jeduthun, 20
Belknap (village), 11, 17, 24
Belknap Chapel, 25
Bell School, 26
Benet, Joseph, 14br
Berchant, Nellie V., 17
Beverly, Laban, 23
Blaisdell, Harriet, 26
"Blew the turnpike man", 8br
Bliss, Phoebe, 11
Bliss, Zenas, 11*, 19
Blydenbergh, 8mr
Books: Touring Johnston History, Life of Elder Abel Thornton, biographies, 8, 18, 19
Borden, Elizabeth, 14tr
Bradford, Grae H., 26
Brayton, Mary, 26
Briggs, Elihu, 14br
Briggs, Lois, 14tr
British Hosiery Fire Company, 25
Bronill, George ?, see: Burrill
Brooke, Percy, 25
Brosco, Mrs., 25
Brown, Chad, 24
Brown, Gideon, 8br
Brown, George, 14bl
Brown, Hopstill, 14bl
Brown, Marey, 14bl
Brown, Marilyn, 19
Brown, Moses, 7tl
Brown, see also, Wilson and Brown
Brown, see also, Thornton-Brown House
Brown Street School, 26
Building materials, 17, 21
Building materials, see also: cement, window casings
Burdon, Huldy, 14bl
Burdon, Oliver, 14br
Burdon, William, 14bl
Burford, Robert S., 6, 7, 15, 21, 24
Burlingham, Rhoda, 14tr
Burlingham, Zeviah, 14tl
Burlimghame, Marey, 14tr
Burlinlane, Mary, 14bl
Burrill, George R., 7bl
Burrill, James, 7tr
Burt, Eugenie D., 26
Caesarville, 3; Also, Seser, Cesar
Cain, John S., 12, 19
Canonicus, 20
Car, Sarah, 14bl
Carpenter, Anne, 14bl
Carpenter, Lyde, 14br
Carpenter, Prudence, 14tr
Carpenter, William, 14bl
Carrara, Kim A., 1, 3, 6
Carroll, William A., 5
Carson, Henry, 15
cement, 7tr
cemeteries, 2, 15, 16, 21, 23
Centredale, 23
Central Avenue, 11, 15, 25
Cerra, Mary, 6
Cesar, Benjamin, 7br, see also Seser, Caesar
Cesar, Joseph, 8tr
Chaise, 7br
Chattlet Street School, 25
Cherry Hill Road, 12
Churchel, Joseph, 8tl, 8tr
Churches: see Graniteville Baptist, Smithfield "Free-Will" Baptist, St. Rocco's
cider, 17, 18
Civil War: see Zenas Bliss
Clemence-Irons House, 1, 21, 25
clergy: see Clarissa Danforth, Abel Thornton, Joseph White, Samuel Winsor
Clish, Josephine E., 26
clothing, 7tl (pantaloons)
Cole, Dr., 8bl
Collins, Precillia, 14bl
Collwell, Anne, 14tr
Concord School, 26
Congressional Medal of Honor, 11
Conves, James, 14br
Cook, Nathaniel, 14
cooper shop, 17
Corcoran, Mary A., 26
Corlis, see: James C. Kinnicut
Cozzens, Minnie A., 26
crafts: see wall stenciling
Cranston Historical Society, 21
Cunningham, Ida A., 26
Cushing, Mathew, 8ml
Cushing, Samuel, 8tr
Cushing, Susanna Y., 26
Daget, Penelopha, 14bl
Daigneault, Joseph, 25
Daley, Peter, 8bl, 8tr
Dam School, 26
Danforth, Clarissa H., 2
Davis, Ursilla, 7bl, 7tr
Dean Avenue, 5, 25
Dean Kimball House, see Kimball
Demmons, Marey, 14bl
DeSisto, Theresa, 19
Devereux, Alice C., 26
Dexter, John, 14bl
Dexter, Phela, 14bl
Dewsnap, Jennie, 26
Dexter Street, 3
Diaz Street, 24
DiCenso, Evelyn, 12
DePetrillo, Thomas, 12
DiSaia, Oresto, 20
diseases, 2; also, doctors
doctors: Moses Mowry, Dr. Cole
Dove, George, 25
Dry Brook, 2, 5
dumps, 13
Dyer, Abagail, 14tl
Dyer, Anstis, 8tl
Dyer, Freelove, 14tl
Dyer, James, 14br
Dyer, John, 14tl, tr, bl
Dyer, Mercy, 14tr
Dyer, Roba, 14tr
Dyer, Sarah, 14br
Dyer, Samuel, 14br (2)
Dyer, Stephen, 14br
Dyer, William, 14bl
Easten, Cornelius, 14
Eaton, Timothy, 7br
eclipse, 7tl
Eddy, Elisabeth, 14bl
Eddy, Richard, 20
Edwardes, John, 14br
Equi, Clarinda T., 26
Fairmount Street, 27
farms, 17-18; heritage Bond, 4
Farnum/Angell House, see: Johnston Historical Society—Angell House
Farnum (Edwin) House, see: Johnston Historical Society—Angell House
Feeley, Clara, 27
Fenner, 15
Fenner, Abagail, 7bl
Fenner, Arthur, jr., 14tl
Fenner, Amey, 14tl
Fenner, Christian, 14tr
Fenner, Edward, 20
Fenner, John, 20
Fenner, Reba, 14tr
Fenner, Richard, 20
Field, Hannah, 17
fire dept., 2, 3, 6, 25
fires, 7ml, 11
Fisk, Marey, 14br
flea market, see: Johnston Historical Society—flea market
floods, 5
Fox, Amelia, 8mr
Fox, John, 8ml, 8tr
Franklin School, 26
Freethey, Clarie L., 26
Frog City, 19, 24
Fuller, Alice H., 26
Gaham, Rachel, 14br
Gallows bridge, 24
gasoline, 15
genealogical society, 24
George Waterman Road, 3, 24, 25
Gibson, Annie W., 26
Gifford, Alice M., 26
Glenville Chemical Works, 5
Glines, Grace W., 26
Goff, Jacob, 23
Graniteville, 5
Graniteville Baptist Church, 25
Graniteville Baptist Church transcribed manuscripts, 14
Graniteville fire station, 2
Graniteville school, 26
Grant, May I., 26
Fraves, Capt., 8bl
Graves, Lycy, 7bl
Greene, Samuel, 7br
Green Acres program, 4
Greene, Annie M., 26
Greene, Joseph, 8mr
Greenville Avenue, 12, 15, 17, 18, 25, 27
Greystone mill, 6, 12
gunpowder mill, 11, 23*
Gurry, Lizzie L., 26
Hall, Ellen, 12
Hanley, Annie E., 26
Harrington, Prucia M., 26
Harris, Andrew, 20
Harris, Caleb, Esq., 20
Harris, Henry, 20
Harris, Maria (Manton) 8tl
Harris, Stephen, 8tl
Harris, see also, Phebe Harris Holden
Hartford Avenue, 21, 24, 25 (2)
Hawkins, Deliverance, 14br
Hawkins, John, 7bl
Hawkins, William, 20
Hennessey, Agens C., 26
Heritage Bond Issue (R.I.), 4
Heyworth, Edith E., 26
Hickes, Marey, 14br
Higgins, Lydia, 8ml
Hinghambottom, Dorcus, 14tr
Hinghambottom, Obadiah, 14tr
Jill, Jessa, 8br
history day fair, 19, 24
Hipses Rock, 20
Holbrook Helen F., 26
Holden, Abby, 7tl
Holden, Polly, 7tl
Holden, Sally, 7tl
Holden, Phebe Harris, 7br
Holdin, Esther, 7tr
Holdin, Thomas, Capt., 7tr
Hood milk, 17
Hopkins Avenue, 2 13, 24
hornbook, 27
horses, 7 tl, 17, 18, 25
houses (historic Johnston) see also: building materials.; Johnston Historical Society—Angell House; plaqued house; schools; King (Samuel W.) house; gambrel mill houses, 3; Kimball (Dean) House; Thornton (Deacon) House
Howie, William J., 25
Howland, Nancy B., 26
Hughesdale, 2, 5, 11
Hughesdale Mill House, 25
Hughesdale School, 26
Hughes, Thomas H., 5
Hughes, (Thomas H.) House, 25
Hunt, Lula H., 26
I-295, 23
ice skating, 15
Irons, see also: Clemence-Irons
Irons, T. Fenner, 26
Italians, 19, 24
Jenckes, Ann Eliza, 7br
Jenckes, Frelove, 8tl
Jenckes, see also Jinkes?
Jenks, Jonathan, 14tl
Jenney gas, 15
jewelry making 19
Jinkes, Frelove, 14bl
Johnson, Grace #. 26
Johnston High School, 19, 24, 25
Johnston Historical Society— Officers, 12
Johnston Historical Society— Membership, 6, 12
Johnston Historical Society— Newsletter editorial policy, 12
Johnston Historical Society— Plaqued Houses, 25
Johnston Historical Society— Angell House, 1, 2, 6
Johnston Historical Society— Thanksgiving dinner, 1, 4
Johnston Historical Society— events, 16, 22, 28
Johnston Historical Society— fleamarket, 1, 16, 21
Johnston Memorial Park, 24
Johnston 225th Anniversary, 24
Kaye, Marilyn, 19
Kelly, Ezekiel, Capt., 8ml (2)
Kemp, Lena F., 26
Killey, Ezekiel, 7br, 8tl
Killey, Joanna, 7br
Killey, Jonathan S., 7tl, 12
Killey House, 25
Killian Road, 23
Killing road, 18 (caption)
Killingly Street, 15, 27
Kimball, Dean, 24
Kimball (Dean) House, 13
Kimball reservoir, 24
King, Anne, 14tl
King, Asa, 14br
King, John, 14tl
King, Jonathan, 14tl
King, Lydia, 25
King, Phebe L., 26
King, Samuel Ward, 20, 25
King, Welthian, 25
King, William B., 8bl
King, William B. jr., 8bl
King, William Borden, 25
King cemetery, 21
King (Samuel Ward) House, 25
Knapp, David, 8tr
Knight, Barrillery, 14br
Knight, Elmer, 14br
Knight, Rachel, 14br
Knight, Ruben, 14br
Lapham, Ella H., 26
LaVelle, Katherine, 26
Lawn Street, South, 25
Lebeck, Ruth, 21
Lee, Edith W., 26
library, see: Mohr Memorial
The Life of Elder Abel Thornton, 2
LoBello, Kathy and Mario, 6
Lowe, Mabel T., 26
Luns, Demiras, 14bl
Lynch, Robert and Vivian, 21
McAllister, Lula, 26
McCormick, Mary E., 26
McGowan, Louis H., 1, 6, 11, 15, 17, 21, 24
McLaren, Jenanette A., 26
Mackentash, Marey, 14br
Macari, Pasco J., 2, 6, 15
Mann, Sarah, 8tl
Manton, ?, 8tl
Manton, Ann Eliza, 7br
Manton, Anstis (Dyer) 8tl
Manton, Daniel Col., 7bl, 20
Manton, Daniel Esq., 7bl
Manton, E. E., 7tl
Manton, Elizabeth, 7tl
Manton, Frelove, 8tl
Manton, Henry, 8tl
Manton, Henry Col., 7tl
Manton, James, 8tl
Manton, Jeremiah, Col., 8br
Manton, Maria, 8tl
Manton, Patience, 8tr
Manton, Thomas, 7bl (2)
Manton (village) 7, 24
Manton School, 26, 27 (photo)
Marne Street, 15
Mason, Job, 14tl
Mason, Naomia, 14br
Mason, Russel, 14tl
Mathewson, Ashia A., 26
Mathewson, Benjamin O.P., 23
Mathewson, Charles, 8tl
Mathewson, Daniel, 17
Mathewson, Ezra E., 23
Mathewson, Gibson Williams, 18
Mathewson, Hannah, 17
Mathewson, Henry L., 23
Mathewson, Isadora M., 23
Mathewson, James, 17
Mathewson, John, 17
Mathewson, Mary, 17
Mathewson, Mary W., 23
Mathewson, Mehetable S., 23
Mathewson, Nellie, 17
Mathewson, N. S., 23
Mathewson, Noah, 20
Mathewson, Paris, 17
Mathewson, Philip, 17
Mathewson, Phoebe, 17
Mathewson, Thomas, 17
Mathewson, William, 14bl
Mathewson, 17
Mathewson, William Henry, 17, 18
Mathewson, Zachariah, 17
Mathewson cemetery, 23
Mathewson farm, 17*-18* (and photo)
Mathewson house, 17-18, 25
Matteson, Anna S., 26
Membership, see: Johnston Historical Society—membership
Miantinomi, 20
Militia, 5 (2nd RI Regt.)
Militia, 17 (Johnston Rangers)
Militia, see also: Revolutionary War, Civil War
milk, 17
mills, 2, 3, also: textile mills
Mohr Memorial Library, 6, 7, 15, 19
Monahan, Audrey and Tom, "Buried Treasure in your own Backyard", 13
Monroe, James (pres.), 7br
Moore, R. Ella, 26
Morehead, 8ml
Morgan Avenue, 20, 25
Morgan Mills, 2, 5, 15
Mowry, Ananias, 7bl
Mowry, David Paine, 7tl
Mowry, Jonathan, 7bl
Mowry, Moses, Dr., 7-8
Mowry, Nancy (Waterman) 7br
Morwy, Nathan, 8tl
Mowry, Seth, 7br
Munro (pres.) sic 7br
Nanni, Carol, "Early Wall Stenciling", 10
Nanni, John, 2, 6, 12
Nebiker, Watler, 6, 12
negroes, 8bl, also, Caesarville
newspapers: Providence Jouranl; Olneyville Times; Observer
Niekles, Amey, 14bl
Northup, Elizabeth T., 26
Northup, William, 6
Noto and Sons (builders and wreckers), 12
Oak Swamp dam, 2
Oakley, Mrs., 8mr, br
Observer, 12
Oliver, Joseph, 8br
Olney, Asa, 7tr
Olney, Charles, 14br
Olney, Debra, 14bl
Olney, Desire, 14tr
Olney, Emor, 14bl, 20
Olney, Hannah, 14bl
Olney, James, 14bl
Olney, Job, 14tl
Olney, Marey, 14bl
Olney, Phoebe, 17
Olneyville, 25, Annex, 3, 11
Olneyville Times, 3
Ostend Street, 15
Owen, Thomas, 20
Page, Ernest V., 26
Page, Grace H., 26
Paine, see: David P. Mowry
Paine, Cyrus, 7bl
Paine, Cyrene, 7br
Paquette, Joseph, 12, 21
Parrillo, Ann and Gilbert, 6
Pearie, Phebe, 7bl
Pearson, Mattie B., 26
Peck, Peleg, 14br
Peirce, Cassandra M., 26
Perrotta, Gilda (past pres.), 6, 12
Perriello, Eileen, 12
Pershing Street, 15
Pezzullo, Angelico, 19
Pezzullo, Joseph, 19
Pezzullo, Theresa, 19
Pezzullo Street, 19
Philips, William, 8br
Philips, William, 8br
Plainfield Street, 11, 15
Pocasset (village), 24
Pocasset River, 15
Pocasset School, 26
police, 3, 5
politics, 17, 18, 19
ponds: Sampson Almy's; Caesarville
population, 3
Porter, (Dr.?), 8tl
Poter, Anthongy, 14br
Potter, Elizabeth, 14tr
Potter, Emma A., 26
Potter, Jemima, 14tr
Potter, Lydia, 25
Potter, Marey, 14tr
Potter, Marey widow, 14tr
Potter, Marey, 14bl
Potter, William, 8ml (2), 8mr
"Powder Mill Revisited", 23
Powdermill Turn Pike, 11
preservation, 6
Preservation Heritage Bond, 4
Prey, Thomas, 5
Providence, 3, 17
Providence city archives, 24
Providence Journal, 3, 5
Putnam Pike, 25
Rachela Street, 24
Randall, 8tr, mr, 14tr
Randall, Bethiah, 14bl
Randall, Huldah, 14tr
Randall, Joseth, 14tr
Randall, Martha, 14tr
Randall, Phoebe W. Randall Bliss
Randall Street, 11
Randel, Henrey, 14br
Handol, Henrey, 14br
Randol, John, 14bl, br
Rangers, see: militia
Remington, Elisabeth, 7bl, 7br
Remmington, Elizabeth, 14tr
Reservoir Avenue, 2
reservoirs, 2, 5, 24
Revolutionary War: gunpowder mill
Rhode Island Heritage Bond, 4
Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission., 6, 23
Rhode Island Roots, 24
Richer, Joe, 6
Rivers, see also: water; Dry Brook, Pocasset, Woonasquatucket
Rose Street School, 26
Rough and Ready fire company, 25
Ruso, Angie, 6
Saccoccio, Rita, 12
Sadowski, Dorothy, 12
St. Rocco's Church, 20
Sammis, Eileen, 26
Sammis, G. Lewis, 26
Sampson Almy's Pond, 15
Saunders, Asher, 8mr
Saunders, Moses, 8tl
Sayles, John, esq., 7tr
Sayles, Mowry, 7tr
Scarborough, Joseph, 8tl
Schools, 11, 26, 27
Scituate Road, see South Scituate
2nd R.I. Regt., 5
Sellew, Clinton W., 24
Serrel Sweet Road, 25
Seser Hope, 14br, also: Casesar
Seven Mile Line, 17
Shaw's Garage, 15
Sheffield, John, 14bl
Shelden, James, 14br
Sheldin, Abygill, 14br
Sheldon, Christian, 14tr
Sheldon, Edmond, 8bl (2)
Sheldon, Jeremiah, 8bl, 14tr
Sheldon, Marcy, 17
Sheldon, Rachel, 14br
Silver Lake (village), 11
Simmons (James) Mansion, 19, 25
Sleighing, 7br
Smith, Job, 8mr (2)
Smith, Lydia, 14tr
Smith, William, 25
Smith-Appleby House (Smithfield.), 15, 21
Smithfield Free-Will Baptists, 2
Smithfield Historical Society, 15, 21
South Lawn Street, see: Lawn St.
South Scituate Road, 5
Sports: ice skating, baseball, sleighing
Sprague, Barbery, 14tr
Sprague, Daniel, 14bl
Sprague, Ebenezer, 20
Sprague, (Elder), 6tl
Sprague, Esther, 7tl
Sprague, Hannah, 14tl, bl
Sprague, Hope, 14tr
Sprague, Isabella, 14bl
Sprague, Locas (?), 7tl
Sprague, Lucipa, 7tr
Sprague, Phebe, 7tl (2)
Sprague, Rufus, 17
Sprague, A&W company, 5
Sprague Mansion (Cranston), 21
Spratt, Frank A., 26
Stanton, Jeremiah, Col., 7tl
Star Novelty Company, 19
Statue of Liberty restoration, 21
Steere, William S., 26
stenciling, early wall, 10, 21
Stevens, Virginia H., 12
Stone (Charlie) Pond, 15
stone work, 2
street names, 15, 19, 24
Sunset Amy's, 15
Sutton (MA/NH town?), 7tl
Sweet, Amey C., 23
Sweet, Benjamin, 8tl
Sweet, Betsey, 23
Sweet, John, 23
Sweet, Mehetable, 23
Sweet, Stephen, 8tl
Sweet, Susan, 26
Sweet, Valentine, 7tl
Also: Serrel Sweet Road
taxes, 3, 24
textile mills, 2, 3, 6, 7tl, 11, 12, 15, 21
Tha..., Edward, 12
Thair, William, 8tr
Thanksgiving dinner, see Johnston Historical Society
Thomas, Etta, 26
Thompson, Marcus, 12
Thompson, Thomas, 8br
Thornley water company, 5
Thornton (village), 11, 19, 21, 24, 26
Thornton-Brown House, 25
Thornton, Abel (Elder), 2
Thornton, Abigail, 2
Thornton, Carolyn, 24
Thornton, Josiah, 20
Thornton, Martha, 14tr
Thornton, Mary, 14bl
Thornton, Robert, 2
Thurber, Grace E., 26
Todd, Norma, 12
Torchia, Marcella Sr., 6
Total Systems Inc., 19
Town hall, 20, 24
Transportation: "Blew the TP man," chaise, Powdermill TP, Jenny gas, roads, sleighing, street names
Tripp, Elijah, 7tr
Trip, John Jr., 8bl
Trip, Phoebe Tripp Mathewson
Turpen, Kathena, 14bl
Umberto Prino Street, 24
Vallet, Welcome, 8bl, tr, mr
Vallet, William, 8bl, tr, mr
Victor Emanuel St., see: Vittorio
Villages: Antioch, Belknap, Frog City, Caesarville, Centerdale, Glenville, Graniteville, Greystone (NP), Hughesdale, Manton, Morgan Mills, Olneyville, Pocasset, Silver Lake, Simmonsville, Thornton
Vincent Drive, 20
Vittorio Emanuel Street, 24
Voccio, Peter and Ann, 6
Wall stencil, 10, 21
Walsh, James, 3
War of 1812, 25
Warner, Clarah, 14tr
Warner, Sarah, 14tr
Warner, Susanna, 14tr
Warren, Dora, 19
water, 2, 5, also: rivers, reservoirs
Waterman, Alce, 14br
Waterman Amy, 7br
Waterman, Anne, 14tr
Waterman, Benjamin, 7tl
Waterman, Charles, 7tr
Waterman, Job, jr., 8bl
Waterman, John, 20
Waterman, Kaharina, 14br
Waterman, Mercy, 14tr
Waterman, Nahenel, 14bl
Waterman, Nancy, 7br
Waterman, Phoebe Bliss
Waterman, Sarah, 14tl
Waterman, Stephen, 8bl
Also George Waterman Road
weather, 7
Weeks, Nasport, 14br
Wescott, Stukley, 24
Westcot, Sarah, 14bl
Westcott, Mary, 17
West Point, 11
Whipple, Betiah, 14bl
Whipple, Calpha, 14tr
Whipple, Stephen, 14tl
White, Joseph (Elder) 2
White, Leroy A., 12
Whittaker, Robert, 25
Wilkinson, Christopher, 8ml, mr
Willey, Betsey, 23
Willey, James, 23
Williams, Frances, 14br
Williams, Mattie A., 26
Williams, Mercy, 14tr
Williams, Nicholas, 14br
Williams, Peleg, 20
Williams, Rhoda, 14tr
Williams, Roger, 20, 24
Wilmoth, Sarah, 14bl
Wilson, James A., 25
Wilson and Brown, 7br
Winsor, Daniel, 7tr
Winsor, Joshua, 24
Winsor, Lula B., 26
Winsor, Mary, 14tr, 17
Winsor, Samuel (elder), 14tr
window casings, 8tl
Woonasquatucket River, 11, 23
Worchester Textile co., 6, 12
WWI, 15
Calendar of Events
April 28th, (Monday), J.H.S. General Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Farnum/Angell House, 101 Putnam Pike. Slide presentation and display of American colonial needlework and textiles by Audrey and Tom Monahan. The Monahans are avid and knowledgeable collectors, willing to evaluate pieces. Feel free to bring your own needlework antiques for show and tell.
May 26th (Monday), J.H.S. General Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Farnum/Angell House, 101 Putnam Pike. After the meting, bring out any books that you would like to share, swap, or sell with fellow members.
June 14th (Saturday), Bus tour of Johnston by J.H.S. Details to follow in later newsletter.
Continuing, two new exhibits at Museum of R.I. History at Aldrich House, 110 Benevolent St., Prov.: Rhode Island's First Century and Roger Williams, Fact and Fancy: Perception of Rhode Island's Favorite Son.
Through April 27, 1986, The Eden of America: Rhode Island Landscapes, 1820-1920, Museum of Art, R.I. School of Design.
Johnston Historical Society, 101 Putnam Pike, Johnston 02919
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Membership is tax-deductible as a contribution to a non-profit educational organization. Make check payable to JOHNSTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Memberships chairman Pat Macari, tel. XXX-XXXX, for information.
Johnston Historical Society, 101 Putnam Pike, Johnston, RI 02919, (401) 231-3380, info@johnstonhistorical.org
Unless otherwise noted, all content is © 2006-2008 Johnston Historical Society.
Posted February 2008