Johnston Historical Society Historical Notes
Vol. IX, #3, July 2000
Louis McGowan, Editor
Monthly Meetings
At our February meeting, Louis McGowan and Dan Brown presented a slide show entitled: "Local Postcards of Interest." There was much lively discussion as members and guests talked about their memories of the views on screen.
David Schwartz, a noted local arborist, delighted a large gathering at our March meeting with hints on tree care and tales of disasters perpetrated on local trees. Thanks go to Dan Meunier, who headed up an award presentation to the owners of record trees from around the town.
Linda Eppich, Chief Curator at the Rhode Island Historical Society, was guest speaker at our April meeting, and she spoke about recent research on Rhode Island furniture. Her very informative talk was well-received.
In May Thomas E. Greene, North Providence Town Historian, presented a slide-talk on Rhode Island maps from 1634 through the 20th century. Our group found his talk of great interest.
In July we held our annual picnic on the grounds of the headquarters. The turnout was a little light because of the threat of rain, but we had a nice time.
Yard Work
Much work has been done in our yard over the last few months. Dan Meunier and Steve Merolla did a great job of cleaning up the mess in the corner of the yard at Putnam and Collins. There is no more poison ivy or scraggly bushes. Bel Peters has planted a wonderful new garden on the west side of the house. She, Steve, and Louis have been maintaining the trees and flowering plants throughout the yard.
In June the Local 57 team once again helped us with their donation of equipment and labor. They moved all the gravel and loam back to where it belongs around the museum. They did a great job. Louis, Pat, Dan, Everett, Fred Mikkelsen, and Steve raked out rocks from the loam and leveled it off. Warren Lanpher then seeded the area for us. We now have a pretty decent crop of grass.
We also purchased 10 yards of gravel for the driveway leading to the barn.
Warren will soon be starting on the fence on the Little Inn side of the property. It will be a split rail fence and should add much to the looks of the property.
Yard Sale
During June we held a yard sale which was a success. We netted $205 for our treasury. Thanks to Dan for heading up the event and for all members who contributed labor and items to sell.
Museum Update
Everything is going well with the museum. We purchased a 3' by 4' platform stone which is now the top step at the entrance door. For the smaller bottom step we used one of the foundation stones that was present in the yard. It was part of one of the outbuildings that burned 30 years ago or so. Warren engineered both of these into place for us.
The electrical work is almost done inside. The only remaining work is the installation of the fixtures. The cellar floor has been poured and looks great. All the work on the main floor has been completed except for the laying of the finish boards on the floor. They will be installed soon. Upstairs in the archives/office, everything is done. We have moved some of the office equipment into place and have started filing paperwork into the file cabinets.
We will be sending you word of opening day festivities, which will probably happen in the fall.
Farnum/Angell House Update
Our headquarters is in need of painting again. We have put in for a grant from the Champlin Foundations to cover the cost of the project. We will use the O'Donnell Company, a top-notch local firm, if we are awarded the grant.
We have started accumulating furniture for the house. Richard Siembab, a local antique dealer has been using his know-how and connections to acquire some nice pieces for us. We now have a blanket chest from R.I., a New England cannonball rope bed, a R.I. ladder-back chair, a small kitchen cabinet, and a bed stand. All pieces are in original shape, are of the period, and are from R.I. or from elsewhere in New England.
Recent Acquisitions
Document Restoration
The society recently had three documents restored. The three were all de-acidified and backed with cloth. The cost is high for this work, but valuable documents need to be properly treated so that our ancestors will have them to look at. The three restored items were: 1) a Pocasset Worsted Mill insurance map from the early part of this century; 2) a 19th century pen and ink insurance drawing of the Merino Mill complex; and 3) a rare diploma from the first Johnston High School which operated from 1892 until 1898 when it became a Providence school.
Town Poor Farm
Editor's Note: Although we usually publish articles based on original research or on oral interviews, we occasionally re-produce a newspaper article that we think is of major historical importance. The editor feels that this article shows a lot about how things have changed in our town, and, on the other hand, how much things remain the same, both in the social realm and in the political sphere.
Prior to the mid-19th century, poor relief was a major social problem in Rhode Island communities. Although work relief in the State dates to at least 1647, the State Legislature had left responsibility for alleviating poverty to the individual towns. Local authorities were responsible for their own poor and were preoccupied with questions of eligibility. Whenever possible paupers were returned to the town of their legal residency. References to forced evictions are frequently found in our town records. Around 1800 most poor were boarded out with those who would contract to keep them at the lowest cost. Other poor were auctioned off, some were living in workhouses, others were kept in asylums or almshouses, and orphans were apprenticed out. After 1840 more towns started caring for the poor on town farms, but farmers, manufacturers, and other taxpayers opposed the expansion of most forms of public welfare. Even so, by 1870, 23 towns in Rhode Island had town farms.
In 1874 a State Almshouse was opened for the poor who had no legal town of residence.
Johnston's town farm came into being in 1862. It was on the site of the present-day K-Mart on Atwood Ave. After the fire it was never rebuilt. A picture of the farm is on Page 11 of Johnston II, Images of America.
The following is a reprint of an article from The Providence Journal, 1918:
OLNEYVILLE
Fire at Johnston Poor Farm Reopens Controversy
HOUSE MAY NOT BE REBUILT
Plan to Board Paupers at State Almshouse, Saving Town Money, May Now be Put Through.
The destruction by fire of the main building on the Johnston Town Farm on Atwood Avenue early yesterday morning will reopen the issue of whether the town should maintain a farm to shelter its half-dozen paupers or accept the more economical plan of boarding them at the State Almshouse.
At the annual financial town meeting two years ago the taxpayers protested against expending between $4000 and $5000 for maintaining the Town Farm for the half-dozen paupers when they can be boarded at the State Almshouse at $3.50 per week. A commission was appointed to investigate conditions, and it reported that the town would be better off if the dairy and farming business at the Town Farm was discontinued and only enough produced to provide for the overseer's family and the inmates. The report was submitted at the annual financial town meeting last April, and later the greater part of the farming implements and the stock was sold at auction. Many acres of the farmland have been leased at a rental of $450 for the remainder of the year.
Since then the monthly expense at the Poor Farm has decreased only slightly, and there has been more or less criticism heard.
The fire yesterday morning, due to a defective flue in the chimney, razed everything except the big barn and destroyed the town's equipment in the house, only a small amount of furniture belonging to the overseer, Lewis H. Salsbury, being saved. The seven inmates, three men, three women, and a boy, are being cared for at Aitchison's Hotel in Thornton and Town solicitor Frank W. Tillinghast is trying to arrange for their removal to the State Almshouse until the taxpayers in annual financial town meeting in April vote to erect a new house on the Town Farm or decide to continue boarding the town's charges at the State institution indefinitely.
The big farmhouse on Atwood Avenue was destroyed by fire shortly after 5 o'clock yesterday morning and the overseer and his family and the seven inmates, three men, three women and a boy, were driven out in the zero [degree] weather. The big barn was saved by the volunteers of Hose Company 3, Manton.
Mr. Salsbury was awakened at about 5 o'clock by the odor of smoke. Upon investigating he found part of the lower door in flames. The fire started around the big chimney, between the main part of the house and a big ell, which was added several years ago. He aroused his family and the inmates, and while Mr. Salsbury's furniture was being removed, he telephoned to Chief of Police Kimball. The latter informed Mr. Salsbury that the only way to get the Thornton Fire Company was to drive to Thornton, a distance of two miles.
Mr. Salsbury hurried to the home of Chief William Smith and asked that the company with its new motor-driven truck hurry to the town farm. Mr. Salsbury reported to President Hughes of the Town council that the Chief replied that there was no hydrant near the farm and that his company could do no good by going. Mr. Salsbury then telephoned to Hose Company 3 at Manton and also to Chief Willis H. Sweet at Graniteville. The latter company has no motor truck but Chief Sweet carried the company's chemical extinguishers and other apparatus to Manton in his automobile and then the Manton company with double equipment made a record run to the town farm. When they arrived it was too late to save the farmhouse but the volunteers succeeded in preventing the burning of the big barn, which was built a few years ago to replace one burned.
The inmates were taken into the home of Lemuel Fenanti, which is near by, and later, through the efforts of Mr. Salsbury and Council President Theodore S. Hughes, they were conveyed to William Aitchison's hotel in Thornton, where they have been provided with steam-heated rooms and will be cared for until the Town Council makes other arrangements.
Mr. Hughes upon receiving the overseer's report on the refusal of Chief Smith to take the Thornton fire company to the town farm was indignant. He called attention to the fact that in less than a year the town has purchased the company a motor-driven fire truck and equipment, pays rent for its storage in the fire station and provides fuel for heating the station. He compared the action of the Thornton fire chief with that of those at the head of the Manton and Graniteville companies, both of which are a greater distance away from the town farm than is the Thornton company. He said that the matter would be investigated further at the meeting of the Town Council next Friday.
Council To Investigate
The Johnston Town Council plans to investigate the charge of Lewis H. Salsbury, Overseer of the Poor and Commissioner of the Town Farm, that the chief of the Thornton Volunteer Fire Company refused to respond to the call for assistance at the fire at the Town Farm at 5:30 o'clock yesterday morning when the big farmhouse was razed by flames. Theodore S. Hughes, President of the Town council, is of the opinion that if the town is to continue to aid financially in maintaining the company, the taxpayers should know under what conditions they can expect the company to answer alarms of fire.
Within the past year the town has paid $1000 for a motor-driven fire truck, pays a monthly charge of $5 for rent and supplies fuel during the winter to keep the station warm for the members. At various times it has provided other equipment for the company.
According to Mr. Hughes, he was told by Mr. Salsbury that Chief Smith declined to call out the apparatus because there was nothing for the company to do in view of the absence of hydrants near the Town Farm. Hose Company 3 at Manton was then asked to give assistance, and within a very short time was on hand with its own equipment and many hand extinguishers from the Graniteville fire station. They saved the destruction of the big barn.
President Hughes stated yesterday that the matter will be taken up at the council meeting Friday and the Thornton Volunteer Fire Company will be asked to explain why it could not do work similar to that of Hose Company 3, which has received less financial support from the town than the company at Thornton.
The meeting Friday promises to be an interesting one, for there are at least two other issues of vital importance to the taxpayers. The report of the auditors who have been working on the books of the missing town Treasurer, William Burton, will make a report showing that the shortage in the missing official's accounts amounts to $35,848.02. It will show just how much was taken at various times and where it went to. In this way the council will be able to tell how much the town can expect to recover from the bonding companies which bonded the missing Treasurer.
Another matter of importance will be the Poor Farm issue, which must be reopened because of the fire which destroyed the big farmhouse yesterday morning. The seven inmates are temporarily sheltered at Aitchison's Hotel in Thornton, and other arrangements must be made. The council will undoubtedly authorize the remove of the unfortunates to the State Almshouse until the annual financial town meeting in April.
"The Greystone House"
By Steve Merolla
#10 Mathewson Street
The story of the house at 10 Mathewson Street in Graniteville, known as the "Greystone House," begins on April 9, 1828. On that date, the Reverend Daniel A. Sweet purchased 16.5 acres of land from Elijah Angell.1 Elijah Angell owned the land that is presently the headquarters of the Johnston Historical society and on which sits the Graniteville Fire Station. It is possible that the Reverend Sweet became gravely ill in the spring of 1861, for on May of that year he provided a life tenancy for his wife on a roughly 4 acre parcel of land.2 In that document he also left to his wife, Mary, his dwelling house, out buildings, another dwelling house, and a blacksmith shop. Reverend Sweet died on June 28, 1861 at 57 years of age. When his wife, Mary A. Sweet, died on January 16, 1885 at the age of eighty, she left no will. The 4 acre parcel she owned was to be divided up amongst her three surviving daughters—Eliza A. Jencks, Mary A. Burrows, and Lydia F. Mathewson. On May 29, 1886, a plat map was drawn up and the parcel was divided. Lydia Mathewson received the lot of land along present-day Mathewson Street. This adjoined another lot of land she had acquired in 1864.3 Lydia was married to James A. Mathewson. It seems that they had only one child, Cassius S. Mathewson, who was born in 1863. James A. Mathewson died on December 8, 1875. Lydia remained in Johnston at least until 1886, but deed research indicates that by 1896 she was living in North Providence with her son, Cassius. The reason that Cassuis relocated to North Providence is that he became landlord of the Centredale Hotel, taking that position over from his father-in-law, James Barnes, on July 17, 1891. The hotel was built in 1824 by James Angell and remained in the possession of the Angell family until Cassius Mathewson bought the property in 1897.
After he purchased the hotel, Mr. Mathewson modernized and renovated the building. He built an addition, installed a steam heating plant and electric lights, and doubled the size of the barroom. He thoroughly renovated the rest of the tavern, with the exception of the dance hall, which retained much of the old-time flavor.4 The hotel was torn down in the early 20th century and on its site is Capitol Billiards at 2024 Smith Street.
Though Cassius and his mother, Lydia, were living in North Providence, they still retained ownership of their property in Johnston. On August 11, 1904, Lydia sold to her son, Cassius, a 6,400 sq. ft. lot of land, 290 ft. east of the Powder Mill Turnpike.5 This is the lot on which the house at 10 Mathewson Street now sits. Cassius Mathewson died of a heart attack on January 28, 1909 at age 46. His mother, Lydia, died on October 1, 1910 at 71 years of age.
As a post-script, many of the Mathewsons and Sweets are buried in the cemetery at the end of Mathewson Street. The cemetery is cared for by Mr. John Ladish, present owner of 10 Mathewson Street.
What of the house itself, though? As stated the parcel where the house is now located was owned by Cassius Mathewson, but we know that the house was moved to its present site. A story passed on to us by a former owner of the house, Ruth Burhoe, was that the house was won as the pay-off of a gambling debt and was moved to Johnston from the Greystone area of North Providence. This was quite a story, but some parts of it were confirmed during research. Florine L. Mathewson, wife of Cassius, died on December 21, 1917 at the age of 53. Her will indicates that she was living in Johnston at what would be 6 Mathewson Street. Since she and Cassius had no children, she left her property to her sister and brother. Her sister, Carrie I. Smith was given the house at 6 Mathewson Street. The house at 10 Mathewson Street was given to her brother, Nelson Barnes. Significantly, the house given to Nelson is referred to in the will as the "Greystone House." This confirms the story that 10 Mathewson Street was moved across the Woonasquatucket River from the Greystone area of North Providence. The story of the gambling debt is indeed interesting but cannot be confirmed. When was the house moved to Johnston? Most indications are that the move took place around 1904 or 1905. Recollections from local residents are that the house may have arrived in Johnston around the time that the Joseph Benn Mill was constructed in 1904. Backing up this date is the fact that Cassius Mathewson's tax bill increased by $300 from 1905 to 1906.
Since the house was built in North Providence¸ it was not possible to conduct detailed deed research. We have thus relied on a visual inspection and a look at area maps. An inspection of the house by Mr. Steven Tyson of the Architectural Preservation Group indicated that the house was in the style of the Federal period, possibly from around 1820. Recently, a check of maps and other sources by Louis McGowan has shed more light on the issue. An 1835 map of North Providence depicts what must have been three mill houses in Greystone, probably built about 1813 when the original mill was erected. Only two other houses appear in the village, the Richard Anthony House and the James Anthony House, both of which are still standing today. The three mill houses still appear on the 1895 Everts and Richards map of North Providence. A 1903 photograph at the Rhode Island Historical Society shows clearly two of the three mill houses. They very much resemble the Mathewson Street house. When the Joseph Benn Co. built their new mill in 1904, they soon either destroyed or moved these three houses, one of which we believe is now standing at 10 Mathewson Street.
The house was restored a few years ago by Don Jackson, son of longtime Society member, Bob Jackson and is now owned by Society members John and Pam Ladish.
Footnotes
Our Executive Board:
President: Louis McGowan
Vice President: Pat Macari
Treasurer: Dan Brown
Recording Sec.: Evelyn Beaumier
Corresponding Sec.: Mike Carroll
Trustee: Steve Merolla
Trustee: Everett Cogswell
Our Executive Board meets at 7:00 p.m. at our headquarters, the Farnum Angell House, 101 Putnam Pike, on the second to the last Wednesday of each month. All are welcome.
General Meetings are held the last Wednesday of each month, September through June, at the Graniteville Baptist Church, Serrel Sweet Road.
Our phone # is: 231-3380.
HELP US TO SAVE OUR PAST! REMEMBER THAT OUR MUSEUM WILL SOON BE IN OPERATION AND THAT WE NEED TO FILL IT WITH ARTIFACTS FROM JOHNSTON'S PAST. WE ARE LOOKING FOR PHOTOS, DOCUMENTS, ADVERTISING PIECES, MILK BOTTLES, ETC. WE NEED ALMOST ANYTHING THAT CAN BE IDENTIFIED AS COMING FROM JOHNSTON
Johnston Historical Society, 101 Putnam Pike, Johnston, RI 02919, (401) 231-3380, info@johnstonhistorical.org
Unless otherwise noted, all content is © 2006 Johnston Historical Society.
Posted May 2006