Historic Places in Chepachet

In western R.I. at the crossroads of Rtes 44 & 102 lies the granite, rolling landscape of charming Chepachet. Historic Chepachet was founded in the early 1700s when descendants of Providence Plantations' English Dissenters came to this distant wilderness. Often known as Seekers or Friends, and sometimes as Separatists or the New Lights, sought to worship simply and freely. This strong sense of independence and justice was recognized nationally during the Dorr Rebellion in 1842 when gunfire ripped through the historic Inn (presently the Stagecoach Inn) as the battle for expanded voter rights was waged against the entrenched Providence landowners.

Many of the first settler homes remain as one-story modest clapboards throughout the village. As grist mills, saw mills and blacksmith shops were established, the Great Country Road (aka Rte 44, Putnam Pike) was laid out in 1731 from Providence to Woodstock, Ct.. By 1773, Snake Hill Road to Providence was used.  A grist mill, built in 1767 by Anson Winsor, and still inoperation until 1951 can still be seen today!

Chepachet boasts several streams and brooks and the Chepachet River runs under the Main Street's bridge.Main Street is filled with antique shops and reminders of Betty the Elephant, the precursor of the traveling circus elephant who was shot and killed after escaping int he area.  By 1750, a paper mill was being operated int he village by John Waterman. By the late 18th century, Daniel Owens was running a triphammer, operated by water power, after he found iron ore on his farm. This triphammer pounded iron into farm tools and implements, including horse shoes, wheel rims, plows, harrows. He established commerce with England for these tools.  Farming was the major source of income, though limited by the soil.

By the late 1700s, a hat factory and tannery were established. By 1800, a mill pressing cotton seed was built and then, a woolen mill was established along the River. Commercial activity flourished, banks opened and by 1805, six large hotels kept busy and a post office was opened. Eventually, farming and manufacturing declined when the Woonasquatucket Railroad, built in 1873, bypassed the village, favoring mills along larger rivers instead.

Chepachet still remains a historic and architectural treasure as time seems frozen visually along Main Street. Some of these assets are:

Acote Hill, Rte 44, seen before entering the village. Site of Chepachet Cemetery containing graves of many Civil War veterans. In 1842, this hill was the site of the final Dorr Rebellion battle. On June 28, 1842, Governor Samuel Ward King sent a force of militia men to uphold the elected government legitimacy to confront the rebellious Dorrites. Only a cow was killed.

Brown and Hopkins is the longest continuously operated country store in the United States! Built in 1799, , this building was initially run as a hat factory by Benjamin Cozzens, but since 1805, this two and a half story gabled roof structure has been filled with foods and unique items.  The Job Armstrong store, now home to the Chepachet Heritage Society, next door to the Brown & Hopkins general store, was built in 1800.  The Stagecoach Tavern, built in 1800, was for many decades the central social focus of the village where visitors and commercial activity blended with residents. As the turnpike between Providence and Connecticut was built, Chepachet was flourishing commercially, so additions were added several times duringt he 19th century. Most famously, this tavern was the headquarters of Thomas Wilson Dorr, the young politician-lawyer of a prominent Providence family, who led the good fight for broadened voting rights beyond just landowners under the archaic charter of 1663.

In 1841, the People's Party was established and held a covention to draw up a constituion promising universal white male suffrage. Although the legitimate government declared this illegal, Dorr was inaugurated as the People's governor on May 3, 1842.  The existing governor, Samuel King, now was confronted with a second governor in the smallest state in the Nation! On May 17th, the Dorrites raided the armory in Providence, yet their rusty artillery, captured fromt he British in 1777,  failed to fire. Many Dorrites and supporters were arrested, but Dorr escaped and fled to Chepachet.  A military council was called and nearly 700 supporters gathered food and brought cannons from Woonsocket Falls. But by the time Dorr arrived, only about 50 men remained. Crude fortifications were built on Acote Hill with good views of approaching militia sent by Governor King. Dorr sensed that violence was not generally accepted by his supporters and finally surrounded to spend a year in jail. However, his reforms proved worthy about  five months later as a new constitution was adopted.

Other Points of Interest:

Chepachet Union Church - Rte 44 west side - built in 1846, this Greek Revival style has a portico resting on four fluted Doric columns. In 1938, the top story of the steeple was forever lost in the Hurricane.

Jeremiah Sheldon House - Rte 44 west side. In 1790, this gable roof house was built for Captain Israel Inman who ran it as an Inn. Ten years later, the owner was Simeon Sweet and by 1833, this Inn was known as the Jeremiah Sheldon House. In 1842, many of the Dorr rebels were housed here and a window still has the name of a Dorr follwer etched in it. A handsome doorway was added to enhance this stylish structure.

Sayles House - Rte 44, west side. Built in 1860, this house was owned by Leonard Sayles a decade later and then his brother, Henry Sayles by 1895. These brothers were capital owners of the Smith and Sayles Mill which manufactured woolen twill. The structure is of Italian Villa style, quickly becoming popular at the time with its symmetry and heavily bracketed cornice.  There are few Victorian houses in Chepachet as the economy was declining when this architectural era gained prominence in New England.

The Masonic Hall - Rte 44, east side. This attractive Federal style structure, erected in 1802, was used as a lodge upstairs while the main floor housed the Farmer's Exchange Bank. This was the first bank to open in the village, though its life was short running only from 1804-9. A dentilled cornice, large proportions, quoins add elegance to this building along with its tall doorway and fanlight.

Elephant Bridge, Main Street, Chepachet. During the period that tourists and commercial businessmen gathered in Chepachet with its six hotels, it was also a center of entertainment and social activity. In 1826, Mr Titus brought "the first genuine jungle elephant" to town, only to have her escape and sadly, be shot and killed as she roamed throughout the village. Though she could have been captured and lived, a local was trying to disprove the claim that "nothing could pierce the side of this great beast".

Central Hotel, Franklin Bank- Rte 44, east side. These buildings were erected around 1800 and demonstrate the modest architecture found throughout much of the village. Porches were added towards the end of the 19th century.

Kimball House, Rte 44 east side. The oldest house in Chepachet Village demonstrates a slanted chimney with a pyramid cone marking in this 2 ½ story house. Built in 1750, it was owned by Asa Kimball in 1790 who was a colonel in the American Revolution.

Chepachet Free Will Baptist Church, Rte 44 east side. Constructed in 1821 by Clark Sayles, this church represents two architectural styles with its double pediments, three arched doorways, steeple. The mix of Greek Revival and classic reminder of Providence's Baptist Meeting House is interesting.

The Doctor Albert Potter House - Rte 102, east side at junction with Rte 100 was built around 1830 in the traditional Greek Revival style. It is an attractive structure.  Many other homes found along back streets of Chepachet are also aesthetically pleasing in their Greek Revival, some adding slight Victorian elements in later years.

Chepachet Pound - Rte 102, south. This stone wall, placed in an irregular triangle shape was the site of captured animals or Chepachet's animal pound. Owners would have to pay a fee to release their animal(s).

BROWN & HOPKINS COUNTRY STORE
1179 Putnam Pike (Rte 44), Chepachet, RI  401-568-4830  fax: 401-568-4820
Contact: Liz McIntyre Email address: brownandhopkins@aol.com
Website: www.brownandhopkins.com

Visit the oldest country store in continuous operation in the United States, erected in 1799. Browse our two floors and discover wonderful gifts for yourself, friends and family. Candles, quilts, Old World Christmas ornaments, framed prints, and more! Of course, you’ll still find old fashioned candy (still some for just a penny!), gourmet specialties from Stonewall Kitchen, Vermont cheddar cheese, yard goods and an assortment of antiques.

THE OLD POST OFFICE ANTIQUES
1178 Putman Pike (RT 44), Chepachet, RI 401-568-1795
Contact: Jere Henault

STAGECOACH TAVERN
1157 Putman Pike, Chepachet, RI 02814
Contact: Domenic Iacone

The remnants of the original structure show at the rear of the building. By the time of the Dorr Rebellion in 1842, the building was known as Jedediah Sprague's Tavern. 401-568-2275

OLD STONE MILL
1191 Main Street, Rt. 44, Chepachet, RI 02814 401-568-6662 / 401-261-6555
Contact: Amy & Claudio Mara Email address: amy@stonemillantiques.com
Website: www.stonemillantiques.com

The building constructed by Lawton Owen that was originally used as a store by several succeeding owners over the years. The building was added to until it eventually grew to three times its original length, and was used as a textile mill until 1969.

JOB ARMSTRONG STORE
1181 Main Street Chepachet RI 02814 Glocester Heritage Society Headquarters 401-568-8967
Contact: Edna Kent Email address: kenthist@earthlink.net
Website: www.glocesterheritagesociety.org

Visit one of the largest of the thirteen dry goods and grocery stores in Rhode Island. It is now the Headquarters of the Glocester Heritage Society, and includes a Visitor Center and Living Museum with artisans demonstrating the crafts of their ancestors – spinning, weaving, quilting, and rug hooking. Crafts are on sale in this restored country store.

FREEWILL BAPTIST CHURCH
1213 Putnam Pike (West), Chepachet, RI 02814 401-568-3771, 401-568-4351
Contact: Kathryn Steere Email address: kates832@aol.com
Website: chepachetfreewill.org

The Newport Artillery was billeted here during the Dorr Rebellion in 1842, and Old Home Days began there in 1903.

GLOCESTER HISTORICAL SOCIETY’S WALKING TOUR
Glocester Town Hall. Meet at 1145 Putnam Pike, corner of RT 44 and Douglas Hook Road 401-568-8967 fax: 401-568-3371 or 401-568-5757
Contact: Edna Kent Email address: kenthist@earthlink.net
Website: www.glocesterhistorian.com

Job Armstrong Store, Town Trader, Evans School House, Glocester Light Infantry Armory, and more!!

DR. REUBEN MASON HOUSE & FUTURE DORR REBELLION MUSEUM
1043 Putnam Pike, Chepachet, 02814. Adjacent to Acote’s Hill (site of the final act of the Dorr Rebellion) 401-568-8967  fax: 401-568-3371 or 401-568-5757
Contact: Edna Kent Email address: kenthist@earthlink.net
Website: www.glocesterhistorian.com

Tour of the interior of c.1747 colonial house before restoration.  An ongoing restoration will be done by the Glocester Heritage Society.