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RI
National Register Properties
Official Woonsocket Website
Official State Research on Woonsocket & Its Assets
Magnificent Woonsocket
Old Photos
Boston
Globe article on Woonsocket
Big plans for French Worsted
Woonsocket, RI is best known in
the “Ocean State” for its wonderful French-Canadian immigrant connections, and
since the mid 1990’s as a growing destination for lively arts and entertainment
respected throughout Southern New England.
Woonsocket, the Indian name for
"thundermist", has a long and interesting history. The area known as Woonsocket
was first settled in the late 17th Century. The early settlers farmed the land
and utilized the power of the Woonsocket Falls. The City's abundant water power
was a significant factor in determining the development of Woonsocket, which was
mainly industrial.
From the time it was first
settled until nearly a hundred years later, Woonsocket was a quiet backwoods
region inhabited by Quaker farmers and millers. The city was noted as a
centrally located stop connecting Boston, Worcester, Connecticut and Providence.
The peaceful serenity of this early New England community soon changed. Between
1810 and 1830, six manufacturing villages sprang up.
In 1888, the cluster of mill
villages that were once part of North Smithfield, Lincoln and Cumberland became
the present day city as we know it. By the late 1800’s-early 1900’s new settlers
arrived from surrounding towns, Europe, and large numbers of French Canadians.
In a short time Woonsocket became a bustling, industrial and ethnically diverse
community.
While manufacturing continues to
remain an active sector of Woonsocket's economy, the city has become a center
for business development and residences. Most notably, over the last decade, the
city has transformed its old downtown area into a vibrant Arts & Entertainment
District. Along Main Street, from Monument Square westerly to Market Square,
visitors can experience live performing arts, jazz concerts, art galleries and a
museum interpreting the city’s proud Franco-Canadian ethnicity.
The city’s website at
www.ci.woonsocket.ri.us and Woonsocket City Hall, at 169 Main Street,
telephone 401-762-6400, can provide more details on the municipality.
More recently, Woonsocket has transformed itself
over the last decade, with its old downtown revitalized into an active Arts &
Entertainment District. Along Main Street, from Monument Square westerly to
Market Square, residents and visitors can experience live performing arts, jazz
concerts, art galleries and a museum interpreting the city’s proud
Franco-Canadian ethnicity.
---------------------------
The six mill villages of Woonsocket Falls, Bernon,
Jenckesville, Hamlet, Social and Globe came together to incorporate as
Woonsocket in 1888 as an industrial center driven by textile manufacturing
powered by the prolific water resources of the Blackstone River.
Woonsocket's Thundermist Falls are now flanked with flood control devices after a 1955
flood destroyed a major portion of Woonsocket and all but three of
its bridges. The Riverboat, the Explorer, is sometimes
docked right above these falls and at other times, it is docked at Central
Falls. The roar of the Falls, located right at Market Square, is a powerful
reminder of the water power utilized by so many mills along the Blackstone
River. Market Square is home to the historic and captivating Museum of Work and Culture
depicting the French influence in the area and the lovely Yarn Falls stone mill,
now turned into a flower shop and other space.
Seven Roman Catholic churches have a long and profound history within
Woonsocket. Precious Blood, is the oldest church, built in 1874 and rebuilt in
1881 after hurricane gales destroyed the first structure. St. Ann's,
although closed, has nationally recognized fresco paintings of high
significance. St. Ann's, however, has incredible frescoes and stained glass
windows that are unparalleled in the region.
The earliest white settler of Woonsocket was the Richard
Arnold family who established a
grist mill near the exciting Thundermist Falls in the Market Square area of Woonsocket in the 1660s. Nipmucs,
Wampanoaags and Narragansett Indians were inhabitants prior to the first white
settlers.
The Irish were the first major group of immigrants to cluster to Woonsocket as they worked on
the Blackstone
canal being built between 1825-28. The historic 1827 Lyman-Arnold Power Trench
can be easily sited along Main Street as it passes under the Hanorah Lippitt
affordable housing units for the elderly which were renovated from an old mill. Woonsocket became a thriving hub of activity even as
the canal was replaced with the Providence and Worcester railroad in 1847.
Woonsocket was right in the center point of the trips from Worcester to
Providence and back. Goods and even some people were arriving and departing
consistently. This thriving hub drew a huge French-Canadian influx of
immigrants for mill workers and for a long time, was the most French speaking
community in the Nation.
Mills utilized the water power and the continued demand for labor brought in thousands
of French Canadians. Mill owners were drawn by tax incentives and Joseph
Banigan, an Irish immigrant, started a rubber factory which turned into the
largest rubber goods factory in the world by 1889 becoming US Rubber.
There are several Historic Districts in Woonsocket
which include:
Cato Hill Historic District on
RI
44, Woonsocket, RI
Island Place Historic District,
Island
Place and S. Main St. at Market Sq., Woonsocket, RI
Main Street Historic District, Roughly,
Main St. E of Market Sq. to Depot Sq.
Woonsocket, RI
North End Historic District,
Roughly
bounded by Verry, Highland, Winter, and Summer Sts.
Woonsocket, RI
There is now an influence of Colombians and Vietnamese, yet the French still
dominate the population. There are several city parks which lure you into a
rural feeling, including the Cold
Spring Park with its historical past and the WWII
Memorial State Park. More parks are summarized on Erik Ekilson's Woonsocket website.
The Main Street was once hub of three major banks,
which all fell under the Banking Crisis of Rhode Island in 1987.
A Few Postcards from Woonsocket's
Past
Facts:
Woonsocket
RI - formerly, a leading manufacturing center and
Miswosakit, the steep hill that gave Woonsocket its name
between North Smithfield and Cumberland
N Smithfield lands bought in 1662 from Nipmucks
Richard and John Arnold - first white settlers (sons of Thomas Arnold, a friend
of Roger Williams)
1666 Richard Arnold built a sawmill near Woonsocket Falls - only structure in
area for 29 years
brotehr built a house in 1695 at corner of Coe and Providence Streets
(presently) - house detsroyed but 1712 house still standing there
in 18th c - agricultural settlement began
1720 - Quakers (from the Cross Roads aka Union Village) built a forge to
mfr agricultural tools for neighboring farmers
manufacturing pre-eminence started in 1810 with Social Manufacturing
Company - adjacent to Mill River
Ariel, Abner, Nathan Ballou and Luke and Job Jenckes, Eben Bartlett, Jospeh
Arnold incorporated
1840 Edward Harris - leader in cultural influences - built factory for spinning
and weaving of wools
1860 - another Harris mill - finest mill of its kind on country
attracted foreign investment in woolen mills
manufactures of machines and tools for the textile mills became 2ndary industry
immigrants from Ireland and England - started arriving in early 19th c - then
Poles, Lithuanians, Russians, eastern Europeans, French-Canadians
La Surviavance - cohesive culture
six mill villages (Globe, Bernon, etc) fought to keep tax revenues, but finally
city incorpoarted in 1888.
Free public library, theatre hosted repertory companies, tremendous cultural
achievements, free education in literacy
Woonsocket Company Mill, 100-125 Front Street - aesthetics over production in
style, Greek Revival style , moderate sized cotton mill
Church of the Precious Blood, Park and Carrington avenues. Red brick, gabled
roof - 1880 Victorian Gothic style, design of WF Fontaine and Sons. One of many
built by French-Canadians.
Harris Institute / Woonsocket City Hall - 169 Main Street, three story bldg
built in 1855-58 originally had cast iron front on first story / altered
in 1891 when facade was moved forward and plate glass added, also Romanesqu wing
in HH Richardson style added on North (system of piers and arches) Rennaissance
or Romanesque architecture
1st story - for stores 2nd level - for sunday school (not religious
but literacy on their days off), Harris Public Library - one of first free
public libraries in state
Harris Hall 3rd floor - seated 1000 people - used ofr lectures (entertainment
form for 19th c.)
March 6, 1860 Abraham Lincoln delievred a speech - building only one in state
left where Lincoln spoke. Most important bldg in Woonsocket
Edward Harris - brought in railroad, donated first high school, laid out new
streets and residential districts
Woonsocket Opera House - 37-45 North Main Street (destroyed by fire in 1970s) -
1888 largest theatre in RI at time, built by 12 civic minded Woonsocket
buisnessmen and designed by Willard Kent, superintendent of local water works
and civil engineer
Scene from Woonsocket's Museum of Work and Culture
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