History of Towns and Villages of Kent County
PAWTUXET VILLAGE .—Only the eastern part of the town of Warwick was settled before King' Philip's war. Pawtuxet village lies in the northeastern part of what was formerly known as Old Warwick, although this term applies only to what is known as the Neck and its vicinity. The chief items of importance have already been noticed in the preceding chapter pertaining to this part of the town, but this village was the abode of William Arnold, Robert Coles, William Carpenter and Benedict Arnold, who in 1642placed themselves and their lands under the protection of Massachusetts and thereby became a source of anxiety and vexation to their neighbors at Shawomet. Pawtuxet is situated on the Old Warwick railroad, and is connected with Providence by a line of street cars. Since the addition of these conveniences it has grown to be a flourishing little suburban village with a regular quota of stores and other places of trade.
Seventy-five years ago Benington Arnold of Coventry came here and opened up a trade in a general way and for forty years thereafter continued a lively business. He died in1861, seventy-one years old. He purchased a lot of George Sheldon's heirs and built an addition to his store in 185S. His son and successor, Elisha S. Arnold, continued the business of his father and is still engaged in trade. He built his present store in 1860. He began business in 1858.
The Pawtuxet store was built by George H. Arnold in 1873. He conducted it for a number of years and it then passed into the hands of Chase & White, but after a few months the White brothers took it and own it yet. The drug store conducted by Luce & Duffy, later J. C. Luce & Co., is now operated by H. H. Barker, who took possession in 1887. C. M. Dow has lately opened a grocery store, and there are in addition the Boston shoe store, a meat market and one or two other smaller places of trade in the village.
There is at this point, but over the river in Providence county, a flourishing Baptist Society of which the Reverend Christie W. Burnham is pastor. He took charge of the church in 1882. Deacon Henry C. Budlong is superintendent of the Sabbath school, which is in a flourishing condition.
At this place manufacturing was very early attempted, and successfully prosecuted up to about the year 1876. Since this time the water power here has remained unemployed. Brown & Ives, before they purchased Lonsdale in 1825 very much desired Pawtuxet, and made a very liberal offer, which proposition was for some time entertained but was finally rejected.
ROCKY POINT.— This is one of the most beautiful and picturesque spots on the coast from Maine to Florida, and has grown in popularity during' the last thirty years. It early belonged to the Stafford family. Two daughters finally inherited it, of whom Mary married Thomas Holden, brother of John, and Phebe married a Mr. Lynn. About the year 1847 the former sold her portion to Captain Winslow for $1,200 and the latter sold hers to the same person a short time afterward for about the same price. Captain Winslow made some improvements in the property, but eventually sold it to Byron Sprague for $60,000. Mr. Sprague built the observatory and the spacious private dwelling house in 1865, making improvements costing some $300,000.
In 1869 it was bought by the American Steamboat Company, and they, as is understood, spent in still further improvements, during' the nine years ensuing, about $200,000more. In 1878 the Continental Steamboat Company purchased the place, with the purpose of conducting it in more splendid style, and rendering it more attractive than ever.
A conspicuous object, as one nears the massive rocks, which line the shore of the Point, is the Rocky Point Hotel, an imposing structure, three stories in height, very commodious, with a splendid prospect from its windows, and of sufficient capacity to accommodate three hundred boarders. It is a first class house in construction and appointments. Connected with the estate is a large, highly cultivated farm, from which the hotel obtains a full daily supply of fresh milk, butler, vegetables, pork, poultry and fruit.
Prominent among the numerous attractions at Rocky Point is the grand observatory. This rises to the height of two hundred and fifty feet above the sea level, has various stories or landing-floors reached by a good stairway, and from its summit a magnificent view is had of an enchanting landscape extending for many miles in every direction, and exhibiting scenery alike diversified and beautiful. The locality is adapted equally for the crowds of excursionists, who land by thousands on its wharf, and for those who seek rest and relaxation in the bracing atmosphere, and find here a temporary home.
Within the past few years real estate has taken a sudden rise in the vicinity, and many comfortable summer residences have been erected by persons living in Providence and elsewhere. The Warwick railroad was built and the ceremony of driving the last spike was performed December 3d, 1874, and the road opened for travel in July of 1877. The road is eight and fifty-two one hundredths miles in length, and connects Providence with Oakland Peach. Its cost completed was estimated at $200,000.
THE BUTTON WOODS.—This is a place of considerable historic interest. Here the old James Greene homestead, later owned by Henry Whitman Greene, a descendant of John Greene, Sr., was built and stood until some seventy years ago, and was then demolished. The present building, erected a few feet from the old one in 1687, was said to have been seven years in building. It was built by James, the son of the former. The mortar was made of shell lime, which was also burnt near by. A few rods from the building stands one of the ancient button wood trees, from which the place receives the familiar appellation of the Buttonwoods. This old tree measures near the ground seven feet in diameter.
In 1871 the Buttonwood Beach Association purchased of this estate and of others adjoining a large tract for seaside summer residences for $22,000. These grounds are located on Coweset bay, near its junction with the Narragansett, twelve miles south of Providence. They have been laid out with great care and skill into convenient house lots, with fine avenues and parks. A good hotel was built in 1872, at a cost of some $20,000, and other buildings have been erected for the accommodation of boarders, and many cottages have been built by individuals at an expense of from eight hundred to five thousand dollars each. The soil is remarkably dry, the ground is nearly level, slightly inclining to the shore and open to every breeze. There is more than a mile of beach, affording fine opportunities for bathing, unsurpassed by any place on the bay. It has excellent facilities for boating and fishing, also for pleasant drives. East Greenwich, which is in full view from the grounds, can be reached in thirty minutes. Rocky Point in the same time, and Oakland Beach in ten minutes by a ferry. The Buttonwoods are specially known for the very agreeable social intercourse among cottagers and guests.
On these grounds, about half a mile west from the hotel, are the "Old Buttonwoods." Here shore dinners have been served for half a century and more. It is probably the oldest shore resort on the bay. Many will remember the great clambake held there during the Harrison campaign, in 1840, when, with the clams, oxen were roasted whole.
The Buttonwoods is of easy and cheap access from Providence by railroad and steamboat several times each day. The place is known as a Baptist colony, yet all persons of good moral character are cordially welcomed. Religious services are held every Sunday during the season in a neat chapel; also a Sunday school and weekly prayer meeting. All who desire a cool, quiet and pleasant resting place during the hot summer months will be sure to find it here at very moderate expense. The constitution of the Buttonwood Beach Association requires that six out of its nine members shall be of the Baptist denomination.
James Greene, Sr., took up his residence at Potowomut upon lands that have continued in possession of his descendants, he married Deliverance Potter, daughter of Robert Potter, for his first wife, and Elizabeth Anthony, of Rhode Island, for his second, August 3d, 1665. He died April 27th, 1698, at the age of 71. His will devising his estate, and duly witnessed by Anne Greene, Pasco Whitford and William Nickols, bears the date March 22d, 1698.
His son James, residing at Nausocket, died March 12th, 1712, at the age of 52. His will is dated the day before his death; after committing his "soul unto ye hands of ye only True God, and Pressed Redeemer, Jesus Christ, in and through whom I hope to, obtain mercy and forgiveness of my manifold sins and Transgressions, and to be received by him into his everlastingkingdom." he provides that "his loving wife Mary Greene," shall have half of his house and farm during her life, which upon her decease was to go to his son James; the other half was given to his son Fones Greene, with legacies to his remaining seven children. Fones Greene died July 29th, I758, at the age of 67. He gave his "mansion house and the westernmost part of my homestead farm together with all the buildings" to his son James. Captain James Greene, the oldest of the six children of Fones, was a member of the Baptist church in Warwick for upward of sixty years.
The Warwick town farm consists of one hundred and eighty acres at the Buttonwoods, where the dependent people of the town are furnished a home. In June, 1883 Gardner B. Slocum took charge of this farm as superintendent for the town, and has since then filled this position. He was born in North Kingstown in 1832, where his father Joseph and his grandfather Joseph resided. He married Susan A. Sheffield, of Westerly. George W. and Silas E. Slocum, both heads of families, are their sons.
OAKLAND BEACH.— This place has become noted as a summer resort since the year 1873. The grounds comprise about one hundred and sixteen acres,with numerous shade-trees, and were well laid out, and furnished with a variety of attractions for excursionists. The hotel, built in 1873, is a commodious three-story building of sufficient capacity to accommodate one hundred boarders. The place is at the terminus of the Warwick railroad.
With Its various objects of attraction, the place has already succeeded in rivalling Rocky Point in the numbers that flock from every direction during the season to enjoy brief seasons of relaxation. The grounds have been tastefully laid out. An artificial pond, spanned by two rustic bridges, has been excavated, and winds gracefully about the grounds, supplied by water from the sea at high tide, over which a fleet of boats are constantly passing. Here, top, are the flying horses and the shooting galleries and the dizzy swings, etc., and that which seems to be the special attraction to many, the clam dinners, when scores of bushels of the bivalves, roasted upon the hot stones, find their way to the hungry mouths of the excursionists.
SHAWOMET BAPTIST CHURCH.—The earliest settlers of this town, viz.: John Greene, Richard Waterman, Francis Weston, Ezekiel Holliman, William Arnold, and Stukely Westcott, in 1639, in Providence, united with six others in church relations, and agreed to support in faith and practice the principles of Christ's doctrine. These six men were among the first settlers of the town, and from that time to this there has always been religious worship in the town.
Shawomet Baptist church is one of the earliest in the town. "In the spring of 1842 Reverend Jonathan E. Forbush commenced to labor here under the patronage of the R. I. Baptist State Convention. Some religious interest was awakened, and the statement of facts preliminary to the organization of the present church says there were some conversions and baptism. Into what church these converts were baptized is not stated. Doubtless not the 'old ' church here, which is represented as indeed old and ready to vanish away. Mr. Forbush's work was to establish something more vigorous and vital than that seemed to be.
"The first record of a meeting looking to a church organization is without date, but it was probably in September or October, 1842. Five brethren and eleven sisters met at the residence of John W. Greene. This meeting, besides consultation and prayer, appointed a committee of three to wait upon the Old Baptist Church and confer with them in reference to the proposed movement, and adjourned to November 2d, at same place.
"At the adjourned meeting the committee of conference with the'Old' Baptists reported—what, the record does not show, but it was unanimously resolved to push the church project: November 16th was set for the recognizing council, and the churches to be sent to were specified. A committee was appointed to report at an adjourned meeting, Articles of Faith. At that meeting, held November 9th, the committee reported the New Hampshire Articles, as then published, which were adopted. Two Sisters related their experience, and were received for baptism.
"November 16th, 1842, the Council assembled, as called, at the Old Warwick Baptist meeting house. The church was constituted with thirteen members, whose names follow: Rev. J. E. Forbush, (Pastor), Eliza H. Forbush, Benjamin Greene, Frances Greene, John Holden, Hester B. Holden, Welthy Potter, Sarah Potter Greene, Sally Greene, Elizabeth Stafford, Waite Lippitt Greene, Sally Holden Low, Sally Low Holden. At the first meeting of the recognized church, Benjamin Greene was chosen deacon, and John Holden clerk."
In March, 1845, Mr. Forbush closed his labors as pastor, removing to Westminster, Mass. Reverend Alfred Colburn succeeded Mr. Forbush and remained three years from October, 1845. In April, 1848, John W. Greene was elected clerk and remained in charge of the church books until April, 1873, since which time the pastor has served as clerk. After a vacancy of a year and a half, in April 1850, Reverend George A. Willard commenced his pastorate, closing in 1850. Then came Reverend Henry G. Stewart, from March, 1860, for about three years; E. Hayden Watrous, from March, 1864, two years: Charles H. Hau, one year; J. Torrey Smith, 1868. He remained fourteen years, and in 1888 Reverend S. E. Frohock, the present pastor, came. The present membership of the church is not large, but the church has energy and enterprise.
APPONAUG and COWESET SHORE.—No permanent settlement was made in this part of Warwick until 1696, when John Micarter, of Providence, erected his fulling mill on Kickemuit brook. There is reference in the early records of 1663, to "Aponahock " and later to "Aponake." The word in the Indian tongue signifies. "an oyster." Williams writes it "Opponenauhack." Apponaug Cove in former times was much deeper than now. An arm of the cove that extends up in the rear of where formerly stood the old Baptist meeting house is known by the name of Paw Paw Cove. Sloopsof fifteen tons burden found no difficulty in those earlier times in entering the cove and landing at the wharf of Jacob Greene & Co.
Business was established here in June. 1796, when John Stafford erected a mill for the grinding of corn and other grains at or near the bridge: the grant being driven by an act of the general assembly which provided that the "mill dam be made and erected with suitable waste gates for venting the superfluous water, and in such a manner as not to back the water or otherwise injure the mills of "Mr. Caleb Greene," and also provided "that the said John Stafford shall make and leave open at all proper times a suitable passage not less than sixteen feet wide in the said dam for the passage of rafts and boats up."
It was followed by a cotton mill, run by a company, of which Captain Caleb Greene, father of Mr. Albert D. Greene, was the agent. The mill was of three stories, shingled on all sides, and remained until about the time the Print works went into operation. There was also a saw and grist mill in operation near by, for some years, fust in the rear of Mr. Benjamin Vaughn's house, was a small building used for the carding of wool, which was brought in by the neighboring farmers, and when carded was carried home and spun for use. It was run a part of the time by a Mr. Manchester, and also by the Wilburs. Mr. Wilbur, father of the late Colonel Peleg Wilbur, of Washington village, had a store in the village in the year 1800 and afterward, in which he sold dry and West India goods, and in one part was kept the usual supply of New England rum. It is said there were not less than seven of these variety stores at one time, and several taverns, all of which kept liquor for sale at retail. The old Wilbur house still stands on the east side of the street, leading toward Greenwich. Jacob Greene, brother of General Nathaniel Greene, had a store out in the water, off against Mrs. Remington's lot, for convenience, perhaps in unlading merchandise from the sloops that entered the harbor. The water surrounded it. One of the oldest houses, and perhaps the first framed house in the village, stands next north of Mr. Atwood's hotel.
Early in the present century, sloops and schooners were built here, and one ship is remembered as also having been built. Trade was carried on with neighboring ports to a considerable extent. Jacob Greene & Co. here shipped their anchors from their forge in Coventry, and received their coal and black sand.
On two of the four corners in the heart of the village were hotels or taverns, on the southeast a blacksmith shop occupied by Gideon Congdon who died very suddenly, and on the south was the old house in which Samuel Greene, son of Deputy Governor John Greene, lived. Samuel Greene married a daughter of Benjamin Gorton, one of the sons of Samuel Gorton, senior. He afterward purchased of Samuel Gorton, jr., the house which the latter erected, now occupied by ex-Lieutenant Governor William Greene. His son, Governor William Greene, resided on the estate purchased of Gorton. One of the ancient houses of the place stood on the site of the present residence of Elisha, son of Daniel Brown. It was near tlie railway station and was a one story building. The present residence was built nearly a century ago by Nathaniel and James Stone, and was subsequently purchased by Joseph Prown, grandfather of the present owner.
In the chambers of Captain Brown's house lived Caleb Arnold for a while, and there his son John B. Arnold of Centreville (now dead) was born. Joseph Arnold, brother of Caleb, was a revolutionary soldier and drew a pension as a major to the close of his life. He owned the house next to the hotel in Apponaug.
Colonel Thomas Westcott, a descendant of one of the founders of the town, was a man of some prominence in the early part of the century. He was sheriff of Kent county and at one time a general of the militia.
One of the noted residents of the village, and whose influence extended beyond its limits, was Charles Brayton, for many years clerk of the town, and from May, 1814, to May, 1818, an associate judge of the supreme court. He was subsequently chosen to the same position in 1827 and remained several years. His father, Daniel Brayton, was a blacksmith and removed from Old Warwick. He removed his shop from Old Warwick to Apponaug, to near the spot where his son, the Hon. William D. Brayton, formerly a member of congress, resided (He died in 1887). Hon. George A. Brayton, late chief justice of the supreme court, is also one of his sons. The latter was elected associate justice in 1843, remaining in that position until 1868, when he was elected chief, and remained in that position until 1874. He is a graduate of Brown University, class of 1824.
The old building on the southwest corner of the square was erected by Samuel Greene in 1825 for a residence. His grandfather was Samuel Greene, and father Christopher Greene. Samuel Greene married Penelope Gardiner of Wickford in 1816. He lived there until 1865, when the house passed into the hands of his nephews, who now own it.The corner room of this house was formerly used for a grocery store, and for the past twelve years for a millinery and dry goods store.
Mr. O. P. Fuller, B. A., in his excellent history of Warwick, speaking of some of the old residences and important personages in this part of the town, says:
"In reaching this point we have passed the palatial residence of Amasa Sprague, Esq., at the old Ladd watering-place, the most costly dwelling house, probably, in the town: with its extensive and beautiful lawns and shrubbery. To the"southward and not far from the site of the old Indian burial ground, is the pleasant residence of the late Deacon Moses Wightman, formerly owned and occupied by the late Reverend Doctor Crane and long known as the Oliver Gardiner house. On the hill the massive stone dwelling house of Alfred A. Read. Esq., lying, in architectural beauty, with the Sprague house, to the northward, and overlooking Narragansctt Bay and the surrounding country. On the corner of Division street and the road leading to Apponaug is an old house occupied during the first decade of the present century and for many years by John Mawney, who was postmaster for many years in the adjoining village.
"The old cozy mansion, the residence of Ex-Lieut.-Gov. Wm. Greene, is one of the historic houses of the town. The original or southeastern portion was built about the year 1685, by Samuel Gorton. Jr., whose father was one of the twelve original purchasers of the town lands. It lays no claim to architectural beauty. The old colonial style of architecture, as indicated by the few dwelling houses still preserved, was one in which the owner studied carefully his means and his necessities rather than the development of his architectural taste. Built, usually, of the best timber of the surrounding forests, it became not only the quiet home of his family in times of peace, but also his castle in seasons of danger. As his family increased and more room was demanded, an addition was built on some convenient side, or another story was added. Sometimes, as in the present case, where no lack of means prevented the removal of the old building ami the erection of one of modern structure and elegance, a no less serious obstacle intervened. The old house, limited in capacity and homely in appearance, had become sacred to its possessor by the many time-hallowed associations connected with it. It was the home of his ancestors long since gone to their rest. Within its venerable walls he first lisped his mother's name, and no other dwelling, however convenient or elegant, would ever seem so much like home to him. From such considerations the old dwelling was allowed to remain; subject, however, to such modifications as the necessities of the occupants demanded. The building fronts to the south.
"The large stone chimney in the centre of the building belonged to the original pari and was built according to the custom of the times, half out of doors, having been enclosed when the addition was made on the west side at a subsequent date. The one on the eastern end has been taken down since the photograph from which the engraving was taken was procured, and extensive additions have been made in the rear. The front, however, still retains its ancient form. Some interior modifications have also been made. The old grandfalherly tire-places, in whose cozy corners children half grown could stand erect and look upward at night and count the stars, with the well polished brass fire dogs reflecting their faces in grotesque shapes, have been superseded by modern inventions. There is still preserved, however, an air of the olden time, in the low studded rooms, the heavy oaken beams, here and there protruding from the walls and ceiling, the figured porcelain tiles about the fire-places, and various arrangements for comfort or ornament, that would not fail to attract the curiosity of the visitor.The small building in front, enclosed partly in lattice work, was built for a well-curb in 1794. On its apex is a gilded weathercock, which from its low and protracted position must have been in a chronic state of uncertainlv as to which way the wind blew.
Source: History of Washington and Kent Counties, RI, Transcribed by C. Anthony
