Pawtuxet Village
Encyclopedia
Pawtuxet Village is a section of the town
s of Warwick
and Cranston
, Rhode Island
. It is located at the point where the Pawtuxet River
flows into the Providence River
and Narragansett Bay
.
purchased the property extending south from Providence to the Pawtuxet River. Shortly thereafter his followers; William Arnold
, William Harris, William Carpenter, and Zachariah Rhodes, settled along the fertile meadows of the Pawtuxet. Meanwhile, Samuel Gorton
, the founder of Warwick, purchased the land south of the Pawtuxet River.
Early 18th century inhabitants took advantage of the power of the Pawtuxet River by constructing various mills, and took advantage of its excellent harbor by building one of America's premiere shipping ports. The Pawtuxet Village Historic District boasts dozens of preserved Colonial structures among its scenic blend of homes and buildings. The mouth of the Pawtuxet River was a strategic location to settle, and gave boats a safe harbor and the village considerable importance in the triangular trade of the day, and shipyards for the coastal and West Indies trade were located here.
It was here in 1772 where Rhode Island patriots took the first organized military action towards independence by attacking and burning
the hated British revenue schooner, . This was America's "First Blow for Freedom" that led directly to the establishment of permanent Committees of Correspondence, unifying the individual colonies, and starting the process of the American Revolution
. The cities of Cranston and Warwick celebrate this historic role of Pawtuxet Village by playing host to the annual Gaspee Days Parade each June.
During the early 19th century Christopher and William Rhodes formed the textile manufacturing firm which controlled the prosperity and swayed the destiny of Pawtuxet for more than half a century. It changed from a shipping port to a mill village
with textile mills at either end of the Pawtuxet Falls.
In the late 19th century, the Rhodes family developed one of Rhode Island's top attractions, the famous Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet casino
, dance hall, and canoe center. Trolley
lines from Providence
carried vast numbers to the Pawtuxet area for a day of family fun and relaxation. Area merchants prospered, and to this day, Pawtuxet Village remains a central focal point in the lives of the surrounding population.
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
s of Warwick
Warwick, Rhode Island
Warwick is a city in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. It is the second largest city in the state, with a population of 82,672 at the 2010 census. Its mayor has been Scott Avedisian since 2000...
and Cranston
Cranston, Rhode Island
Cranston, once known as Pawtuxet, is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. With a population of 80,387 at the 2010 census, it is the third largest city in the state. The center of population of Rhode Island is located in Cranston...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. It is located at the point where the Pawtuxet River
Pawtuxet River
The Pawtuxet River is a river in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It flows and drains a watershed of . There are four dams along the river's length.-Course:...
flows into the Providence River
Providence River
thumb|The city of Providence as seen from the Providence River at its confluence with the Narragansett BayThe Providence River is a tidal river in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It flows approximately 8 miles...
and Narragansett Bay
Narragansett Bay
Narragansett Bay is a bay and estuary on the north side of Rhode Island Sound. Covering 147 mi2 , the Bay forms New England's largest estuary, which functions as an expansive natural harbor, and includes a small archipelago...
.
History
Pawtuxet means "Little Falls" in the native language, and this area was originally occupied by the members of the Sononoce Pawtuxet tribe, part of the larger Narragansett Indian nation, who used the area as a feasting ground. In 1638, Rhode Island founder Roger WilliamsRoger Williams (theologian)
Roger Williams was an English Protestant theologian who was an early proponent of religious freedom and the separation of church and state. In 1636, he began the colony of Providence Plantation, which provided a refuge for religious minorities. Williams started the first Baptist church in America,...
purchased the property extending south from Providence to the Pawtuxet River. Shortly thereafter his followers; William Arnold
William Arnold
William Arnold was one of the founding settlers of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and with his sons was among the wealthiest people in the colony. He was raised and educated in England where he was the warden of St. Mary's, the parish church of Ilchester in southeastern...
, William Harris, William Carpenter, and Zachariah Rhodes, settled along the fertile meadows of the Pawtuxet. Meanwhile, Samuel Gorton
Samuel Gorton
Samuel Gorton , was an early settler and civic leader of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations and President of the towns of Providence and Warwick for one term...
, the founder of Warwick, purchased the land south of the Pawtuxet River.
Early 18th century inhabitants took advantage of the power of the Pawtuxet River by constructing various mills, and took advantage of its excellent harbor by building one of America's premiere shipping ports. The Pawtuxet Village Historic District boasts dozens of preserved Colonial structures among its scenic blend of homes and buildings. The mouth of the Pawtuxet River was a strategic location to settle, and gave boats a safe harbor and the village considerable importance in the triangular trade of the day, and shipyards for the coastal and West Indies trade were located here.
It was here in 1772 where Rhode Island patriots took the first organized military action towards independence by attacking and burning
Gaspée Affair
The Gaspée Affair was a significant event in the lead-up to the American Revolution. The HMS Gaspée, a British customs schooner that had been enforcing unpopular trade regulations, ran aground in shallow water on June 9, 1772, near what is now known as Gaspee Point in the city of Warwick, Rhode...
the hated British revenue schooner, . This was America's "First Blow for Freedom" that led directly to the establishment of permanent Committees of Correspondence, unifying the individual colonies, and starting the process of the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. The cities of Cranston and Warwick celebrate this historic role of Pawtuxet Village by playing host to the annual Gaspee Days Parade each June.
During the early 19th century Christopher and William Rhodes formed the textile manufacturing firm which controlled the prosperity and swayed the destiny of Pawtuxet for more than half a century. It changed from a shipping port to a mill village
Mill Village
Mill Village may refer to:* Mill village, a settlement that developed around one or more mills or factories* Mill Village, Nova Scotia, Canada* Mill Village, Pennsylvania, United States-See also:* Mooresville Mill Village* Pepper Mill Village...
with textile mills at either end of the Pawtuxet Falls.
In the late 19th century, the Rhodes family developed one of Rhode Island's top attractions, the famous Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
, dance hall, and canoe center. Trolley
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
lines from Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
carried vast numbers to the Pawtuxet area for a day of family fun and relaxation. Area merchants prospered, and to this day, Pawtuxet Village remains a central focal point in the lives of the surrounding population.