Wakefield, Rhode Island
Encyclopedia
Wakefield is a village in the town
of South Kingstown
, Rhode Island
, and the commercial center of the town. Together with the village of Peace Dale
, it is treated by the U.S. Census as a component of the census designated place identified as Wakefield-Peacedale, Rhode Island
. South Kingston was the traditional county seat of Washington County. Since 1991, the Washington County Courthouse has been in Wakefield. The Sheriffs Office which handles corrections is also in Wakefield.
The Wakefield village center along Main Street (old Boston Post Road
) between Belmont Avenue and Columbia Street was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1996 as Wakefield Historic District. The district is significant for being an early commercial and industrial center. The district includes 53 properties over an area of 400 acres (1.6 km²) and also includes Kenyon's Department Store
, which is separately listed on the National Register.
and the old Post Road
, which was laid out early in the 18th century. Settlement began in the early 18th century with establishment of a small mill on the Saugatucket River. A tavern
and stagecoach
stop were established in 1745 and a snuff
mill was built around 1765. The textile industry began to become an important source of economic activity in 1807 when a carding mill
was established on the Saugatucket River. By 1822, the village had about 60 residents and consisted of nine houses, a store, the carding mill, a grist mill, a saw mill, and a blacksmith
shop. A Baptist
church was built in 1830 and an Episcopal
church followed in 1840.
The local textile mill continued to operate and expand through the 19th century, but in the mid-century, as nearby Peace Dale grew as a manufacturing center and factories were established in other water power sites in the area, Wakefield became the commercial center of South Kingstown. It underwent considerable growth in the 1840s, including the development of some major retail stores. A Roman Catholic priest was assigned to Wakefield in 1852 and the first Catholic church was built two years later. Kenyon's Department Store
was founded in 1856. A carriage manufacturing operation was established in 1874, and in 1876 the Narragansett Pier Railroad
started operation, with a station in Wakefield. In 1877, the South Kingstown Town Hall was built in the village. A bank and several other major businesses arrived in the 1880s. By 1895, Wakefield had a population of 1,543, and had begun to coalesce with the villages of Peace Dale
and Rocky Brook, forming a roughly contiguous settlement with a total population of 3,285.
The Wakefield Mill underwent several ownership changes and expansions in the 20th century. In 1903, it was sold to the Wakefield Woolen Company, which installed new loom
s and carding equipment for producing high-grade wool
en fabrics. It sold again in 1922 and four more times between World War II
and 1984. Beginning in the 1950s, parts of the mill complex began to be converted to other uses, but as of 1984, much of the complex was still used for textile manufacturing.
Wakefield's first hospital was started in a house in 1919, and a new South County Hospital building was built in 1925 on a 6 acres (2.4 ha) tract that formerly had been the town farm.
Beginning in the late 1950s, commercial activity in Wakefield migrated away from the central business district to new commercial areas on the periphery of the community. As of 1984, the village was considered the largest shopping area in South County
.
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...
of South Kingstown
South Kingstown, Rhode Island
South Kingstown is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 30,639 at the 2010 census.South Kingstown includes the villages of Kingston, West Kingston, Wakefield, Peace Dale, Snug Harbor, Tuckertown, East Matunuck, Matunuck, Green Hill, and Perryville. Peace...
, 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...
, and the commercial center of the town. Together with the village of Peace Dale
Peace Dale, Rhode Island
Peace Dale is a village in the town of South Kingstown, Rhode Island. Together with the village of Wakefield, it is treated by the U.S...
, it is treated by the U.S. Census as a component of the census designated place identified as Wakefield-Peacedale, Rhode Island
Wakefield-Peacedale, Rhode Island
Wakefield-Peacedale is a census-designated place in the town of South Kingstown in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States that includes the villages of Peace Dale and Wakefield...
. South Kingston was the traditional county seat of Washington County. Since 1991, the Washington County Courthouse has been in Wakefield. The Sheriffs Office which handles corrections is also in Wakefield.
The Wakefield village center along Main Street (old Boston Post Road
Boston Post Road
The Boston Post Road was a system of mail-delivery routes between New York City and Boston, Massachusetts that evolved into the first major highways in the United States.The three major alignments were the Lower Post Road The Boston Post Road was a system of mail-delivery routes between New York...
) between Belmont Avenue and Columbia Street was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1996 as Wakefield Historic District. The district is significant for being an early commercial and industrial center. The district includes 53 properties over an area of 400 acres (1.6 km²) and also includes Kenyon's Department Store
Kenyon's Department Store
Kenyon's Department Store is an historic department store building at 344 Main Street in the village of Wakefield in the town of South Kingstown, Rhode Island.The historic store was built in 1891 by Charles Chase and Harry Lewis...
, which is separately listed on the National Register.
History
Wakefield was a focus for settlement due to its location on the Saugatucket RiverSaugatucket River
The Saugatucket River is a river in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It flows approximately 13 km . There are three dams along the river's length.-Course:The river begins in a small pond east of Deer Ridge Drive in North Kingstown...
and the old Post Road
Boston Post Road
The Boston Post Road was a system of mail-delivery routes between New York City and Boston, Massachusetts that evolved into the first major highways in the United States.The three major alignments were the Lower Post Road The Boston Post Road was a system of mail-delivery routes between New York...
, which was laid out early in the 18th century. Settlement began in the early 18th century with establishment of a small mill on the Saugatucket River. A tavern
Tavern
A tavern is a place of business where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages and be served food, and in some cases, where travelers receive lodging....
and stagecoach
Stagecoach
A stagecoach is a type of covered wagon for passengers and goods, strongly sprung and drawn by four horses, usually four-in-hand. Widely used before the introduction of railway transport, it made regular trips between stages or stations, which were places of rest provided for stagecoach travelers...
stop were established in 1745 and a snuff
Snuff
Snuff is a product made from ground or pulverised tobacco leaves. It is an example of smokeless tobacco. It originated in the Americas and was in common use in Europe by the 17th century...
mill was built around 1765. The textile industry began to become an important source of economic activity in 1807 when a carding mill
Cotton mill
A cotton mill is a factory that houses spinning and weaving machinery. Typically built between 1775 and 1930, mills spun cotton which was an important product during the Industrial Revolution....
was established on the Saugatucket River. By 1822, the village had about 60 residents and consisted of nine houses, a store, the carding mill, a grist mill, a saw mill, and a blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
shop. A Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
church was built in 1830 and an Episcopal
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
church followed in 1840.
The local textile mill continued to operate and expand through the 19th century, but in the mid-century, as nearby Peace Dale grew as a manufacturing center and factories were established in other water power sites in the area, Wakefield became the commercial center of South Kingstown. It underwent considerable growth in the 1840s, including the development of some major retail stores. A Roman Catholic priest was assigned to Wakefield in 1852 and the first Catholic church was built two years later. Kenyon's Department Store
Kenyon's Department Store
Kenyon's Department Store is an historic department store building at 344 Main Street in the village of Wakefield in the town of South Kingstown, Rhode Island.The historic store was built in 1891 by Charles Chase and Harry Lewis...
was founded in 1856. A carriage manufacturing operation was established in 1874, and in 1876 the Narragansett Pier Railroad
Narragansett Pier Railroad
The Narragansett Pier Railroad was a Class III railroad operating in Rhode Island from 1876 until 1981.- History :The Narragansett Pier Railroad was chartered in January 1868 and opened on July 17, 1876, between Kingston, Rhode Island and Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island.Trolleys were operated over...
started operation, with a station in Wakefield. In 1877, the South Kingstown Town Hall was built in the village. A bank and several other major businesses arrived in the 1880s. By 1895, Wakefield had a population of 1,543, and had begun to coalesce with the villages of Peace Dale
Peace Dale, Rhode Island
Peace Dale is a village in the town of South Kingstown, Rhode Island. Together with the village of Wakefield, it is treated by the U.S...
and Rocky Brook, forming a roughly contiguous settlement with a total population of 3,285.
The Wakefield Mill underwent several ownership changes and expansions in the 20th century. In 1903, it was sold to the Wakefield Woolen Company, which installed new loom
Loom
A loom is a device used to weave cloth. The basic purpose of any loom is to hold the warp threads under tension to facilitate the interweaving of the weft threads...
s and carding equipment for producing high-grade wool
Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
en fabrics. It sold again in 1922 and four more times between World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and 1984. Beginning in the 1950s, parts of the mill complex began to be converted to other uses, but as of 1984, much of the complex was still used for textile manufacturing.
Wakefield's first hospital was started in a house in 1919, and a new South County Hospital building was built in 1925 on a 6 acres (2.4 ha) tract that formerly had been the town farm.
Beginning in the late 1950s, commercial activity in Wakefield migrated away from the central business district to new commercial areas on the periphery of the community. As of 1984, the village was considered the largest shopping area in South County
Washington County, Rhode Island
Washington County, commonly known colloquially as South County, is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Washington County borders Kent County to the north, New London County in Connecticut to the west, Suffolk County in New York to the southwest, the Atlantic...
.
Education
- Wakefield Elementary (K-5)
- Broad Rock Middle SchoolBroad Rock Middle SchoolBroad Rock Middle School or BRMS is a Middle school in Wakefield, Rhode Island.-Academics:BRMS offers a curriculum that contains health, math, science, music, social studies and unified arts...
(6) - Curtis Corner Middle SchoolCurtis Corner Middle SchoolBroad Rock Middle School or BRMS is a Middle school in Wakefield, Rhode Island.-Academics:CCMS offers a curriculum that contains health, math, science, music, social studies and unified arts. CCMS also has a chapter of the National Junior Honor Society. It has excellent soccer teams...
(7-8) - South Kingstown High SchoolSouth Kingstown High SchoolSouth Kingstown High School is a public high school in Washington County, Rhode Island. Approximately 1300 students attend SKHS in grades 9-12.-Athletics:...
(9-12)