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The Early Days
The
Early History of Central Falls comes from the
colonial days of
the Town of Smithfield. The territory
of the City prior to the mid 1800's was mostly inhabited by the
Nipmuc, Wampanoag and Narragansett Indians. The area was a dense
woodland containing an abundance of Pine Trees.
The Indians,
according to local lore,
numbered around 300. Captain Pierce called for
reinforcements to aid in the fighting, by the time they arrived all but nine
men were dead. The remaining nine were taken to the "Monastery Grounds" in
the Town of Cumberland where they were tortured and killed. This area
and incident became known as "Nine Men's Misery. "
The Value of the River
The
area became peaceful and the Colonist were left to pursue the task of
building a community. Early roadways led from farm to farm or from
marketplace to marketplace. When the Colonists discovered the power of the
Blackstone River new industry was formed. In the mid 1700's Benjamin
Smith built a trench to divert the water from the river to
provide power for a snuff mill. Captain Stephen
Jenks built a trip-hammer and blacksmith shop to manufacture iron. (This
area was perhaps the largest producer of firearms
for the Revolutionary & Civil Wars).
The Birth of a Name
Sylvanus Brown of
Pawtucket erected a dam for Charles Keene
who began
manufacturing scythes and other tools, part of this same building was
occupied by a man named Wheat who manufactured chocolate. This
triggered the name of "Chocolateville or Chocolatemills
for the area.
A celebration, at
the middle falls, was held in 1824 to dedicate a mill and bridge, built by
David and George Jenks. After several speeches were delivered Stephen
Jenks, a prominent businessman, arose from his chair and declared that the
village should be named "Central Falls" and thus the City received it's
official name. The village, at that time, was made up of the trip-hammer
shop, the ship-iron workshop and the Stone
House which was located on the road to Providence it was a popular stop
for travelers and the Chocolate mill.
Believe It or Not
The Village
experienced a rapid growth in population due in part to the growth in the
textile industry. Immigrants from Ireland, Scotland and Canada were
drawn by the textile mills. Central Falls became a densely populated
industrial community leading to the placement in "Ripley's Believe
It or Not" as the most densely populated autonomous City in the Country.
The Making of a City
The Village of
Central Falls, one of the many villages in the Town of Smithfield, would
soon see many changes. Rapid Industrial Growth as well as the rapid growth
in population in the State of Rhode Island resulted in the establishment of
new Townships. In 1871 the Town of Smithfield, with
it 30 plus villages, was divided into three new Towns, the Town of
Smithfield, the Town of North Smithfield and the Town of Lincoln. The
Town of Lincoln, just a short twenty years later, which included the
Village of Central Falls, would again experience the growing pains of the
Village. Town meetings included discussions and proposals to unite the
rapidly growing Village of Central Falls to the neighboring City of
Pawtucket. Local pride and other reasons prevented this from happening and
as a consequence, sentiment grew to make Central Falls a City.
Meetings were
held by the Town Council from June to December 1894.On February 21, 1895
action was taken that resulted in the passage of an Act by the Rhode Island
General Assembly creating the City of Central Falls. This act was
voted on by the Citizens of the Town on February 27, 1895. The voters
in the Village voted 749 for and 749 against the Act, while voters from the
rural community (the Town's farmers and others who lived away from the
village) voted to approve the Act. This resulted in the Village becoming a City.
The City's
government was organized on March 18, 1895 and Charles Moise
became the first Mayor. The Charter was accepted in 1896. The City's
government under its present Charter called for a Chief Executive Officer
(the Mayor) and the governing body (the Central Falls City Council
consisting of 5 members.
The Ethnic & Religious
Influence in the
Growth of a Community
The City is best
symbolized by its ethnic diversity and its religious backgrounds. The
first inhabitants, mostly Quakers, traveled to worship to their Meeting
House on what today is known as Smithfield Avenue. Wesleyan Methodists
established their worship place in a small chapel located on High Street.
The Baptist Community began to grow and by 1844 they formed the First
Baptist Society and became the first organized religious community in the
City. These religions were influenced by the early settlers to the
Community. Religion played an important role to the many immigrants
that came to work and live in the City. The Church helped to assimilate the
many different immigrants into the City. It was also instrumental in
maintaining the ethic identity of each group which helping them to adjust to
their new way of life.
What's happening Now
While the past
history focuses on the building of mills and the growing population. The
City's recent history focuses on the immigration of many people of Latin
American decent. Like the people who arrived before them, these new
immigrants have found a home in Central Falls. Many are bringing new flavor
and culture to an ethically rich
community. The hardships
endure throughout its history as a working class community have not affected
the community's structure or its civic pride and attitude. City leaders,
ethnic political and religious, have developed into cohesive groups which
emphasis the positive image of a city which clearly identifies itself as a
"City for all People."
Did you know?
Around 1890 the
City was spotted with small ponds, one near Cross Street, another between
Crossman St. & Lonsdale Ave. Dwyer's Pond was down in a hallow,
between Washington & Perry St.
The Little City
was a large producer of may different items such as brooms, aprons, art
goods, badges, soda bottles, candy, stationary, tools, braid & hosiery,
lace, webbing, belting, spools, rayon, mill
supplies,
monuments and knitting machines.
The most
important industries of the City were Wheaterhead & Thompson Tannery Firm
(1858); E.L. Freeman Co. (1869-1889) which owned and
operated the "Central Falls Weekly; Conant's Mill (later known as
Coats Thread Mills (1868); Pawtucket Hair Cloth Co. and National Haircloth;
The Weyboset Textile Mill which was perhaps the largest employer during the
mid to late 1800's.
June 10, 1921-
Baseball, a must see sport in Central Falls, saw in attendance 16,000
viewers for a Holy Trinity Baseball Team victory over J.C. Potter School
(Pawtucket) with a score of 14-9.
November 24,
1926- The first automotive fire truck was purchased and the horse drawn
truck was placed in service at the Kendall Street fire station.
July 8,
1929-First Sunday Baseball game held at the Weyboset
Stadium.
September 4, 1929-First Sunday Football game.
October 7, 1929
Pulaski Square dedicated.
August 6,
1930-"The McCarthy Ouster"-Chief James McCarthy (1908-1931) of Central Falls
Police Department was suspended by Mayor Labrosse in 1915. The Chief was
reinstated by a decision of the Superior Court in 1929 the "Franco-Polish"
Bloc of Aldemen and City Councilmen refused to attend meeting and held up
City business until Chief
McCarthy was removed. Three times Mayor St. George fired him and three
times the Supreme Court reinstated him. The Kennedy bill passed in 1931,
making mandatory retirement, cost Chief McCarthy his position.
June 11, 1933
Quinn Square was dedicated in honor of James H. Quinn.
September 13,
1934-National Guard called to quell Saylesville Workers strike riot in the
Moshassuck Cemetery.
March 26, 1945
-SS Central Falls Victory christened by
Mrs. Healy wife
of Mayor Healy. The Victory was named in honor of Central Falls
Residents who purchased an outstanding number of
War Bonds.
April 7, 1947-The
Central Falls City Council pass a Resolution vindicating the "Fearless
Four". Officers John Gorman, John Byrnes, Frank Klich and Lucien Tessier
presented evidence of illegal slot machines in Central Falls. Chief George
Collette suspended them but the public outcry was so great that they were
re-instated in good standing.
April 5,
1948-Franco American Square Dedicated.
April 4,
1949-Public Playground Act officially enacted.
June 4,
1952-Fluoridation of water supply established.
August 31,
1954-The area was scene to one of the area's Hurricane's
which left the
City with great deal of damage and property loss, the worse since the great
1938 hurricane.
November 20,
1957-Macomber Field dedicated in memory of
Raymond Macomber
who spent The field, located on Blackstone & High Streets was
purchased from the Weyboset Mfg. Co. for $10.00 on July 6, 1934 and was
known at that time as Municipal Stadium.
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