History of West Warwick, Rhode Island, USA

1834 - The Original Bradford Soap Works was built in 1834

1906 - Out of the Mouths of Babes - What is a Family Tree?
Little Bless - What is a family tree?
Little Harold - It's a tree people climb when they want to get into society.
Pawtuxet Valley Gleaner
Phenix, Kent, Rhode Island
March 9, 1906

1913 - West Warwick is a New Town Now
Warwick, R. I., Nov. 4 - Today's election added a new town to Rhode Island. The town of West Warwick, authorized to separate from the town of Warwick by the last Legislature, had its first election today. The Democrats won and will be sworn into office tomorrow morning.

West Warwick brings the number of towns in Rhode Island to thirty-three and adds one senator to the Assembly. Albric A. Archambault, a Democrat, was elected to that office. The population of West Warwick is 17,000 as compared with 10,000 for that of the town of Warwick.

Date: November 05, 1913
Location: Massachusetts
Paper: Boston Journal

NOTE: West Warwick split with Warwick because of political reasons. Eastern Warwick was mainly a farm area. Western Warwick was a heavily populated mill area. Western Warwick was democrat and the eastern part of town was republican. The people in eastern Warwick were often out voted and were tired of losing. They wanted to split with the western part of town because the... Read MORE...

1914 - WEST WARWICK HAS MYSTERY IN KILLING. Italian Dies from Shooting, Cousin Arrested Held for Grand Jury. NO QUARREL IS HEARD.
WEST WARWICK, Oct. 5 - Giovanni di Chistofero, a mill weaver, was fatally shot yesterday ad his cousin, Michele di Ciumino as arrested later in Natick by Chief of Police Andrews.

He waived examination before Judge Felix Herbert at a special sesion of the District Court on a charge of manslaughter and was bound over to the grand jury. Bail was fixex at $2000.

A broken watch which was found in the bedroom is believed by police to have been the cause of the quarrel which led to the shooting.

The circumstances leading to the death of Cristofero are unknown. Relatives and intimate friends of both men say that they never quarreled and were on the best of terms.

Di Cristofero and Ciumino, cousins, boarded with their uncle, Michel Baradi, on the West Warwick side of Natick. They occupied a room on the third floor, together with Angelo Petraca.

All three young men were in their room during the morning; about 11 o'clock Petraca went to Westcott. According to members of the Baradi ... Read MORE...

1917 - HIGHWAY MAN ROBS WEST WARWICK MAN
Aime Grenier, a former member of the Town Council of West Warwick, was held up by a maked man at 5:15 yesterday morning near his home in Phenix and robbed of $20. The bandit pointed a pistol at Mr. Grenier's head and demanded his money, threatening to shoot if the order was not obeyed. Mr. Grenier handed over the money.

Mr. Grenier, who is the proprietor of a market in the village, was on his way to open the store when he was robbed.
The Evening Times
Pawtucket, Rhode Island
January 4, 1917

1918 - West Warwick Commissioners Deny Petition Endorsed by Governor
Although an application for a license for a Sunday motion picture show to be held in Riverpoint was accompanied by an indorsement from Gov. Beeckman, the West Warwick board of police commissioners last evening refused the license and went on record as firmly opposed to these entertainments on Sundays.

In the communication to the police commission it appeared that the proposed entertainment was for the benefit of the Eleventh Company Aid Association, but Chairman Quinlan of the board of police commissioners said he had been reliably informed that the matter had been initiated by a person not connected with that organization. He declared it another attempt to let down the bars for Sunday picture shows.
The Evening Times
Pawtucket, Rhode Island
June 19, 1918

1919 - West Warwick Liquor Men Are Opposed to 2.75 Beer
Prominent liquor dealers in West Warwick are strongly opposed to the movement of brewers throughout the country to secure the privilege of manufacturing and selling 2.75 per cent beer and they say that the West Warwick Liquor Dealers Association will not in any way assist this movement.

'We want to sell real beer or none at all' is the reported declaration of the members of the association. Some of them assert that the whole scheme is cooked up by the big brewers so that grocers, ice cream shops and candy stores can sell the near-beer throughout the country and ruin the business of the regular liquor dealers.
genealogybank.com
Pawtucket Times
Pawtucket, Rhode Island
July 3, 1919

1922 - As early as 1922, town leaders recognized the need for a unified fire department.
In that year, town council members passed an act authorizing the Warwick/ Coventry, Crompton, Riverpoint, and Phenix fire departments to be abolished if the districts themselves voted to do so and authorized the formation of a town fire department. Despite these initial efforts, it would be years before further steps were taken to dissolve the separate village departments and form the town-wide fire department.
www.westwarwickfirefighters.org/ history.html

1928 - SCOUR RHODE ISLAND FOR MISSING GIRL. State Police Trying to Find 11-Year-Old Mary Gallagher of West Warwick
Providence, R.I., Dec. 20. (AP) - Rhode Island state police and police departments throughout the state were aiding the West Warwick police early today in a state-wide search for 11-year-old Mary Gallagher of West Warwick, who had not returned to her home since leaving yesterday to attend the afternoon session at St. James parochial school, Arctic.

No Clue Found

No tangible clue has been found as to the girl's whereabouts and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Gallagher, are at a loss to explain her disapearance.

Joseph J. B. Gamlin of 39 McNiff street, West Warwick, reported to the West Warwick police yesterday that a small girl had run in front of his automobile on Main street at noon and that the girl had run into one of the front fenders of his car. Gamlin said that the child ran away before he could ascertain whether she was injured. The police theory that the child was the missing Gallagher girl was abandoned when it was found that the descriptions of the two girls did... Read MORE...

1930 - A NATURAL CHANGE
The proposal of citizens of the district that the present boundary between Warwick and West Warwick be moved eastward to follow the new Bald Hill road would throw into the town of West Warwick a considerable area which is now part of Warwick.

The area involved, however, belongs naturally in the former town, as it consists of a spearhead of territory which projects into West Warwick and is surrounded on three sides by it. Furthermore, residents of the district ar so far removed from the more populous part of Warwick that, as they point out, they have little in common with that community, while they have a great deal in common with West Warwick.

They would have, they believe, more convenient school facilities if they ware a part of the latter, and their other municipal needs would receive greater attention.

As the town line is now fixed, part of the village of Centreville is in West Warwick and part of it is in Warwick. The same thing is true of Natick and Westcott. The... Read MORE...

2003 - Nightclub fire in West Warwick, 100 die
The Nightclub fire in West Warwick, Rhode Island, occurred on February 20, 2003, and is also known as "The Station nightclub fire." It was a tragic event that resulted in one of the deadliest nightclub fires in United States history.

On that fateful night, the rock band Great White was performing at The Station, a popular nightclub located in West Warwick. As part of their stage setup, the band used pyrotechnics, which involved the use of indoor fireworks. During the performance, these pyrotechnics ignited the highly flammable soundproofing foam that was used as part of the club's interior decorations. The foam quickly caught fire, and within seconds, the entire nightclub was engulfed in flames.

The fire spread rapidly due to the flammable materials used in the club's construction, and thick, toxic smoke filled the venue. The rapid escalation of the fire made it difficult for the patrons to escape, and many were trapped inside. Chaos ensued as people tried to find exits, leading ... Read MORE...

Here's a list of things to do and places to visit in West Warwick:
Museum of Work and Culture: Venture to the neighboring town of Woonsocket and delve into Rhode Island's industrial history at the Museum of Work and Culture. Gain insight into the state's textile mills, immigrant laborers, and their profound impact on the local landscape. My own visit to this museum left me in awe of the resilience and ingenuity of those who shaped this region.

Arctic Playhouse: Immerse yourself in the performing arts scene at West Warwick's Arctic Playhouse. This community theater offers a diverse array of live performances, from thought-provoking plays to toe-tapping musicals, providing a unique glimpse into local culture and creativity.

Spring Lake Beach: Experience a leisurely day at Spring Lake Beach, a serene freshwater oasis in West Warwick. Whether you're swimming, picnicking, or simply relaxing by the water's edge, this spot offers a peaceful retreat steeped in natural beauty and local charm.

Bazaar Castelo Branco: Indulge your curiosity and explore... Read MORE...