History of Westerly, Rhode Island, USA

In 1800, Washington Bank was established in Westerly with capital of $50,000.

The Edinburgh Encyclopaedia, Volume 3
Author Sir David Brewster
Publisher J. & E. Parker, 1832
Page 229

There are now living, in the town of Westerly, in the state of Rhode Island, sixteen persons, the amount of whose ages is, 1,444 years. The oldest being 102 years, and the youngest being 81 years. The average being 90 years and three months.

Westerly is a maritime post township, situated in the southwest corner of the State, 36 miles southwest from Providence, and 35 west by south from Newport; bounded on the north by the Pawcatuck river and the town of Hopkinton, on the east by Charlestown, on the south by the Atlantic ocean, and on the west by the Pawcatuck river, which separates it from the State of Connecticut. Its extent is more than six miles east and west, and nearly the same north and south, comprising about 36 square miles.

This township, though not mountainous, is considerably rough and broken, the surface presenting primitive and somewhat rugged features. The soil, which is generally a gravelly loam, affords, as it respects the quality of it, most of the varieties from a fertile mould to a soil lean and sterile. In some sections of the town, barley is cultivated to advantage. Some Indian corn is also raised; but the staple agricultural product consists of cheese. The lands being in general best adapted to...

Westerly, Rhode Island
Washington county. Westerly is washed by the Atlantic ocean on the south, and Pawcatuck river, which separates this state from Connecticut, on the west. This maritime town has its principal harbor at the mouth of the Pawcatuck, in which vessels are built, and in which some navigation is employed in the fishery and domestic trade. The Pawcatuck affords a great variety of scale and shell fish.

The surface of the town is generally uneven; in some parts it presents rugged features. Its soil varies from good to bad, but its average quality is well adapted to the culture of all the varieties of grains, grasses, fruits and vegetables common to the climate. The business of the dairy is extensive and lucrative.

The village of Pawcatuck is very handsome; it is finely located 6 miles from the sea, at the head of navigation on the Pawcatuck, and at the falls on that stream. This village is the site of valuable manufactures and of a large interior trade. It is crossed ...

Westerly, a thriving post-village of Washington co., Rhode Island, on the Pawcatuck river, the boundary between Rhode Island and Connecticut, and on the Stonington and Providence railroad, 45 miles S. W. from Providence. The inhabitants are extensively engaged in cotton and other manufactures. Ship building and the coast trade is also carried on, for which the river affords facilities, being navigable for vessels of from 40 to 60 tons burden. The village contains 3 or 4 churches, 3 banks and about 1 5 stores. Population of the township, in 1840, 1912; in 1850, 2763.

At the Westerly quarries, Rhode Island, a single stone 150 feet long, ten feet wide and eight feet thick, weighing more than 1,000 tons, has been loosened from the ledge. This is a bigger stone that the monarchs of Egypt ever produced. The Yankees are ahead.

Wes’terly, a post-village in Westerly township, Washington co., R.I., on the Pawcatuck River and the Stoning ton & Providence Railroad, 6 miles N.E. of Stonington, and 44 miles S.S.W. of Providence. Small vessels can ascend the river to this place. It contains 9 churches, a high school, a superior hotel which cost $300,000, 4 national banks, 3 savings-banks, a newspaper office, gas-works, and a public library. It has extensive manufactures of flannel and cotton goods, and quarries of excellent granite which is capable of receiving a high polish. The township is bounded on the S. by the Atlantic. The granite-quarries employ from 600 to 1000 men. Some of the finest buildings of Providence, Hartford, and New Haven have been built of this granite. Pop. of township (1890), 6813.