History of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA

The first American cotton mill began operation on December 20, 1790. The mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, had water-powered machinery for carding and spinning cotton. A machine cards cotton by combing and untangling fibers while removing short undesirable fibers. In the spinning process, the fibers are drawn out, twisted and wound to create thread or yarn. That thread can then be dyed and woven into fabrics in the next phase of the process.

Samuel Slater built that first American mill in Pawtucket based on designs of English inventor Richard Arkwright. Though it was against British law to leave the country if you were a textile worker, Slater fled anyway in order to seek his fortune in America. Considered the father of the United States textile industry, he eventually built several successful cotton mills in New England and established the town of Slatersville, Rhode Island.

By Telegraph to the New York Daily Times.

Disagreeable necessity obliges us to shock the sensibilities of our readers, by the reciatal of another terrible calamity from a collision of Railway trains.

At 8 o'clock, yesterday morning, a collision occurred on the Providence and Worcester Railroad, which caused the death of fourteen persons, and seriously injured about forty more. The collision occurred between the regular up train and the excursion train from Weeting's. The latter was out of time, and met the up train at Valley Falls.

The collision occurred at a sharp curve beyond Central Falls; the down train was behind time, and proceeding at the rate of 40 miles an hours to reach the switch, from which there is a double track to Providence. In one minute the train would have reached the switch. The up train waited the usual time at Pawtucket, and then, having the right to the road, proceeded at a slow rate round the curve.

The spectacle presented was most horrible. The...

Pawtucket, a flourishing post-town, situated 4 miles N. N. E. from Providence, partly in Providence co., R. I., and partly in Bristol co., Mass., and on both sides of the Pawtucket river, which here falls some 50 feet in a short distance, affording an extensive hydraulic power. The first cloth manufactory operated by water-power ever established in this country was commenced at Pawtucket in 1790, and for more than 40 years it held the first rank among the manufacturing towns of New England. In 1823, the village and vicinity contained, besides numerous other manufactories, 10 cotton mills, 2 casting furnaces, 2 screw factories, 2 anchor establishments, and 6 machine shops. The manufactures at the present time are very extensive, consisting principally of cotton goods and machinery, though boots, shoes, cabinet ware, and carriages are produced to some extent. Pawtucket also has an important commerce. During the year 1852, 141 vessels arrived at its wharves, laden with coal, lumber, &c....

PROVIDENCE, Thursday, Nov. 17. - A fire in Pawtucket this afternoon destroyed the Congregational church, John Dexter's dwelling-house, two stables, a storehouse, a paint-shop, and other buildings. Loss about $40,000. The church and organ were insured for $10,000.

PROVIDENCE, R. I., July 1. - Pawtucket was visited this morning by the most destructive fire for many years. The flames were discovered at 5:30 o'clock by a new-vendor in an unoccupied building known as the "Old Arcade," on the rear of East-avenue. The whole Fire Department was called out but the flames spread rapidly and after destroying the Arcade building extended to the adjoining buildings, until a dozen were on fire at once. The Dexter Yarn Company's mill, office, and storehouse, large wooden structures, were destroyed. The mill was used in the manufacture of knitting-cotton. The books and papers of the company and the private papers of H. H. Thomas, the President, were saved in the safe. All the machinery was damaged, and most of it rendered worthless. The mill was filled with finished yarn, and but little of value was saved. Tee[sic] loss is estimated at $100,000. There is an insurance of from $55,000 to $60,000 in foreign companies.

The upper floors of A. E. Tenny's machine ...

PAWTUCKET, R. I. Aug. 16. - The Dunnell Print Works were destroyed by fire to-day. The loss is roughly estimated at from $150,000 to $200,000, and is fully covered by insurance in Manufacturer's Mutual companies. The companies, with the amounts of the policies and the names of the commission houses owning the goods, are as follows:
Attawaugan Company, loss small; Enterprise,$10,000; American,$10,000; Sotokett Mills, loss small; Enterprise,$10,000; American, $10,000; Austin, Bates & Wellington, loss considerable; Boston Manufacturers' Mutual, $20,000; Mill Owners' Mutual, $20,000; Worcester Manufacturers' Mutual, $5,000; Cotton and Woolen Manufacturers' Mutual, $5,000; O'Jaffe & Pinkers, loss small; Firemen's Mutual,$4,500; Mathew, Blum & Vaughn, loss small; Firemen's Mutual, $2,000; Bister & Schmitt, loss small; State Mutual, $6,000; Mills & Gibbs, loss small; Enterprise Mutual,$12,000; Etna of Hartford, $60,000; Palmer Brothers, loss small; Firemen's Mutual, $15,000; Knowles &...