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  History of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, USA

Journey back in time to Woonsocket, Rhode Island, USA

Visit Woonsocket, Rhode Island, USA. Discover its history. Learn about the people who lived there through stories, old newspaper articles, pictures, postcards and genealogy.

     

• 1840s - French Canadians Recruited from Quebec to Work in Mills
  French Huguenots, Dexter and George Ballou, were pioneers in Woonsocket's textile industry. As the textile industry in Woonsocket grew, so did the...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1854 - Woonsocket / Beron / Hamlet / Jencksville / Globe / Union
  Woonsocket, a flourishing post-village of Smithfield and Cumberland townships. Providence co., Rhode Island, on both sides of the Blackstone river,...Read MORE...
  
  
  
•  1868 - Fire at Woonsocket.
  A fire was discovered in the large brick storage and dry-house owned by Messrs. WARD and HARRIS, in Woonsocket, about noon to-day. The fire...Read MORE...
  
  
  
•  1869 - A Woonsocket (R.I.) man offers $100 reward for the detection of the poisoner of his three pet kittens.
  
  St Joseph Herald
  Saint Joseph, Michigan
  January 23, 1869
  
  
•  1869 - Extensive Fire in Woonsocket, R. I., - Estimated Loss $100,000.
  WOONSOCKET, Wednesday, June 2. The most extensive fire that ever occurred in this village took place last evening at Elliott's Mills, breaking out in ...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1872 - The first French-Canadian parish in Woonsocket was "Precieux Sang" - Precious Blood Church - established 1872.
  
  www.woonsocket.org/ french.html
  
  
•  1874 - LOSSES BY FIRE. DESTRUCTION OF THE SOCIAL MILLS IN RHODE ISLAND - LOSS $700,00 TO $800,000.
  The Social Mills, in Woonsocket, R. I., running 50,000 spindles and 1,000 looms on cotton goods, was entirely destroyed by fire yesterday afternoon....Read MORE...
  
  
  
•  1875 - FIRE IN WOONSOCKET, R. I.
  About 1 o'clock yesterday morning an attempt was made to burn the mansion of George C. Bolton, in Woonsocket, R. I. A wood-box saturated with...Read MORE...
  
  
  
•  1882 - LARGE FIRE IN WOONSOCKET. A DEPOT AND SEVERAL STORES DESTROYED - LOSS ABOUT $100,000.
  BOSTON, Mass., Jan. 25. - A special from Woonsocket, R. I., says: "A fire broke out at 2:30 A. M. in the basement of the Providence and Worcester...Read MORE...
  
  
  
•  1883 - LOSSES BY FIRE. The Woonsocket Hotel Partly Burned, The Escape of the Guests.
  WOONSOCKET, R. I., Sept. 29. - The Woonsocket hotel, owned by Cook, Mason & Co., was damaged to the amount of $10,000 by fire from a defective flue...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  Postcard
  
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  View of Blackstone River near Pumping station
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  Depot
  Postcard
  
•  1894 - Mill Fire
  Woonsocket, R. I., Sept. 18. - There was what threatened to be a serious fire this afternoon in the carbonizing department of the River Spinning...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1895 - Woonsocket
  Woon'sock'et, a city of Rhode Island, and one of the capitals of Providence co., is situated at the northern boundary of the state, on both sides of...Read MORE...
  
  
  
•  1899 - Explosion
  WOONSOCKET, R. I., May 7. - Not only were all the buildings connected with the Woonsocket Driving Park burned this afternoon, but fifty pounds of...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1900 - By 1900, sixty percent of Woonsocket's population was French-Canadian and Woonsocket was the most French city in the United States.
  
  www.woonsocket.org/ french.html
  
  
• 1906
  Woon'sock'et, a city of Providence co., R.I., is situated at the northern boundary of the state, on both sided of the Blackstone River, 16 miles N....Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  Soldiers Monument, Main Street, Woonsocket, R. I.
  Postcard
  
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  North Main St. and St. James Hotel, Woonsocket, R.I.
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  Globe Bridge and Blackstone River, Woonsocket, R. I.
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  Dedication of State Armory, Woonsocket, R. I.
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•  1955 - RHODE ISLAND DAM BURSTS.
  Woonsocket, R. I., (AP) - This industrial city of 50,000, third largest in Rhode Island, was under a state of emergency today with some 500 families...Read MORE...