History of Burrillville, Rhode Island, USA

Burrellville, a town of recent date, is situated in the northwest corner of the State, about 20 miles northwest from Providence; bounded north on Massachusetts, west on Connecticut, south on Gloucester, and east on Smithfield. It is about 12 miles in length from east to west, and about 5 miles in breadth, from north to south, comprising about 60 square miles.

The township is rather rough, and the lands in general unfavourable for tillage; but they are well adapted to grazing, and afford valuable timber, the forests being extensive. The soil is a primitive gravelly loam; and the agricultural productions consist of butter, cheese, beef, pork, &c....

A Gazetteer of the States of Connecticut and Rhode-Island: Written with Care and Impartiality, from Original and Authentic Materials : Consisting of Two Parts ... : with an Accurate and Improved Map of Each State
Authors John Chauncey Pease, John Milton Niles
Publisher W.S. Marsh, 1819

Burrilville [Burrillville], Rhode Island
Providence county. This town was taken from Gloucester in 1806. It is finely watered by Branch river, with many branches; one branch of which rises in Allum pond, partly in this town and partly in Douglas, Mass. This river is an important tributary to the Blackstone. Manufacturing villages are scattered over this large town in almost every direction, and a vast amount of manufactures of various kinds is annually produced. The face of the town is rough, but the soil is adapted to grazing, and produces large quantities of beef, pork, butter, cheese, &c. Herring and Eddy's ponds are pleasant sheets of water. Burrilville lies 24 miles N.W. from Providence and 27 S. by E. from Worcester. Population, 1830, 2,196.

Burrillville, a post-township in the northern part of Providence county, Rhode Island. 20 miles N. W. from Providence. It is intersected by Branch river and its tributaries, which afford good water-power. Population, 3538.

HARRISVILLE, R.I., Jan. 14. - The large woolen mill owned by William Tinkham and operated by William Tinkham & Son, was destroyed by fire Saturday morning soon after midnight.

The buildings destroyed include the main mill, a 4-story stone structure, 165x40, with a 2-story stone L., 80x40, containing the dye house, engine room and boilers. The main building was surrounded by four wooden additions, built during the past few years, one large one being completed last year.

The office building, a two-story wooden structure measuring 20x20, was also burned to the ground. A new 125-horse power boiler, costing $5000, with a new 50-food smokestack, worth $900, had just been added to the plant and had never been used. The loss is $445,000.

The plant and machinery, most of which was new, cost $320,000. Insured in the Manufacturers' Mutual for $250,000. The wool stock in process and finished goods aggregate in value $125,000; insured for $80,000.

Bur'rillville, a post-township of Providence co., R.I., about 20 miles N.W. of Providence, is intersected by the Providence & Springfield Railroad. It has manufactures of cotton goods, woollen goods, &c., and a national bank. P. p. 5249. It contains villages named Pascoag, Oakland, Harrisville, Mohegan, Mapleville, and Glendale.

WOONSOCKET, R. I., May 5. - Part of the plant of the Mapleville Woolen Mills, near Harrisville, in the town of Burrillville, was burned to-day, causing a loss estimated at $23,000, covered by insurance. The property has been idle for several months.

WOONSOCKET, R. I., April 26. - Fire at Harrisville to-day left fourteen families homeless, burned out five stores and a society hall, destroying in all fourteen buildings, with a total loss of $25,000. The insurance is $18,000. The village has no Fire Department or apparatus.