Early Central Falls, R. I. Fires

     Prior to 1871, Central Falls, was part of the town of Smithfield.  Between 1871 and 1895, Central Falls was part of the town of Lincoln.  It became its own municipality in 1895.  Therefore, the fires mentioned here occurred in the town of Smithfield. 

Click on articles to enlarge.

Republican Herald
December 15, 1841

Republican Herald
February 26, 1842

     The Central Falls Fire department was established in 1847.

  For more info, click here.

Republican Herald
December 25, 1850

 

SC431 Subchaser

Click on image to enlarge.

     The SC431 was built during WWI by the Mathews Boat Co. of Port Clinton, Ohio, for use as a “sub-chaser” by the U. S. Navy.  After the war it was transferred to the U. C. Coast Guard and named the “Kundson” after Wilhelm Knudson who perished during WWI.  The vessel was returned to the navy in 1921. 

     This photo is believed to have been taken by James Beha at Sacket’s Harbor, New York, during the 1920s.  

      The ship was relegated to training in 1939, but reactivated for naval service in April of 1943.  The ship served until the end of WWII and was stricken from the navy in 1946 where it was sold and converted to a private fishing vessel.  

     Photos of this ship are rare. 

19th Century Clothing Styles Photos

Click on images to enlarge. 

Alma Cardell
O. A. Taft’s Gallery, Middlebury, VT.

A. N. Blanchard Photographer
Barre, VT.

A. N. Blanchard Photographer
Barre, VT.

A. N. Blanchard Photographer
Barre, Vt.

S. O. Hersey Photographer
Montpelier, Vt.

S. O. Hersey Photographer
Montpelier, Vt.

Unknown Photographer

Kellogg’s Union Gallery
Scranton, Pa.

F. Forshew Photographer
Hudson, N. Y.

D. K. Brownell Photographer
Scranton, Pa.

B. Whiting Photographer
16 Main Street
Plymouth, Ma.

H. M. Green Photographer
Shumway’s Block
Webster, Mass.

J. W. Turner Photographer
47 Hanover Street
Boston, Ma.   

North of England
Photographic camp
Waverly Rooms
1 North Terrace, Queen St.
Scarboro

Rhoads Photographer
Frankford Road
Philadelphia, Pa.

Unknown Photographer

 

Historic Bicycle Photos and Advertisements

   Photos from a private collection

 Click on images to enlarge.

Advertisement – February, 1895

Circa 1900

Circa 1900

Circa 1900

Circa 1910

1930s

1948

Evolution of the Bicycle – Indiana Bicycle Co. – 1897

     This is a small booklet most likely used for advertisement by the Indiana Bicycle Company of Indianapolis, Indiana, c. 1897. Research indicates that it doesn’t appear anywhere else on the Internet, and is therefore published her for researchers. 

Click on images to enlarge. 

  

Overbrook Academy, Smithfield, R. I.

     60 Austin Ave., Greenville, R. I. 

     These photos were taken March 17, 2025.  Overbrook Academy relocated from Warwick to Smithfield in 2015, and closed in late 2024.  Before it was Overbrook Academy, it was Mater Ecclesiae College, and before that it was the Saint Aloysius Home and School. 

Click here for more information    

Click on images to enlarge. 

Symbol above the front entrance.

A side entrance.

The library and classroom building.

Classroom building.

Classroom building and library.

Unfortunately, this copper cross was removed from the building during an estate sale held at the building.

Classroom building.

Library building – backside.

Chapel building – west side.

Chapel building – east side.

Boiler building.

Main building – backside.

Some inside views of the chapel taken in 2004.

Chapel windows, March 21, 2025.

Click on mages to enlarge. 

Chapel Doors – March, 2025

Hall of Tiles
Each tile was made by a former student at Overbrook Academy.

Class of 2013 – 2014

Class of 2010-2011

The following photos were taken May 9, 2025.

Stairway in former classroom building.

An empty classroom.

Back side of chapel.

Common area in dorm.

Hallway closets.

Art Room graffiti.

Art Room Graffiti.

Art Room lavatory.

View from second floor.

Door leading to the roof.

Original tub and tile floor.

Lamp Storage.

Main Hallway.

The Chapel.

Former classroom building.

Library building.

Library building.

Georgiaville Pond Drowning – 1908

The News-Democrat (Prov.)
August 14, 1908

Olneyville Times
August 30, 1912

The Disappearance of Elmer Kettelle – 1916

Click on image to enlarge.

Olneyville Times
December 22, 1916

Murder – Suicide, Georgiaville, R. I. – 1884

Click on images to enlarge. 

The Daily Kennebec Journal
January 12. 1884

Morning Journal & Courier
(New Haven, Ct.)
January 12, 1884

Spragueville Mill Fire – 1895

Article from the Olneyville Times, August 2, 1895.

 

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