Adamsville, Rhode Island facts for kids
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Adamsville is a historic village located in Little Compton, Rhode Island, in the United States. People first settled here a long time ago, around 1675. This was around the time of a big conflict known as King Philip's War. The village was named after John Adams, who was the second president of the United States.
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Cool Places to See in Adamsville
Adamsville is home to some really interesting and historic spots. These places tell stories about the village's past and what makes it special.
Grays General Store
Grays General Store in Adamsville is a very old building, built in 1788. People say it was the oldest operating general store in the United States for a long time! A general store is a place where you can buy many different things, like groceries, tools, and other supplies.
This store was also home to Adamsville's first post office, which started in 1804. Imagine sending letters from here over 200 years ago! The store was run by the Grayton Waite family for many generations. It closed for a short time in 2012 but thankfully reopened in 2013.
Rhode Island Red Monument
At the crossroads of Adamsville Road, Westport Harbor Road, and Main Street, you'll find the Rhode Island Red Monument. This monument, built in 1925, is made of granite. It honors the Rhode Island Red Chicken, which is the official state bird of Rhode Island!
This landmark was placed in Adamsville because someone donated the land for it. Even though the monument is in Adamsville, the Rhode Island Red chicken was actually first bred a little further away, near West Main Road. Right across from the monument, there's a popular breakfast restaurant called The Barn, which opened in 1987.
The Mysterious Spite Tower
One of the most unique buildings in Adamsville is the "Spite Tower." This tower has a fun local legend about why it was built. The story goes that someone built the tower just to block the view of a neighbor! While many stories involve members of the local Manchester family, no one is completely sure about the real reason.
However, the person who used to own the building shared a different story. They said the "Spite Tower" was built over a special kind of well called an artesian well. A pump would bring water up to a holding tank on the third floor. From there, gravity would send the water to the main house, giving it running water! The tower was built around 1905. The chauffeur, who drove the family's car, even lived on the second floor of the tower.
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