Anthony, Rhode Island facts for kids

Anthony is a small village located in the town of Coventry, Rhode Island. It sits along Route 117, close to the Pawtuxet River. This village is made up of several smaller areas, including Anthony, Arnold, Boston, Mapledale, Meeting, Taft, Washington, and Laurel Avenue.

A Look Back in Time

Anthony has had a few different names over the years. It was once known as "Greenville" and also "The Quaker Village."

Early Days and the Greene Family

In the 1700s, a family called the Greene family owned much of the land here. They gave the village its first name, Greenville. The Greene family were busy people! They ran a gristmill (which grinds grain), a forge (where metal is shaped), and a sawmill (for cutting wood).

The Quakers in Anthony

Many people living in the village, including the Greene family, were Quakers. Quakers are members of a religious group called the Society of Friends. They had a special building called the Quaker Meeting House on Meeting Street. People used this building for their religious services from 1825 until 1915. Today, that old meeting house is used as a club house.

How Anthony Got Its Name

The village got its current name, Anthony, in 1805. This happened when two men, William and Richard Anthony, built a textile mill here. A textile mill is a factory where cloth is made. Their mill was part of a bigger company called the Coventry Manufacturing Company. By 1811, another cotton mill was built, and the Coventry Manufacturing Company continued to grow in the area. You can also find the General Nathanael Greene Homestead located near the village.

Anthony Village Historic District

The oldest and most important part of Anthony village is called the Anthony Village Historic District. This area covers about 250 acres. It is centered around Washington Street, stretching between Sandy Bottom Road and Fairview Avenue, and goes as far south as the Nathanael Greene Homestead. Because of its rich history, this district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010. This means it's a special place recognized for its historical importance.

Images for kids

• 

  The Anthony Mills complex, today an apartment building