Historic mill villages of Woonsocket facts for kids
The city of Woonsocket in Rhode Island was created when six different mill villages joined together. These villages were built along the Blackstone River, which provided power for their factories. Let's explore each of these historic villages.
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Woonsocket's Historic Mill Villages
Woonsocket Falls Village
Woonsocket Falls Village was started in the 1820s. It covered a large area around what is now Market Square. Business owners built many factories here. These factories used the power of the Blackstone River. Water flowed to the factories through special hand-dug trenches.
Social Village
Social Village was home to Woonsocket's very first textile mill. In 1810, a group of people including Ariel, Abner, and Nathan Ballou, started the Social Manufacturing Company. They made cotton thread in a small wooden mill. This mill was located near Social Street on the Mill River. Later, other mills like the Social Mill and the American Wringer Company were built in this area.
Jenckesville
Jenckesville was founded in 1822 by Job and Luke Jenckes. They had previously been involved with the Social Manufacturing Company. After leaving that company, they built Woonsocket's first stone mill. This important mill was located at 96 Mill Street.
Hamlet Village
Hamlet Village began in 1815 thanks to General Edward Carrington. General Carrington was also involved in creating the Blackstone Canal. He built a textile mill in this village. The mill was located near Hamlet Avenue and Davidson Street.
Globe Village
Globe Village got its name from the Globe Mill. In 1827, Thomas Arnold, Thomas Paine, and Marcel Shove started the Globe Manufacturing Company. Later, in 1864, George Ballou took over the company. He built a new, very modern textile mill in 1873. The Social Manufacturing Company eventually bought this mill complex. It operated the mill until the early 1900s. The mill closed in 1927, and its buildings were taken down in the 1940s. However, some of the houses where the mill workers lived are still standing today. Globe Park, a popular recreation area, is also in this village.
Bernon Village
Bernon Village was first called Danville. It was founded in 1827 by the Russell Manufacturing Company. This company built a stone mill in the area. In 1832, Sullivan Dorr and Crawford Allen from Providence bought the company. They formed the Woonsocket Mill Company and renamed the village Bernon. In 1833, Dorr and Allen built the Bernon Worsted Mill. Over time, this site became part of the Blackstone Valley Gas and Electric company.
