South County History Center facts for kids
The South County History Center is a special place in Kingston, Rhode Island. It used to be called the Pettaquamscutt Historical Society. This group is a non-profit organization, meaning it works for the public good, not for making money. Its main goal is to save and share the history of South County, Rhode Island. They do this by showing old items, documents, and books in their exhibits.
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Discovering the South County History Center
The South County History Center started in 1958. Back then, it was known as the Pettaquamscutt Historical Society. People living in South County, Rhode Island, created it. They wanted to learn more about their region's history and help others appreciate it. They also aimed to collect and protect important historical items. In 2016, the group changed its name and updated its goals. This change reflected a new vision for how they would share history.
The Story of the Old Washington County Jail
The South County History Center is located in a building called the Old Washington County Jail. This historic jail is found on a hill near the University of Rhode Island in Kingston. It's even listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a very important historical site.
The first jail on this spot was built in 1792. The building you see today was constructed later, in 1858 and 1861. It was made to hold people who broke the law in Washington County. A local builder named Amos Reynold Sweet helped construct it. He used strong local oakwood for the roof beams. The walls were made from mica greywacke and granite stones from Westerly, Rhode Island. He also used mortar and strong iron for the cell gates.
The jail closed its doors in 1956. Just two years later, in 1958, the building became home to the Pettaquamscutt Historical Society Museum. The front part of the building was changed to create space for the museum's art collection, library, and historical records. The back part, where the old jail cells were, was also fixed up. It was then opened for visitors to explore.
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The front of the Old Washington County Jail, built in 1861.
Treasures at the South County History Center
The center has a large collection of artifacts, old documents, and books. This collection began in 1958 with gifts from local families. They donated items that belonged to their ancestors from Early American history. Today, the center's collection shows many different parts of life in South County.
Marjorie Webster Schunke (1905-2002) was a dedicated historian. She played a big role in gathering many of the historical materials in the library. She also wrote many books about local family histories (genealogy), important sites, and cemeteries.
One special item on loan to the museum is a carved hutch cabinet. It was made in 1896 by William Russell Sweet (1860-1946). The cabinet's theme comes from the famous poem "The Song of Hiawatha" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, published in 1855. William Russell Sweet admired Native American culture and showed their way of life in some of his art. He carved many wooden pieces, including wall plaques, tables, and chairs. Each piece had its own unique theme, like the Sweet family coat of arms, New England sea shells such as quahogs and scallops, maple leaves, nuts and berries, weaving patterns, and animals. His great-grandson, Carson Young Sweet Ferri Carson Grant, has also loaned other artworks to the museum.
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William Russell Sweet's carved hutch cabinet from 1896.
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A panel view of William Russell Sweet's carved hutch cabinet, 1896.
The center also has a large mural, 14 by 6 feet, called "The Economic Activities of the Narragansett Planters." It shows a white overseer and black enslaved people in 18th-century Narragansett, RI. The mural's topic, slavery, can be upsetting for some. However, others believe it's important to remember the history of plantations in southern Rhode Island. This mural was painted in the 1930s by Rhode Island artist Ernest Hamlin Baker. It was part of a government program called the Work Projects Administration. The mural hung in the Wakefield, RI post office for almost 60 years until the post office closed in 1999.
How to Visit the South County History Center
The South County History Center is located at 2636 Kingstown Road, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA.
More to Explore
- List of early settlers of Rhode Island
- Atherton Trading Company
- List of historical societies in Rhode Island
