The rolling farmlands and gentle sea of Washington County—or South County, as it's locally known—disguise its spirited history. Famous sword swallower Marie Devere, the birdman of Canonchet and even gifted medicine-makers all called the region home. Stories of natural disasters, illegal liquor establishments and mysterious explosions have been all but lost to time. Discover how Depot Square in Hope Valley survived three different floods that threatened to wipe the landmark off the map. From relics of the local Indian wars to the remnants of mysterious shipwrecks, South County is strewn with souvenirs from its fascinating history. In this collection of her most intriguing columns from the Chariho Times, local historian Kelly Sullivan Pezza uncovers the hidden gems of the county's history.
Kelly Sullivan Pezza is a native of Hope Valley, Rhode Island, and has worked as a journalist for southern Rhode Island newspapers for seventeen years. With an education in law enforcement and many years of experience as a Rhode Island historian and genealogist, she has written hundreds of articles and several books concerning historic true crime and unsolved mysteries in Rhode Island.