Rhode Island

From humble immigrant beginnings, the Italian-American community in Rhode Island grew to become a significant factor in the state's development.

In government, business, religion, and civic affairs, Italian-Americans contributed a great deal to the development of their communities in the Ocean State. This marvelous new photographic history seeks to recognize those contributors and spotlight their achievements. Covering the period from 1884 to 1996, this volume showcases images from the author's personal archives, and the collections of local families, the Providence Public Library, and the Coalition of Italian Organizations. Major Italian-American figures in the state's history are illustrated, and detailed captions offer family histories--including information about the family's hometown in Italy--and brief summaries of the individual's achievements. This accessible and colorful presentation will appeal to many who wish to remember the contributions of their ancestors.

The rich history of Johnston comes to life through historical photos and never-before-seen images of days gone by...

With over 200 more vintage photographs, Louis H. McGowan and the Johnston Historical Society continue their insightful pictorial narration of Johnston's rich history in Johnston Volume II. From the rich and famous to ""just plain folks,"" this volume presents rare snapshots of a variety of Johnstonians. Meet key figures in the community such as James F. Simmons, the first U.S. Senator to hail from Johnston; Judge Albert Votolato, one of the first Italian Americans to become a lawyer; and Ralph Russo, Johnston's first mayor. Also featured are a variety of scenes of Johnston's residents at work and at play as well as a comprehensive tour of local landmarks and historic buildings, churches and schools, and farms and businesses.

Providence's Benefit Street showcases the rich history of Rhode Island's capital, a tangible history that can be experienced firsthand by walking one mile through the heart of the city.

Officially established by 1772 for ""the benefit of all,"" Benefit Street is arguably the most historic thoroughfare in Rhode Island. Some of Providence's most prominent families, including the Browns (the namesake of Brown University), built stately homes on Benefit Street's hillside, many of which still stand today. Threatened by years of neglect, the Providence Preservation Society intervened in the 1950s to save the buildings that line the street. Benefit Street has survived the dangers of demolition and now bears witness to disparate time periods and communities. It is the site of important educational and community institutions, including the Rhode Island School of Design, Brown University, the First Baptist Church, and the Providence Athenaeum, the fourth oldest library in the United States.

""Dave Brussat has made a significant contribution to the history of Providence. For those interested in that history, ""Lost Providence"" is a real find."" Providence Journal

Providence has one of the nation's most intact historic downtowns and is one of America's most beautiful cities. The history of architectural change in the city is one of lost buildings, urban renewal plans and challenges to preservation. The Narragansett Hotel, a lost city icon, hosted many famous guests and was demolished in 1960. The American classical renaissance expressed itself in the Providence National Bank, tragically demolished in 2005. Urban renewal plans such as the Downtown Providence plan and the College Hill plan threatened the city in the mid-twentieth century. Providence eventually embraced its heritage through plans like the River Relocation Project that revitalized the city's waterfront and the Downcity Plan that revitalized its downtown. Author David Brussat chronicles the trials and triumphs of Providence's urban development.

Dutch Island and Fort Greble, a fascinating visual journey through the past, will delight and educate both the avid historian and the casual observer.

Dutch Island is an 81-acre island situated at the southern end of the West Passage to Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island. It served an important role in our country's military history, from its acquisition by the United States Army in 1864 until its closing by the military in 1947.

This volume is the first pictorial history illustrating the military development and facilities of Fort Greble on Dutch Island, spanning the period from the Civil War to World War II. Readers will step back in time and wander through the early earthworks and different incarnations of Fort Greble, stroll along the pristine parade ground before it was covered in briar and bramble, gaze upon the huge coastal artillery guns pointing toward the sea, and watch uniformed soldiers performing their duties on this fortified island.

Author Walter K. Schroder, author of Defenses of Narragansett Bay, has compiled an amazing collection of photographs, many from the official federal archives, that detail and examine a memorable chapter in our country's military past.

After the college became the University of Rhode Island in 1951, the traditions of basketball excitement and excellence continued. Conference championships, postseason bids, and All-Americans have enriched the history of Rhode Island Rams basketball, as has the introduction of full varsity status for women's basketball. Along with highlighting the teams, players, and coaches, Runnin' Rams: University of Rhode Island Basketball also portrays the exciting environment in which the games have been played.

From the time it was separated from Providence in 1759, Johnston has grown from a sleepy, rural town into a busy urban center.

Much of the growth took place between the mid-19th and mid-20th centuries, and it is this period that Louis McGowan and the Johnston Historical Society chronicle in this delight collection. Assembling more than 200 images from historical archives and the private collection of many Johnston residents, the result is a multi-faceted portrait of the town's citizens, landmarks, and historical figures. Some of the famous figures discussed include Charles Fletcher, who built or managed the three largest textile mills in Johnston; the Reverend Samuel Winsor, founder of the Six Principle Baptist congregation; James F. Simmons, the sole U. S. senator from the town, who was later forced to resign his position in disgrace; and Zenas R. Bliss, winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor and a distinguished U. S. Army officer.

The Pawtucket Red Sox examines the history of the PawSox from their origin as a Double-A affiliate of Boston to their ascension to Triple-A status in 1973, right on through the ownership years of Ben Mondor. More than two hundred photographs chronicle the players, managers, and other key figures behind the franchise's success, as well as the defining moments in PawSox history: the 1977 International League championship, the longest game in professional baseball history, the unveiling of the new McCoy Stadium in 1999, and many others.

The history of the adoption of the torpedo as a recognized implement of warfare is not unlike that of gunpowder or of exploding shells. Each in its turn was met by the cry, "Inhuman, barbarous, unchivalrous."

During the American Civil War, the Confederate Navy employed submerged mines, called torpedoes, and explosive charges mounted on a long pole referred to as the "spar torpedo" which was bumped into the hull of an enemy vessel exploding on contact. These weapons enjoyed great success during the conflict.

In July 1869, the Secretary of the Navy announced the establishment of the Naval Torpedo Station on Goat Island in the harbor of Newport, Rhode Island, for development of a more sophisticated and deadlier self-propelled torpedo. From its founding until the end of the Second World War, the Naval Torpedo Station has been the Navy's principal center for the design of torpedoes.

Newport continues as the home of the U.S. Navy's most important laboratory for research and development of modern weapons' systems.

The stately granite buildings from the past are still at the center of Peace Dale village, but the town's history is more than just tales of a privileged few.

The legacy of the Irish and Italian immigrants who came to work in the mills and stayed to build a way of life in their new home is as important in the community today as the legacy left by the wealthy Hazard and Rodman families. Discover these early residents of Peace Dale in a remarkable collection of images, complemented by the text of author and local historian Betty J. Cotter. From Peace Dale's famous arched bridges to the mom-and-pop stores that ring Peace Dale Flats, this unique collection explores the memories of yesteryear. The photographs date from the mid-19th century to the 1960s, and were gathered from the collections of the Pettaquamscutt Historical Society, the Peace Dale Library, and local residents.

Resident historians Thomas E. and Barbara A. Greene present a comprehensive look at the development and growth of their North Providence from 1765 to 1995.

As this volume is the first history of any sort to ever be published on the town, numerous vintage photographs--many rare and previously unpublished-- have been carefully selected to create a fascinating portrait of the town and its villages through the years. North Providence, which from 1765 to 1874 contained the old village of Pawtucket, today consists of 5. 8 square miles of land in northern Rhode Island. The villages of North Providence are home to a variety of cultural and ethnic groups; each one maintains its own character and distinct identity. The authors' presentation includes a concise textual history of each village and incorporates significant original research on the history of North Providence schools in each district.