Rhode Island

Name: Rhode Island's Haunted Ramtail Factory
Brand: Thomas D'Agostino
SKU: 9781626196391
Price: 15.39 USD
Availability: InStock

Rhode Island’s small size belies an immense legacy, from the outsized impact on World War II to the bygone grandeur of downtown Providence. In spite of the storms that battered its coasts and sunk its ships, the Ocean State has never been overwhelmed by its namesake. Enjoy the undiminished pleasures of an iconic clam shack, the celebrated thrills of Rocky Point Park or the matchless vistas of the Newport Bridge. Our catalogue of Rhode Island history books extends a sturdy causeway to the state’s capacious past. [View all Rhode Island books]

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Rhode Island's Haunted Ramtail Factory

$21.99 $15.39 Save 30%

Bristol

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Rhode Island and the Civil War:

$21.99 $15.39 Save 30%

Rhode Island Baseball

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Pawtuxet Valley

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Watch Hill

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Historic Taverns of Rhode Island

$21.99 $15.39 Save 30%

Remarkable Women of Rhode Island

$21.99 $15.39 Save 30%

Historic Rhode Island Farms

$21.99 $15.39 Save 30%

Providence Police Department

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Historic Tales of Colonial Rhode Island

$21.99 $15.39 Save 30%

The Quest for the America's Cup: Sailing to Victory

$21.99 $15.39 Save 30%

North Kingstown:

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

The University of Rhode Island

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The America's Cup Yachts: The Rhode Island Connection

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A History of Mount Saint Charles Hockey

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Herreshoff Yachts

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Hockey in Providence

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

True Tales of Life & Death at Fort Adams

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Tiverton and Little Compton, Rhode Island:

$21.99 $15.39 Save 30%

East Providence

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Rhode Island Beer:

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Pawtuxet, Rhode Island

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The Larchmont Disaster off Block Island: Rhode Island's Titanic

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Washington County

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Hidden History of South County

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Haunted Providence

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Spies in Revolutionary Rhode Island

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Slater Mill

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The Naval War College

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Forgotten Tales of Rhode Island

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Wicked Conduct:

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Warwick's Villages:

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Aboard the Fabre Line to Providence

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Rhode Island Amusement Parks

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Rhode Island's Haunted Ramtail Factory

9781626196391

$21.99 $15.39 Save 30%

On May 19, 1822, Peleg Walker was found dead inside Foster's Ramtail Factory. Almost ten years earlier, he and four other family members had made the fateful decision to start a business. Legend has it that when relations soured over arguments about money, the partnership ended, with Peleg hanging from the very bell rope he rang each morning to signal the change in shift. Whether he took his own life or was murdered remains a mystery. Recognized as a haunted site since 1885, the factory now lies in ruins. Yet Peleg still keeps vigil over its remains, sounding his night watchman's bell and drifting with his candle lantern in hand. Authors Tom D'Agostino and Arlene Nicholson share over two decades of research into the mysterious history of Rhode Island's haunted factory.

Bristol

9780738539218

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Bristol, a shire town in the smallest county in the smallest state, is nestled between the Narragansett and Mount Hope Bays. Most of the town is surrounded by water, and its history lies therein. Bristol is ever changing, yet it manages to retain a small hometown character. This nostalgic postcard history of Bristol leads readers down dusty, mid-19th-century streets and into the bustling mid-1950s historic center. Today, people sail leisurely into Bristol's snug harbor, dock at the many public landings, and dine on the waterfront. Other visitors stroll down tree-lined streets, take in the many beautiful seascapes, or marvel at the aristocratic 18th-century homes built by wealthy merchants, slavers, and privateers.

Rhode Island and the Civil War:

9781609497613

$21.99 $15.39 Save 30%

The Ocean State has a remarkable record of service during the Civil War. It supplied over twenty-three thousand men for the infantry, cavalry and artillery units between 1861 and 1865. From Bull Run to Appomattox and many battles along the way, including Antietam, Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, Rhode Island troops were always on the front lines. Civil War historian Robert Grandchamp lets the soldiers tell their stories in their own words, drawing from their letters to retell the accounts of those who fought and died to save the Union. From Woonsocket to Westerly, this book offers a personal connection to Rhode Island during the War Between the States through the voices of its heroic sons.

Rhode Island Baseball

9781596294967

$21.99 $15.39 Save 30%

Woonsocket native Gabby Hartnett set the world record by catching a baseball thrown from a blimp eight hundred feet above him. Then he did it again. Rhode Island Baseball possesses the same knack for astonishing you time after time with stories of baseball legends you thought you knew (like Nap Lajoie) and teams you might never have heard of (like the OSRC: Orcutt's Sure Rheumatism Cure). As you slide back into an era when men and women played professional ball barehanded and a rabbit hole could change a game, you will discover how large a role America's smallest state played in the nation's favorite pastime.

Pawtuxet Valley

9780738509556

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

The Pawtuxet Valley, though only a few square miles in central Rhode Island, has a rich and varied history. From the 1790s to the 1960s, the textile industry blossomed, expanded, and gave birth to nationally known brands such as Fruit of the Loom, helping to clothe America. The industry drew thousands of immigrants to the banks of the Pawtuxet River to make new lives for themselves. Yankees, Quebecois, English, Polish, Irish, Italians, Portuguese, Swedes, and many others created communities among the villages clustered up and down the valley.

Pawtuxet Valley is an introduction to the people and places of the valley, from its heyday of industrial power to its suburban evolution in the late twentieth century. Even more, it is a tribute to the many thousands who settled here and their descendants who left a legacy now being rediscovered. In this book, you will visit the Paine House, a Colonial-era tavern in Washington Village; St. Mary's Church, the oldest Roman Catholic church in Rhode Island; the annual St. Patrick's Day parade; and the many factories and mills that helped shape this exciting community.

Watch Hill

9780738535524

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

A fascinating pictorial history of Watch Hill, this collection of images documents this community's evolution through time.

A hundred years ago, Watch Hill was known as the ""Queen of Atlantic Resorts. "" Its once barren knoll was strewn with vast wooden hotels and open-air porticos and porches. Its snug cove, a port of entry for steamboats that ferried summer residents, was also the home port for a fleet of catboats that took passengers on daily excursions. Offering unparalleled bathing at the surf-ridden East Beach and the soft sands of Napatree Beach, Watch Hill was truly ""by the sea. "" Yet, as with many maritime venues, Watch Hill and its sister communities up the Pawcatuck River always served as year-round homes to watermen of all sorts. Whaling captains once lived in Lotteryville, party boat captains sailed down the Pawcatuck to meet passengers at the Watch Hill docks, and fishermen provided fresh fare from the river and sea. Ships were built and lives were lost, and a century of maritime industries have come and gone.

Historic Taverns of Rhode Island

9781609495831

$21.99 $15.39 Save 30%

This book chronicles a number of Rhode Island's historic taverns and the stories contained within their walls. Some of the taverns include: The Mowry Tavern, which was the site of political gatherings, protests and religious observances under Roger Williams; The Benedict Arnold Tavern built in 1693; The White Horse Tavern, which soon became the meeting place for Rhode Island legislators; and the Ruff Stone Tavern in North Providence was an establishment with a long history, having served as a pub, a stop on the Underground Railroad and a speakeasy during prohibition.

Remarkable Women of Rhode Island

9781626195370

$21.99 $15.39 Save 30%

Rhode Island proudly claims a long list of remarkable women throughout history, from pioneering education reformers and suffragettes to trailblazing athletes and authors. In the mid-1800s, Sarah Helen Whitman became a prominent female poet and nearly married Edgar Allan Poe. In 1922, Isabelle Ahearn O'Neil became the first woman to hold office in the Rhode Island legislature. In the 1940s, Wilma Briggs became the first woman in the state to play on a local high school boys' baseball team and went on to join the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Join authors Frank L. Grzyb and Russell J. DeSimone in this captivating and insightful account that spans five centuries of women who made history in the smallest state in the nation.

Historic Rhode Island Farms

9781626192621

$21.99 $15.39 Save 30%

Dating back to the colonial era, the historic barns and outbuildings of Rhode Island have withstood the test of time. From the state's early barnyard taverns to the modern-day horse and dairy farms that populate rural Rhode Island, each of these buildings has a story to tell. In the mid-eighteenth century, the Narragansett planters bred horses on their farms in southern Rhode Island. Later, dairy farms sprang up across the region. Milking barns were built on the largest farms in the state, including the Theinhert Dairy Farm and Barn in Lincoln. Before the advent of electric trolleys, urban barns sheltered horses for early tramcar transportation. Each barn is a beloved reminder of the state's history. Join author Robert A. Geake as he explores the origins and evolution of Rhode Island's farms.

Providence Police Department

9781467122184

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

The Providence Police Department has served New England's second-largest city from its beginnings in 1651 with the appointment of a town sergeant to today's force of nearly 500 men and women. Officially established in 1864, policing in Providence has changed considerably from the days of night watchmen armed with handheld rattle alarms and nightsticks. Whether quelling the violent street riots of 1914, enforcing Prohibition, or fighting the New England mob, the PPD has evolved to meet the complex challenges posed by the city. It also boasts a history of leadership among the nation's law enforcement agencies, being among the first to incorporate women into the department's ranks, create innovative campaigns to reduce traffic fatalities, and pioneer the use of trained canines to aid in police work. Today, cutting-edge telecommunications and forensic analysis in crime fighting continue to protect the city of nearly 178,000.

Historic Tales of Colonial Rhode Island

9781609499112

$21.99 $15.39 Save 30%

A fascinating history of the landmarks and architecture that serve as the remnants of Rhode Island's colonial past.

Roger Williams purchased the fertile Aquidneck Island from the Narragansett tribe in 1637. The intrepid dissenters of Rhode Island Colony saw their community flourish with the founding of Portsmouth and Newport townships. It was here that Anne Hutchinson, along with William Coddington and other colonists who had been banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony, found shelter from persecution. The Battle of Rhode Island was the only clash between American colonials and the British on Rhode Island soil during the Revolutionary War. From the mercantile success of the Atlantic triangle trade routes to the establishment of the United States Navy, noted historian Richard V. Simpson brings these and other stories from the Ocean State to life. Join Simpson as he explores the landmarks and architecture of the period to discover the remnants of Rhode Island's colonial past.

The Quest for the America's Cup: Sailing to Victory

9781609496340

$21.99 $15.39 Save 30%

For over one hundred and fifty years, the America's Cup has been the premier prize as yachtsmen have been pitted against sailors from around the world in an effort to win this prestigious race. The race takes its name from the champion schooner America, which was created due in large part to the efforts of New York Yacht Club founder John Cox Stevens. Author Richard V. Simpson sheds new light on long-forgotten stories of the early quests for the coveted Cup. Among the notable yachtsmen profiled are Sir Thomas Johnstone Lipton, who earned a special award for being the race's best loser, and Ted Hood, who owned a sail-making company that developed the Dacron cloth from which the twelve-meter sails were cut. This history comes to life with exciting descriptions of the yachts, the races and the colorful personalities of those who longed to capture the greatest prize in yacht racing.

North Kingstown:

9780738539089

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

In the late 1880s, pharmacist Elwin "Doc" Young began to photograph the people, places, and events in his bustling crossroads community of North Kingstown. He turned the best of these images into postcards and sold them in his
apothecary shop. Today, readers can admire Young's impressive art in this volume, North Kingstown: 1880-1920. These pages highlight North Kingstown's golden era--a time when elite East Coast families on their way to Newport
would stop in quaint villages and mingle with the residents. These captivating images show the people, technology, and architecture of an important city at the beginning of the
20th century.

The University of Rhode Island

9780738502144

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

The University of Rhode Island is an in-depth pictorial history of URI that covers the period
beginning with its inception as a college in 1892 to the term of its current president. Settled in the rural village of Kingston, where a rolling hillside
has evolved into a vast world-class educational institution, URI began as the Rhode Island Agricultural School in 1889. Photographs seen in this book tell the story of the Kingston residents' struggle to bring the state's agricultural school into being. We see the never-ending crusades for necessary facilities and faculty and the radical adaptations utilized during World War I and World War II. The growth and fame of coaches, athletic teams, and athletes are chronicled, and dignitaries such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Presidents Eisenhower and Johnson, composer Aaron Copeland, Igor Sigorsky, and
innumerable others jump from the pages.

The America's Cup Yachts: The Rhode Island Connection

9780738500904

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

The dominance of the New York Yacht Club, in possession of the America's Cup between 1851 and 1983, has given Newport, Rhode Island, the status of yachting capital of the world. Seven of the most respected America's Cup defenders were built in Bristol, Rhode Island. The state's contribution to racing yacht technology began in Bristol, when N.G. Herreshoff designed and built the Vigilant in 1893. The Goetz Custom Sailboat Company continues the Bristol tradition of building superior sailing vessels, many of which have been challengers for the coveted America's Cup, beginning with the America 3 in 1992. In his sixth volume for the Images of America series, author Richard V. Simpson explores the allure of the America's Cup yachts and racing through more than 200 images from his own diverse collection. The photographs focus on the beauty and dignity of the yachts, the genius of engineering minds, and the handiwork of skilled crafters. Within these pages, view a variety of rare images captured by turn-of-the-century biograph and stereoscopic cameras, and experience the majestic dance of the yachts as they jockey for position, from the starting gun to the crossing of the finish line.

A History of Mount Saint Charles Hockey

9781609498795

$21.99 $15.39 Save 30%

For twenty-six straight seasons--from 1978 to 2003--Mount Saint Charles Academy captured the hearts of its fans and the state's high school hockey championship. Attributing the streak to a near-mystical force called Mount Pride," beloved coach Bill Belisle and his team have built the most successful hockey program in Rhode Island. In the thrilling 2013 season, they recaptured the Mount glory as state champions. Yet the high school hockey team is much more than its wins and losses--it's a culture and a family. Beginning with the earliest days when Rhode Island's four-team league took to the frozen ponds with tree branches serving as rudimentary hockey sticks, author Bryan Ethier chronicles the history of the MSC "Flying Frenchmen." Join Ethier as he takes to the ice with the great games, the star players and the unforgettable moments to tell the remarkable story of Mount Saint Charles Hockey."

Herreshoff Yachts

9781596293069

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From 1893 to 1920, Bristol's Herreshoff clan designed and built so many undefeated America's Cup sailboats that enthusiasts refer to the era as The Herreshoff Period. In this intimate portrait, Simpson tackles the achievements of a New England dynasty that has attained the pinnacle of sailing fame and success.

Hockey in Providence

9780738545318

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Providence has an old and rich hockey tradition. The Providence Reds were one of the first professional hockey teams in the United States. In their 51-year history (1926-1977), the Reds won seven playoff championships, including four Calder Cup titles. The Reds were the first minor-league hockey team to operate for 50 seasons. The Providence Bruins, established in the 1992-1993 season, carry on the city's great hockey legacy and gave Providence its fifth Calder Cup title. Several Hockey Hall of Famers have played for Providence-based teams, including Bobby Bauer, Hector "Toe" Blake, Johnny Bower, Frank Brimsek, Eddie Giacomin, Rod Langway, Milt Schmidt, and Lorne "Gump" Worsley.

True Tales of Life & Death at Fort Adams

9781626191082

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For 150 years, Fort Adams guarded the strategic entrance to Narragansett Bay and Newport Harbor. It was the largest coastal fortification in the United States, and though the site never saw a battle, its history is shadowed with dark tragedy. The fort witnessed its first death in 1819 when Private William G. Cornell shot Private William Kane point-blank and without remorse over an unknown argument. Unfortunately, more tragedy would follow. In 1871, twenty-eight-year-old George F. Drake slit his own throat after his sweetheart ended their relationship. And in 1879, Private Franz Koppe was mysteriously attacked, later dying of his injuries. The Spanish influenza arrived at Fort Adams in 1918, killing five soldiers in one month. Through these stories of life and death, author Kathleen Troost-Cramer traces the history of this national landmark.

Tiverton and Little Compton, Rhode Island:

9781609497835

$21.99 $15.39 Save 30%

Tiverton and Little Compton sit perched off the mainland of Rhode Island, where they have carved out a unique culture and history for centuries. The sketches contained in this book provide an in-depth look at the region, tracing its evolution through architecture, like the Nathaniel Briggs House, believed to be the oldest in the region; through industry, detailing the establishment of the Old Colony and Newport Railroad; and through some of the region's famous people and events. Learn how General William Barton captured British general Prescott in 1777 and how Captain Benjamin Church became a heroic Indian fighter, defeating King Philip. Author Richard V. Simpson traces the inextricably linked history of these two towns.

East Providence

9780738544571

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Although residents of East Providence are proud of the development their city has seen in the 20th century, there still remains an allegiance to the community's small-town heritage.

The town of East Providence was incorporated in 1862, the same year it was ""traded"" to Rhode Island by Massachusetts. Two bridges across the Seekonk River gave easy access to people to and from East Providence, helping it transform from a sleepy fishing village to a central hub of commerce and entertainment. The East Providence Historical Society pays tribute to their little town in this delightful collection of photographs from the first one hundred years of the town's existence.

Rhode Island Beer:

9781626197381

$21.99 $15.39 Save 30%

Rhode Island may be the smallest state, but its brewing history packs a mighty punch. In the 1600s, Sergeant William Baulston opened up his public house in Providence, providing New Englanders with one of the first spots to imbibe homebrewed beer. Prohibition sank many operations, but Narragansett Brewery reemerged and continues to serve its signature lager. Today's growing number of craft brewers, including Foolproof and Grey Sail, are claiming Little Rhody for the beer renaissance. With a sudsy spirit of adventure and even some beer-infused recipes, the ladies behind TwoGirlsOneBeer.com present the rich, proud story of brewing in the Ocean State.

Pawtuxet, Rhode Island

9780738564098

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Founded in 1638, Pawtuxet is one of Rhode Island's oldest and most historic villages. Its history is uncovered in this fascinating book.

The Pawtuxet River divides this unique settlement almost in half; the northern section belongs to Cranston and the southern to Warwick. The village is a distinct entity, however, and the object of much pride. After making significant contributions to our nation's fight for freedom--the British schooner Gaspee was burned off the shores of this village in the first act of violence in the American Revolution--Pawtuxet became known as a prosperous seaport and, later, as the home of Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, an entertainment mecca that attracted visitors from far and wide. Many a couple met and courted at this exquisite resort, whose charms included ballroom dancing, big band music, canoe rentals, and regional culinary fare. The village of Pawtuxet has retained much of its attractive historical character over the years; by-passed by new roads and superhighways, Pawtuxet's heritage has been preserved.

The Larchmont Disaster off Block Island: Rhode Island's Titanic

9781626197947

$21.99 $15.39 Save 30%

On February 11, 1907, the steamship Larchmont collided with the schooner Harry Knowlton. Thrown from their bunks, passengers of the Larchmont panicked and ran onto the ship's deck. Haphazardly loaded lifeboats set out only partially full, and shrieks from those left behind were heard in the distance. Nearly 150 passengers were lost that night. The men and women of Block Island courageously aided those in need and dealt with the horrors that washed ashore. Controversy swirled around the conduct of the captain and crew of the Larchmont as investigators tried to determine who was responsible for the collision. Authors Joseph and Janice Soares chronicle one of the greatest disasters in New England's waters.

Washington County

9780738539201

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

In honor of George Washington and the colonists' separation from the king's rule, the territory once known as Kings County was renamed Washington County. Rich in history, this once densely wooded region was transformed, and by the dawn of the 20th century, many villages and hamlets had taken root. In the early 1900s, photographer Walter Rogers captured the evolution of this area, and the images in Washington County are all drawn from his collection of glass-plate negatives. The text originates from historic accounts during this period. Readers will encounter pirate treasure in Richmond, sea serpents, Kickapoo Indian medicine men, village mishaps, and more.

Hidden History of South County

9781626198579

$21.99 $15.39 Save 30%

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.

Haunted Providence

9781596293878

$21.99 $15.39 Save 30%

Though Rhode Island is America's smallest state, they have more than their fair share of spooky stories.

Author Rory Raven has collected stories and tales drawn from the history and folklore of one of the oldest cities in the nation. From restless spirits and mysterious deaths, to vampires and shadowy strangers, and even stories involving Edgar Allan Poe and H.P. Lovecraft, Haunted Providenceexplores the unusual events and untold tales that have made this capital city unlike any other.

Spies in Revolutionary Rhode Island

9781626197244

$21.99 $15.39 Save 30%

Espionage played a vital role during the American Revolution in Rhode Island. The British and Americans each employed spies to discover the secrets, plans and positions of their enemy. Continental navy lieutenant John Trevett dressed as an ordinary sailor, grew out his beard and went from tavern to tavern in Newport gathering intelligence. Metcalf Bowler became a traitor on the order of Benedict Arnold, as he spied for the British while serving as a Patriot leader in Providence. Disguised as a peddler, Ann Bates spied for the British during the Rhode Island Campaign. When caught, one spy paid with his life, while others suffered in jail. Author Christian M. McBurney, for the first time, unravels the world of spies and covert operations in Rhode Island during the Revolutionary War.

Slater Mill

9780738545448

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Well-illustrated and with fact-filled text, Slater Mill is a charming look back at a pivotal part of Pawtucket life.

As a working cotton mill, a space for varied types of manufacturing, and eventually as a project of historical preservation, the Slater Mill has played many roles in the history of Pawtucket. Leavitt's work includes such illuminating images as a turn-of-the-century bicycle shop, a crowded mill scene in the early twentieth century, and the transformation of the site into a tourist attraction in the 1920s. This volume also shows how the site was re-configured as a community museum in the 1950s and '60s, as well as how the industrial emphasis of the curators eventually resulted in the addition of a working water wheel to the site. Well-illustrated, with fact-filled text, Slater Mill is a charming look back at a pivotal part of Pawtucket life that will interest young and old alike.

The Naval War College

9780738502908

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Explore the history of one of the nation's most prestigious service schools in The Naval War College. It was appropriate that the U.S. Navy's pioneer training station and principal graduate college be established at Newport. Known as "The City by the Sea," Newport, Rhode Island, has a long history of maritime activity. As far back as the colonial period, Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay have always been safe and deep havens for naval as well as commercial shipping. In 1883, Commodore Stephen B. Luce established the Naval Training Station on Coaster's Harbor Island in Newport, which became the forerunner of the modern recruit stations for enlisted men in the U.S. Navy. The next year, in 1884, Luce established the Naval War College, the first professional naval education center of its kind in the world. It soon became the U.S. Navy's premier institution for professional studies of warfare, international law, and statesmanship relating to war and peace. Among others, Luce brought to the college Capt. Alfred Thayer Mahan, the naval historian whose book, The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1600-1783, and other works influenced naval thought throughout the world.

Forgotten Tales of Rhode Island

9781596295865

$14.99 $10.49 Save 30%

Few Rhode Islanders remember the day a German submarine suddenly surfaced in Newport Harbor, or the escape of a bear, tiger and panther from a circus train on the Stonington Railroad. Still fewer may have heard about the World War II fighter plane that crash-landed in the middle of a secret listening post for intercepting enemy radio signals, tucked away on a farm in Scituate. Forgotten Tales digs deep into Rhode Island's history and unearths little-known stories and folklore that span three centuries. Read about the undertaker who dug his own grave, midnight gold diggers using magical diagrams, Smithfield's 'suicide bridge' and a pet elephant with a unique Achilles heel. Jim Ignasher delivers a strong dose of local color in this fascinating anecdotal history of the Ocean State.

Wicked Conduct:

9781596298026

$21.99 $15.39 Save 30%

This scribbled note belonged to Sarah M. Cornell, written the day her body was found hanged in a rural pasture in Tiverton, Rhode Island. An unmarried young woman of limited means, Sarah was four months pregnant, and a married Methodist minister stood accused as the father. Local authorities grew skeptical of Sarah's apparent suicide as Reverend Avery's conduct appeared increasingly suspect, and eventually the extensive evidence of their tortured relationship set off a groundswell of public interest and media attention never before seen in 1830s New England. This tragic crime left the nation clamoring for justice and became one of early America's most sensational murder trials.

Warwick's Villages:

9781596295995

$21.99 $15.39 Save 30%

Since Samuel Gorton's first settlers on the Conimicut shore agreed to live without formal government, the villages of Warwick have been fiercely independent. Despite their individualism, however, their histories are inextricably bound. The ravages of King Philip's War left no village unscathed, as settlers lost their houses, livestock and even their lives. England's trade laws forced these seafaring people to smuggle rum out of Mill Cove, and the famous 1772 burning of the British Gaspee near Pawtuxet ignited the flame of protest across Rhode Island. Tracing the history of five villages, Warwick's beloved historian Donald D'Amato reveals how Rhode Island's second-largest city has retained the feel of a small, close-knit community.

Aboard the Fabre Line to Providence

9781626192294

$23.99 $16.79 Save 30%

In an era when immigration was at its peak, the Fabre Line offered the only transatlantic route to southern New England. One of its most important ports was in Providence, Rhode Island. Nearly eighty-four thousand immigrants were admitted to the country between the years 1911 and 1934. Almost one in nine of these individuals elected to settle in Rhode Island after landing in Providence, amounting to around eleven thousand new residents. Most of these immigrants were from Portugal and Italy, and the Fabre Line kept up a brisk and successful business. However, both the line and the families hoping for a new life faced major obstacles in the form of World War I, the immigration restriction laws of the 1920s, and the Great Depression. Join authors Patrick T. Conley and William J. Jennings Jr. as they chronicle the history of the Fabre Line and its role in bringing new residents to the Ocean State.

Rhode Island Amusement Parks

9780738564159

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Rhode Island Amusement Parks brings back the memories of a time less complicated than the present, when a sense of family held communities together.

Rhode Islanders were once able to enjoy amusement parks without traveling far; the state was home to several ocean front parks as early as the mid-18th century, with some of them surviving into the late 19th century. Photographers Rob Lewis and Ryan Young have embarked on a journey to discover the amusement parks of the past in this delightful and unprecedented collection of images. View the parks that provided a recreational outlet for so many Rhode Island families and the visitors who frequented them. Scenes from several neighboring Massachusetts amusement parks are also pictured. The images in this collection are from two large private archives as well as treasured family collections. Special highlights include photographs of hand-operated rides of the 1800s and views of President Taft's plane, which landed at Sandy Beach in 1911. Also featured is Vanity Fair, an amusement park that lasted only five years during the first decade of this century. Residents of these communities will enjoy seeing Rhode Island as it once was and will witness the changes it has endured over the years.