The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-05-24
OLD HOME WEEK
ASSOCIATION.
PaWtuuet Organization Had
Rouslng Meeting.
GOVERNOR GARvIN PRESENT.
Historical Address BY Robert GdsVs Judge
Palmer Tells Of Cranston jubilee Many
New Members Secured.
GOVERNOR GARvIN PRESENT.

Until last night II was several years
since a governor OF Rhode Island had
visited the village OF Pawtuxet and
when His Excellency Lucius F. c. Garvin
arrived at the Baptist church on Broad
street, last night that edifice was we'll
filled with the surrounding villagers. who
had come to hear the explanation Of the
principles OF the Pawtuxet 'Old Home
and Improvement association"
After several selections on the organ
by Frank w. Seabury the meeting was
called to order by President w. r. Long
fellow OF the association who gave a brief
history of the progress of the organiza-
uon from the time the Volunteer Fire
company took the initiative In appointing
COMMITTEES to start the ball rolling. Gov.
Garvin was then introduced to speak on
-rhe Value OF an Old Home Week 10
hhoue Island and he was greeted with
| prolonged applause. He stated that ''In
massachusetts, last year B cities and
towns held an Old Home Week celehra-
uon, each OF these bringing a large num-
Der or former residents back to their old
| nome towns. Another feature OF the
! movement is what is said to be the fact
that these visitors spend annually a sum
estimated at $50, 900 900 in their old homes
this sum including. OF course. the cost OF
J building and memorials paid for bv for
mer residents
IN all the New England states excent
hhode Island he said. there has been n
larger emigration than Immigration In
shls state alone has the number settling
ION other states been larger than the
NUMBER or Rhode Islanders leaving home
| al
sons nave removed here from Massacbu-
sets: while only 900 have removed from
Rhode Island to that state
SOME PRACTICAL REASONS
The governor not only -hro,,v,,, o,,, ,,.
practical reasons for encouraging ora a,
teresting OF the people Of different sao-
uons OF the country but referred also a
tne sentimental reasons that such he con
sidered and said that we would all AZ
well 10 cultivate mere sentiment in this
workaday world
ne referred TO the south. where he
nVed before the war, and said that the
most tolerant classes In that section para
the merchants who had been north ana
peeh In touch with the people. while IN
the north IL was the same state ~ az
rairs. Constant social intercourse will
break down sectional barriers and heIn
Weid the nation more firmly together.
ne intimated, and stated that the west
erners would be little better Off ~ thev
could came back for a time and imbibe
little Of our New England thrift and
thoroughness
The governor then referred to the Ola
Home Week bill which Is before the house
or representatives. having passed the
senate and said he was at loss 10 know
how IT was that 1t was not passed, as ne
could see no possible objection to II and
hAa rA
1t would be the duty OF this organiza-
ton TO advocate the passage OF this
measure and to decide which week In
the summer would be the best for Old
Home week. amending the bill II neces-
sary.
Governor Garvin's secretary, Robert
Grieve. was the next speaker. and being
familiar with the early history Of the
state. was able to tell a great many IN
teresting things about the early history
of Pawtuxet that were not known to all.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
In part he said:
The first settlers Of Pawtuxet were
William Arnold. william Carpenter.
Zechariah Rhodes and William Harris,
who came here from Providence in lSas.
two years after the founding OF Provl- !
dence.
Roger Williams bought, probably in
1888. by verbal bargain from Csnonicus /
and Miantonomi. the two chief sachems
OF the Narragansetts. the land that at |
present forms the territory OF the city
of Providence, the towns OF Cranston !
and Johnston. Central Falls and the west
portion of Pawtucket. This purchase was
confirmed by n deed signed by the two
chiefs, March a. 1887. which also more |
exactly defined the limits of the territory !
than the verbal agreement probably had. |
The bounds OF this territory in the !
language OF the deed itself were from |
the river and fields OF Pawtucket. the |
great hill Neotaconkonit on the north /
west and the town OF Mashapauge on the |
west" and included the lands and |
meadows upon the two fresh water rivers
called Mooshashausic and Wanasqua-
tucket." lying between those limits
A memorandum was added 10 the deed |
in 1899 by which Miantinomi confirmed
the deed and granted in addition the use
of the land "up the streams or Paw.
tucket and Pawtuxet without limit for
The use OF cattle. Practically this ad-
iition 10 the deed made the limit Of the |
purchase. or Providence
as the land was now called,
rom the Pawtuxet 10 the Pawtucket
-ivers. and extending northward and
westward indefinitely. and embracing all
he northern half Of the state as We now
know II.
A PRIVATE ESTATE.
Roger Williams conveyed 10 his 70 as
sociates for the sum OF 20 pounds. an
EQUAL interest with himself I'm the ter
-ttory purchased by him from the In
iians. and on the same date "the meadow
ground ut Pawtuxet bounding upon tho
'resh river upon both sides" was made
nto a separate estate, I'm which the II
oroprietors had equal shares This was
Known as the Pawtuxet purchase. and II
Uttered from the Providence or grand
purchase In the fact that no other
,wners were admitted. The original IL
ormed a private land corporation I'm
heir ownership Of Pawtpxet. The ef-
'orts I'm subsequent years to define the
Inc between this private estate and the
general estate of the town occasioned
much trouble. gave rise 20 bitter disputes.
'aused lawsuits. resulted ~ one time In
IN appeal 90 Massachusetts by some OF
he Pawtuxet people. and for n long time
threatened the disme1nberment of the
Rhode Island colonies.
The Pswtuxet purchase included all the
ection that IL now included In Washing