East Providence Historical Society News

“2nd Sunday” Fall Open Houses

September 10 - October 8 - November 12 - December 10
1:00 - 3:30pm

John Hunt Museum - 65 Hunts Mills Road - 02916

“Hikes” : meet Ernie Germani of the EP Conservation Com. at the Gazebo -1:30
“Talks and Walks” - Master Gardener Programs - in the gardens - 2:30 -3:00
September : “Dividing Those Big Perennials”
October : “Putting the Garden to Bed”

September Exhibit: “Hunt’s Mills: A 100 Year Retrospective Through the Lens of a Camera” - LAST CHANCE to view these photos and bid on them in a silent auction

Fall Exhibit: “All Quiet on the Rappahannock Tonight: the Civil War letters of Lt. Peter Hunt -1861-1964”

Peter Hunt, of the Hunt family of Hunt’s Mills was born in 1843 at Hearthstone House, sister house of the John Hunt House. His father Daniel and Uncle Allin ran the mills to-gether and the families went back and forth across the 10 Mile River via footbridge.When death suddenly took his father, his mother moved the family to Warren and then to Bene-fit Street in Providence. At 18, Peter insisted upon joining the RI Artillery, although the family offered to pay for a substitute. Peter wrote home every Sunday evening (when not in battle) from Oct 19861 - May 1864, 171 letters which his mother carefully saved. There are two branches of his family still in RI and they have loaned family artifacts for this exhibit to celebrate the publishing of the letters in book form after 152 years.


EPHS General Meeting - Weaver Library
Monday , September 25 - 6:30PM

A celebration of the life of Lt. Peter Hunt through readings of his Civil War letters 1861-1864. Although the original letters have vanished, transcripts were made with an early typewriter and passed on to the Historical Society. In honor of its 50th anniversary, the Society has published “All Quiet on the Rappahannock Tonight.” (see above description) Descendants of the Hunt family will talk about their family’s legacy in RI and actors Ste-ven Hug and Karen Antonowicz, in period dress, will read from Peter’s letters and those of his mother, Nancy Windsor Waterman Hunt. Refreshments -6:30 /Program - 7pm


Smithsonian Day: Saturday September 23, 11Am- 3 pm
Each year the Smithsonian Museum sponsors FREE tours of museums around the coun-try. If you can only come by the Hunt House on a Saturday, this is your day!

Watchemoket Square Day

Saturday, September 30th : 7th Annual WSD Celebration
10 am - 3pm : check this Reporter for details

The Historical Society will be based at Tockwotton on 100 Waterfront Drive
Exhibits: The Civil War effort and Rumford Baking Powder Company
The Civil War letters of Lt. Peter Hunt 1861-1864
Guided Walking Tours: “It’s All in the Porches- 4th through 6th streets” 11am and 1pm
Dave Kelleher, EP’s own “Mr. Preservation”
(Meet at St. Mary’s Church- 65 Warren Avenue)

Mini - presentations: Tockwotton Theater
“The EP Waterfront: What’s Happening/ What’s Coming” - Bill Fazioli / Live nation
1pm and 2 pm - Tockwotton Theater
“Readings/ Background Discussion of the new book “All Quiet on the Rappahannock Tonight: the Civil War letters of Lt. Peter Hunt 1861-1864”
Sandra Turgeon, editor and Steve Hug, actor
1:30 pm/ 2:30 pm - Tockwotton Theater

“Green Jacket Shoal: Making the Case for a Marine Historic District” - Dave Robinson
10am /11 am /12pm -Meet indoors for presentation then shuttle out to Bold Point


The EPHS is a volunteer organization in its 50th year dedicated to the preservation of local history. We maintain the c.1751 John Hunt House Museum/ genealogy library at 65 Hunts Mills Road in the Hunts Mills Local Historic District, participate in the URI Master Gar-dening program, and provide educational programs open to the public. For more infor-mation visit info@ephist.org or call 401-438-1750




In August 1861, a young man, 18 years old, full of idealism and assured that “the Confederacy will fold before Christmas” refuses his family’s offer of a surrogate soldier and goes off to fight for the Union. Every Sunday evening, Peter Hunt of the Hunt’s Mills family, writes home to his mother, Nancy Waterman Hunt and his sib-lings. An accomplished writer, Peter describes his surroundings and adventures but soon enough writes lengthy tales of battle and of escaping with only what he carried with him.