March 28, 2024

It Takes a Village...Townies Speak Out!

Is it East Providence, Rumford, Riverside, Kent Heights, Watchemoket...?

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If you live in East Providence, R.I., you may have a different name for your city other than its' official name, in case you're not fond of "East Providence". History buffs point out how the birth of East Providence has its' roots squarely planted in the birth of a nation. While many "Pilgrims" and "Puritans" were fleeing England and settling in Massachusetts colonies, Roger Williams became an outspoken critic of the time and was slated for arrest and deportation back to England. Williams and a small group of supporters began their own settlement in what is now the Rumford section of East Providence (to give you the short-hand version). Roger Williams and friends purchased land from the local Indians around 1636. This land was known then as Seekonk Cove which is now known as Omega Pond (Joseph Conforti - Monarch Publishing). Officials from Plymouth, however, challenged Williams and his followers and what came next was a 226 year long boundary battle between Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Things were finally settled when East Providence was placed in Rhode Island from Massachusetts and incorporated in 1862. Roger Williams and friends next rowed canoes across the river and purchased more land from local Indians, thus founding the city of Providence, R.I., and were given a charter from England in 1644.

Thus, East Providence was born. Much of East Providence is bordered by water. Narragansett Bay is to the south and west while the Runnins and Ten Mile Rivers cover much of the city's northern and eastern edge. Also included is the Turner Resevoir and Central Pond. There is a land area of about 13.7 square miles within EP borders. Barrington borders the South while Seekonk is along the East and Pawtucket makes the border along the North. The Providence River (Narragansett Bay) and Seekonk River separates East Providence from its' large neighbor to the West - Providence. A town of less than 2,200 in 1865 now has about 48,000 residents. The once old-time Protestant population grew into a melting pot of Irish, Portuguese, Italian, and eventually Cape-Verdeans and others. After the Civil War, four distinct villages developed; Watchemoket, Rumford, Philipsdale and Riverside.

Watchemoket retained its' Indian name and was the hub of this 'new' town, just across the river from bustling Providence. Watchemoket grew to become the center of East Providence. In 1869 the Red Bridge was completed and a new Washington Bridge was built in 1885. There were rails and ships and Watchemoket was very busy. In 1889 the town hired its' first Police Chief, Charles Pierce. Pierce had five men who patrolled Watchemoket, Riverside and Phillipsdale. These cops rode horseback and worked eleven hour days for an annual salary of $1200. (Officer PRod would look good on a horse today!). An 1875 police report indicates that 230 men and 13 women were arrested. The charges included bathing against ordinance, maintaining a grog shop, reveling, recreation on Sunday and doubtful reputation to name a few. (One assumes reveling didn't occur in Rumford). East Providence had all volunteer firemen until 1911.

Rumford was marked by an area called the "Ring of the Green". It encompasses most of the area north of the Ten Mile River. In its' early years this area was called Seekonk Centre, Rehboth and East Providence Centre. The city's official town hall was originally located in Rumford until 1889. Rumford was a population center for the town housing many farms and mills along the Ten Mile River. A water tower in the shape of a Rumford Baking Powder can was a hallmark in the area's industrial development. This is the oldest section of East Providence. The Rumford Chemical Works gave the area its' new name, Rumford.

Phillipsdale is a narrow section of the city along Roger Williams Avenue from Omega Pond to Pawtucket Avenue. It once housed a flourishing mill complex. The Omega Mills was an important manufacturer of cotton cloth. Although thought of as a "ragged edge of Rumford" by the Providence Journal, Eugene Phillips moved his copper mill and other businesses to the area and Phillipsdale was born. By 1909, the once very small village - Phillipsdale - became the largest manufacturing center in East Providence. About 2000 people lived in model factory tenements or homes of their own. Washburn Wire company was huge and became the biggest employer and manufacturer in the city.

By late in the 19th century, there were more than 100 farms throughout East Providence. There were large potato and vegetable crops. A number of dairy farms also provided milk, butter and cheese for residents as well as neighboring Providence.

Riverside coves the lower or southern part of the city. Its northern border more or less was set by John Brown's 1645 purchase from the Indians; '...a line running east from Silver Spring golf course to the Runnins River and south to Bullocks Point or Cove (Narragansett Terrace). "The Coney Island of New England" is how Riverside became known to the region. The land from Watchemoket to Bullocks Point was a sparsely settled farming and fishing area. No more than a few hundred people lived in this coastal village in 1862. Most earned a living by fishing or farming. Succulent clams, quahogs and oysters were sold by locals in the center of town or to Providence. The 'Townies' or residents of the central district of East Providence, referred to these Riverside neighbors as "clamdiggers". These clamdiggers soon would see large profits and would sell farms and land to real estate developers. Many summer homes were built along the shoreline and the population jumped. Hotels and amusement parks were built. Crescent Park being the most famous (see an earlier issue of Reportertoday.com for an expansive story). Most of the area is made up of small residential tracts with the older section hugging the shoreline. Newer residential plats were built after 1945 from Willett Avenue to the East or Seekonk and Barrington lines.

Several other sub-divisions or villages began to spring up across the city:

The largest farm in East Providence belonged to the Kent family. The Kent Heights section of East Providence was named for the Kent family. The family’s ancestors can be traced to the Mayflower. Originally, the Kent family lived in the Dedham and Plymouth areas of Massachusetts. In 1790, Josiah Kent married Patty Brown. She was the great-granddaughter of John Brown who purchased the Green settlement which was Rehoboth, later Seekonk, and finally East Providence. The Kent Farm was the finest in town. Three family homesteads were located on the property. The family ran a dairy farm called White Rock Farm, named for white rocks found on the property. They also raised strawberries, hay, apples and potatoes (considered the best potatoes in the state of Rhode Island).

Kent family descendants were civic-minded and generous to the town of East Providence. In 1905, Alfred Kent gave land for the original Hope Congregational Church off Pawtucket Avenue. In 1950, Jessie Kent provided land for the new Hope Congregational Church. The Kent family was also known for their general store located on Pawtucket Avenue. Items from food to gasoline to automobiles were sold there. When the town of East Providence needed an elevated spot for a water tower, AJ Kent allowed the town to construct the tower on his land. It was the site for the long time EP landmark - the Red & White checkered tower, since replaced by the current blue sphere. In the 1920′s, the Kent family began to develop housing plats. Streets were given Plymouth Colony names (Howland, Plymouth, Mayflower Streets), and family names (Ide and Kent) and Indian names (Wannamoisett Road). One of the last direct descendents of the Kent family passed away just last month. Marion Kent, 85 was a lifelong resident of East Providence. Miss Kent was a teacher and principal in the East Providence School Department for thirty-five years. Miss Kent still lived in the same house that was an original "Kent Family Home" on Dover Avenue. Miss Kent was also a Mayflower Descendant.

There are many other historical facts and much more local history that is not included here due to space and time restrictions. The Reporter also wanted to hear from our readers so the rest of this article will consist mostly of your quotes. We reached out to readers and had an immense response. Those comments not included here will be posted on our web site - ReporterToday.com. Some of you were light and whimsical while others were downright territorial! Zip codes, schools, tradition, snobbery and more were on display:

Alba Curti - "I find it very comical that some people on FB list East Providence as their home city and then Rumford or Riverside as their current city. When did Rumford or Riverside become cities? They are geographical areas of the city of East Providence, they are NOT cities...so folks, you're still in East Providence. I see it quite often in address labels as well...Riverside, RI or Rumford, RI...not only is it incorrect but it also promotes sectionalist thinking...something we've got to get away from if we are to be a united, forward moving city.

Ali Khorasani - "Right on." (referring to Alba Curti above).

Ted Wheeler - "Yes it is all East Providence and we are all Townies, but we are talking about sections that give us some individuality. There is a large stone marker in the wall at Silver Spring golf course with Barrington on one side and Rehoboth on the other. This might give some people heartburn, but Rumford is not a zip code. It's the land in East Providence North of the Ten Mile River. Don't forget other subsections such as Philipsdale, Daisy Field, The Sticks and Kent Heights. It will be fun to see how many more (areas) people know."

Tom Bezigian Sr. - "Don't forget Suttonville! In that book, (Our Heritage) it points out that Metacomet was Massasoit's son. After Massasoit's death in Boston, Metacomet went on a rampage against the British, who gave him the name "King Phillip". Their names are memorialized as street names that you can see at their intersection in North Broadway."

Bruce Zarembka - "It's all East Providence. Look at how many zip codes Providence has..."

Michael Reed - "Riverside & Rumford are villages in the city of East Providence, I live in Riverside & also state I'm from Riverside. We have our own post office, middle school, waterfront and we have the largest taxpayer in the city which is Mobil, so while we are technically attached to East Providence, we are Riverside all the way."

Joanne Ray - "ALL EAST PROVIDENCE just different zip codes.. if we all had the same zip code [like Barrington] we would all be in EASTA PROV..LIKE CHUCK STEVENS use to say …anyone remember him on the radio?"

Jeffrey P. Lima - "I find it confusing especially with navigation and sending mail...

Speaking as a "non-townie" I look at them as different towns/cities." (Author's note: Lima is a real estate agent and home 'stager' for real estate sales. He lives in Oak Hill, Pawtucket and finds this all confusing)!

Paul Moura - "All East Providence. I view Rumford where I live as a section of the city same as Fox Point was when I lived in Providence."

Gail Duarte - "Well, Legally, it is one city w/ 3 zip codes. However, if you've lived here a long time, you recognize that each of the major sections seems to have a personality of their own and people are very loyal to the place they grew up. For example, I grew up in the center of the city (the neighbors called it Brightridge, the developer called it Veterans' Park). I recently moved to Riverside - people asked if I would know anyone there? Like I was moving to another state. A former Riverside teacher friend tells the story of a time the class was discussing holidays. She asked one student how he celebrated. His reply? "We go out of town. My grandmother lives in Rumford!"

Dorothy Gerstenlauer - "I have 'Our Heritage, EP History' in my home library. My understanding is that EP is the city. Rumford, Riverside, etc. are villages with separate zip codes, but all part of the whole. Is there not only one city hall? Is there not only one city council with members elected from districts 1,2,3, and 4?" (Author's note: Dorothy is a former EP school board member now living in Virginia).

Heather Vine - "It's all just sections of East Providence, one larger city with 3 zip codes and areas. Similar to Pawtucket which has Fairlawn, Woodlawn, Darlington, Countryside, and more? I'm not sure. I grew up in the middle of EP, Central area, moved to Quality Hill area of Pawtucket for 1 year, back to Central EP, then to Riverside... Which could be broken down even further to The Terrace. It's all East Providence and I've always been a Townie!"

Patti Streit - "I've always thought of the identification with Riverside or Rumford as a positive - makes the City more town-like....as was said in a previous post - some individuality. That being said - it's the sum of it all that makes everyone Townies."

And so your comments kept coming! We appreciate that. Some, like our next quote from Rita, will not use East Providence as a mailing address due to postal error:

Rita Falaguerra - "I started using Riverside when the post office went to the 4 digit extensions and my address went to Providence, RI 02905(Not East Providence 02915) It took a huge amount of work to get my IRS refund and the Post office to change my address. Plus they sell the lists so, at that time, i never got my apex statement, another huge problem, it was a total nightmare! since then I have used Riverside and by doing so I have not had any more problems.....I have to get my credit reports fixed too because apex never called the number on records to see if we had actually moved. Had they done that the situation would have been corrected a lot sooner. a real nightmare!!

Sandy Viveiros-Medeiros - "I have to be honest here I always say I am from Riverside, and I do feel that there is a separation...I think the only time all 3 parts come together is when we are in high school. When you live in Riverside, Rumford seems far away...But I do believe we are all townies whether you come from Riverside, Rumford or East Providence..."

Valerie Perry - "I get a big kick out of obituaries that have one family member living in Riverside, one in Rumford, and another in East Providence. Wonder if they are able to get together for the holidays!"

Patricia Cabral McKinnon - "Don't like to admit it but....Rumford & Riverside were different. I thought going to Crescent Park was so far away (maybe another town).

Keith Gonsalves - "It is a RI (New England ) thing we take ownership of where we live, and that we are the only ones who know what is needed in our world, Our small town thoughts keeps the state in the shape it is in, I say consolidation is needed. Do we need 30 plus cities and towns in RI, but we do love our little place in the world. People are proud and protective of where they live, special names for the little piece of the world that is better than everywhere else, Their home"

Mary Medeiros - "It really bothers me too! Once I had a person on the phone tell me that I didn't know where I lived!!"

Bruce Zarembka - "I know what you mean.... (Mary) it drives me crazy. We are all from East Providence!"

Lenny Butler - "Bob, your solicitation of stories relative to E.P. neighborhoods struck a chord. For me, as a child growing up on Central Avenue, the Central Avenue playground meant the world to me. In the early 60s when we moved there, rather than a playground, the area was nothing more than a wooded spot. I recall picking wild blackberries in there and kids from Blanding Avenue had built clubhouses or forts. Once the playground was established and as I grew older, the basketball courts became my second home. Speaking to the sectional issue you raise, I remember how we considered the basketball teams from Glenlyon, Hull St., Pierce Field, Sabin Point etc., to be rivals and we took pride in beating them. A funny story: I remember one summer Bill Maaia was our counselor/coach. He had us doing shuffle drills on the "steaming hot" pavement. My Mom bought my sneakers at Zayre and they weren't the best. I remember literally wearing out a pair of sneakers in two weeks thanks to Bill! I have fond memories of my childhood and the Central Avenue playground is a huge part of those memories. Thanks for the opportunity to voice this. Just another thought...I lived on Central Avenue from age 6 to 23, so call it 18 years. I have now lived in Riverside for 29 years. I remember being at Central Jr. High and seeing a sign made by a cheerleader imploring the Blue devils to beat the "clam diggers". I had never heard the term used before. So I guess I have been a clam digger for 29 years. Also, there is a development west of Tripps Lane called Kent Gardens." (Author's note: Lenny, as Bill Maaia is a successful attorney now, I think he should buy you a pair of sneakers!).

Suzanne Senteio - "I Never heard of Kent Gardens? I thought Riverside Started At Village Green Apartments, bc I used to live there and my zip code 02915."

Peter Covill - "I 'm from Riverside, feel a little connection to EP but no connection to Rumford."

Joe Broadmeadow - "Bob, way back in 1978 when I was a brand new patrolman working Riverside. Once one of the more thoughtful arrestees asked me, quite seriously, "Hey, why do you East Providence Pigs come down here anyway." Not only was Riverside a different city, some considered it a different country!" (ouch!).

Suzanne Senteio - "To me it is all East Providence. I think they call Rumford that part of EP because of Rumford Baking Powder Co. Is it still there? Where is Phillipsdale?"

Michael Perry - "EP is all one as far as I'm concerned."

Vince Sylvia - "I consider them separate."

Sherri Owens - "all EP but absolutely 3 sections. Riverside, Ep and Rumford (at least when we were growing up and in school) there are 3 zip codes."

Dave Robberson - "What about Phillipsdale? 02915 = Riverside; 02916 = Rumford. What's the 3rd and what does it cover??"

Claudia Orabone - "Separate towns to me in the city of east prov."

Michael Perry - "Phillipsdale is on Noyes Ave from Bourne Ave. Watchamoket is Lower Warren Ave where the 133 club & Comedy Connnection are located. Riverside starts from Pawtucket Ave and Wampanoag Trail. Rumford starts from N Broadway and Roger Williams Ave meet."

Barbara Harnett Owen - "They're three sections of the city of EP. I grew up in Boyden Heights, a neighborhood in Riverside. But when I'm asked where I'm from, I say East Providence."

Cyndy Spencer Audette - "My Dad grew up on Woodward Ave., and he said that area of EP was called "Suttonville". Don't know how many streets it included."

Donna Gablinske - "Very interesting details here. I was only aware of the three sections with zip code. Also, Kent Heights area which is in Riverside zip code. All East Providence with 3 sections, really 4 if you include Kent Heights. In the end we were Townies."

Elizabeth Melo Lindell - "I agree 3 sections of the same city all EP; more like neighborhood designations not towns since they all share the same government. I don't think they aren't managed or financed differently (i could be wrong)."

Scott Lewis - "EP is all one. The state of RI only considers it EP. https://www.ri."

Bill Fontes - "It is definitely all one city with one government, one police force, one high school, etc. I just remember sections called Rumford and Riverside, and then "everything else" that was just referred to as "central EP". For instance, when I played little league at Pierce Field it was, and still is, called East Providence Central Little League. You think that's confusing, now I live in Cranston which has way more than 3 "sections" each with it's own provincial name."

Charles Marcus - "I always thought Rumford began or ended at Taunton Avenue, and Riverside began at the junction of Veterans Parkway and Pawtucket Avenue. That's where the zip codes changed, anyway, and that's where the boundaries for attending Central or Riverside JHS' were laid out. Of course, I lived on Mountain Avenue. So, my address was Riverside but I attended Central. Real confusing...."

Dave Robberson - "The zip code theory (or post office) appears to be the most feasible. Nuff said."

Jennie Rose - "Can anyone agree with me that the BK on Taunton Ave. used to be "Kelly's", right around the time the old McDonalds existed?"

Michael Nyse - "Anyone remember Indian Cliff which is no longer there? You would have to hike through the Kent Heights landfill (the dump) now Kent field off Clyde avenue, through the woods where Ann & Hope would later be built, to find a deep rock cliff known as Indian Cliff. I read it was a noted Wampanoag lookout point during the King Philips war.

Lorraine Jennings Baker - "Hello, wondering if anyone used to swim at Sabin's Point in Riverside and is Riverside still a part of East Providence or is it now it's own entity?"

Tricia Machado - "I lived in Riverside for fifty years and never ever did I consider myself an EP resident! Oh yeah this rivalry goes way back!"

Quinn Britto - "My opinion is only we have different zip codes, but we all go to the same High school. All the rivalries we had in sports, church leagues, pop-warner football etc ended when you hit E.P.H.S. We all played for the same team, so what rivalries? financial maybe? Unless you went to a private school, you're a TOWNIE like the rest of us. Like it or not".

Bill Flanagan - "Proud to be a Riverside rat!"

Billy Hassell - "Ditto what Billy Flanagan said. Together we are Hub and Bub of Riverside and proud of it. Just because we say we're from Riverside doesn't mean we're not still Townies."

The Reporter interviewed one of East Providence's foremost historians. David Kelleher has taught school and been a school principal in each of the city's major neighborhoods. "You know, I'm originally from Pawtucket but I moved here in 1967," he said with a smile. "I guess I'm not a Townie." Well, Kelleher may not be a Townie by birth, but he certainly knows the city and has done as much for "Townie Pride" as any local. In addition to being a well respected educator he has volunteered his time as a major EP historian. He is an active member of the East Providence Historical Society and recently has taken the lead in the Pomham Lighthouse restoration and preservation effort to name only a couple of his efforts. "When I am in the context of a larger audience I refer to my residence or work as being in East Providence. For example, I've taught in East Providence not Riverside, Rumford or Kent Heights, etc. However, I will at times list my return address as 'Riverside' (Kelleher lives on the Terrace - another small section of EP)", said Kelleher. "In the end, I agree with Myron Francis (the late former Superintendent of Schools), who promoted one city - East Providence, with Townie Pride." In fact, many have pointed to the fact that East Providence has always had just one high school. "This helped with citywide unity. After the elementary and middle school years promote to the one EP High School, the kids are all one, all Townies".

So, for now, although there are many opinions on the matter - the fact remains that East Providence is the one and only legal name of this once All-American City. However like many other cities/towns in Rhode Island, it is made up of many neighborhoods. Neighborhoods which one is free to identify with. It truly takes a village - or many.

(Credits: Statewide Historical Preservation Report, 1976; Our Heritage: A History of East Providence; Social Media). Follow up this story and others with updates on ReporterToday.com. comments can also be sent to bobrodericks@gmail.com).

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