Historic Districts in Exeter

When you hear the words "National Register of Historic Places", you usually think of 18th century houses where famous politicians once lived, or majestic Civil War battlefields. So would it surprise you to learn that there are 9 sites in the town of Exeter that are included in the National Register?

In the late 1970's and early 1980's, just after our country's Bicentennial, the Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission identified areas around the state of which were of historical or archaeological significance. Exeter, of course, was included. 

Each site was researched, surveyed and documented. All of this information was then typed (yes, typed! On a typewriter!) onto National Register of Historic Places nomination forms, and submitted to the National Park Service. 

waterwheel foundation
at Fisherville 

Biographies of some of the site's past owners are included too. For example, the textile mill that is the centerpiece of the Fisherville Historic District was named for its owner, a man named Schuyler Fisher.  Fisher was an unsuccessful Temperance Party candidate in the 1852 race for Lieutenant Governor. "Temperance" was a relatively new movement at that time, and came about over the growing incidence of public drunkenness in the state, especially on holidays like the Fourth of July.






The Exeter sites that were accepted to the National Register are listed below. Select each name to open a PDF that contains the nomination forms, supporting documentation, maps and acceptance letters (the "Parris Brook" document is currently unavailable). The great thing about all of this paperwork is the level of detail about the history and archaeology of each of the sites.

• Austin Farm Road Historic District
    Austin Farm Road, west of U.S. Route 95
• Fisherville Historic and Archaeological District
    William Reynolds Road
• Hallville Historic and Archaeological District
    Hallville Road
• Parris Brook Archaeological District
    Mount Tom Road
• Sodom Mill Historic and Archaeological District
    Sodom Trail off Hallville Road
• Queen's Fort
    Stony Lane
• Simon Lillibridge Farm
    Summit Road
• Chestnut Hill Baptist Church/Baptist Church in Exeter
    Ten Rod Road
• Lawton's Mill/Albro Mill
    Ten Rod Road 

For a complete listing of all Rhode Island sites included in the National Register, see the Rhode Island Historic Preservation and Heritage Commission's "Rhode Island Properties" page.

An authentic Halloween experience : "The Tillinghast Nightmare" debuts this week!

In a previous post last year,  we spoke of an upcoming film called "The Tillinghast Nightmare". The movie dealt with the fact  and fiction of "vampire exorcism" in 18th- and 19th-century New England. Its title refers to the Tillinghast family of Exeter.

Back in October of 2012, the movie's producers ar Firesite Films came to the Exeter Public Library to show a documentary on the making of the film. The documentary explained how those involved with the project were researching the story and shooting scenes, and featured an interview with our own Sheila Reynolds-Boothroyd!

But now we can announce that the movie is FINALLY here -  just in time for Halloween! You can see it in  Rhode Island showings at the following locations:

• Monday October 28 , 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
  Columbus Theater
  270 Broadway, Providence
  
• Tuesday October 29 - 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
  Jane Pickens Theater
  49 Touro St, Newport

More about the movie here.....

Hallville Road's History

Another great article from our Vice President, Gary Boden! 

Do you ever wonder about the names of some of the roads in our town? Gary looked into the history of Hallville Road. 

 How Hallville Road Got Its Name

Picturesque Beach Pond

A simple post for August - this tranquil scene of Beach Pond is from an 1881 book with the evocative title  "Picturesque Rhode Island - Pen and pencil sketches of the scenery and history its cities, towns and hamlets, and of men who have made them famous."

"Picturesque Rhode Island" - by W. H. Munro.
J.A. & R.A. Reid, Publishers. Providence. 1881.

In addition to etchings and stories, this book contains advertisements from manufacturers and hotels of yesteryear. You can view a copy of this book for yourself at many of the Rhode Island's public libraries: (unfortunately the Exeter Public Library is not lucky enough to have its own copy):    Ocean State Library locations for "Picturesque Rhode Island"

...thanks to EHA Vice President Gary Boden for finding and sharing!

The Mysterious Stone Piles of Exeter

"In the quiet forest of the Beach Pond State Park in western Exeter, situated between Old Voluntown Road and Ten Rod Road, on several acres of sloping ground, lie dozens of peculiar stone constructions" begins the story by  Exeter Historical Association Vice-President Gary Boden. 

If you've ever taken a walk in the woods in Exeter or West Greenwich,  you may have come across these mysterious piles of stones. The piles appear to be far more deliberately placed than a random collection of stones or boulders. 

But what are they, and why are they there? Click on the link below and find out Gary's theory!

The Mysterious Exeter Stone Piles - by Gary Boden