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Forestdale One Room Schoolhouse, N. Smithfield RI
This blog entry is part of an ongoing project called “One Room Schoolhouses in CT”). Forestdale Schoolhouse 190 School St. North Smithfield RI (the Forestdale section) Built in 1876 this school took it’s last students in 1974 before shutting the doors to formal education. The builiding is currently owned by the Town of North Smithfield and leased to the North Smithfield Heritage Association. The building is being upkept very well with a master plan for future improvements. To see some interior images and what is on the docket for repairs go here: https://www.nsmithfieldri.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif3596/f/uploads/1607-forestdale-report.pdf I was in high school during the early 70’s attending a large modern building with 350 students…
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Historic Slatersville RI
[wzslider interval=”5000″ height=”800″ info=”true” lightbox=”true”]North Smithfield RI, located on the Branch River, pop. about 12,000 is home to the villages of Slatersville and Forestdale. Best known as the location of the first planned industrial village in America. John and Samuel Slater purchased land, circa 1803, with the intent of building a self sustained community whose economy was driven chiefly by textile mills. Most of the mills have been demolished but still standing is the Slatersville Cotton Mill, circa 1826. Although falling into decline, in 2011 it was fully restored and, present day, serves as an apartment complex. Slatersville Mill utilized the Branch River for power and transportation but ultimately the…
