A Railroad brings changes to Apponaug
The village we call Apponaug has undergone many changes from its early
colonial period to the 21st century. At times, these changes were
beneficial and brought about a feeling of pride in the community. At
other times, however, the opposite was true, as the village seemed to
be in decline. During the late 20th century, thanks to a number of
talented architects and a sympathetic city administration, Apponaug was
once again being viewed as a place of architectural and historical
significance. Recently a visitor from Georgia, who was in City Hall
viewing the displays in the lobby, commented that Apponaug was a very
charming village. Armed with the booklet “The Walking Tour of Historic
Apponaug Village,” she was able to enjoy some of the nicest attractions
in Warwick, as fortunately, a number of Apponaug's older houses have
been recently restored.
The Morris Contribution
In addition to work done on the Federal Period Warner-Harrison and
Remington houses on the southeastern side of Post Road, another major
restoration has taken place on what was once known as "Judges Row." The
two-and-a-half story, gable-roofed structure on the north side of the
bridge at 3351 Post Road has been restored by architect Robert Stirling
Morris. Most villagers are very pleased to see this old building take
on a new aspect and they appreciate its owner's concern for preserving
one of the area's oldest structures.
The Central Café
From the 1940's until 1986, it was known as the Central Cafe and was
more indicative of the changes that befell Apponaug in the
mid-twentieth century than a representative of its earlier heritage.
Mr. Morris, in his restoration, has uncovered some very interesting
facts about the building. He believes it was once a tidal mill, perhaps
for snuff manufacturing, before it became a residence, circa 1743. An
addition to the building was made at about that time and alterations
had to be made to allow for a staircase and fireplaces. The old
chestnut beams, the mortise and tenon type construction, the unbroken
foundation under the original section, and other signs indicate the
structure is over 250 years old and may be one of the oldest buildings
in Apponaug.
The pride and care taken in the restoration of the house at 3351 Post
Road helps to bring Apponaug's past into perspective with its hope for
the future. From its position at the bridge, this house commands a view
of what once was the thriving port of Apponaug and indicates that the
fine old homes can and do serve a useful purpose in the twenty-first
century.
The Greene family connection
As do so many other houses in Warwick, the Morris house has a
connection with the famous Greene family, especially Jacob, the older
brother of General Nathanael Greene, Rhode Island's most illustrious
Revolutionary War hero. Much of the property that the Morris house
overlooks along the cove was owned by Jacob Greene & Co.
The five Greene brothers conducted business in Apponaug under various
firm names from the 1770's until the early 1800's and the establishment
of Jacob Greene & Co. at the Cove indicates the importance of
Apponaug as a seaport during this period.
In addition to the Greene enterprises, the area along present day Water
St., near the Diamond Lumber Company, flourished in the late 18th
century. There was once a sawmill here, and at the junction of Water
Street and Colonial Ave. there was a shipyard and the DeWolfe wharf.
Warwick’s Workhouse
As might be expected, not everyone was prosperous and Warwick had its
share of the indigent and the helpless. One visual reminder of that
aspect can be seen on Colonial Ave., not far from Post Road. This is
the old town workhouse, built in 1765. In 1763, the Town of Warwick
received a quarter of an acre of land from the Stafford family. It was
bounded on the east by a shipyard and to the southwest by a highway.
This area would today be 57 Colonial Avenue and it was here the
workhouse was built. It has been greatly altered over the centuries and
was moved across the street to its present location in 1875.
Colonial Rhode Island followed the example set in England for the care
of the poor. Old Elizabethan laws placed the responsibility on local
governments and called for towns and parishes to build workhouses to
care for the "... lame, ...olde, blynde...poor...." This modest,
gable-roofed structure, set gable end to the street, was Warwick's
answer for its growing number of indigent citizens. Despite age and
other infirmities, the hapless inhabitants of the poorhouse were made
to work at whatever tasks they were capable of performing. In the early
period, vagrants and beggars were dealt with harshly by physical
punishments and those unable to work because of advanced age were often
the responsibility of family and friends.
By the mid-18th century, Warwick began to assume more of the
responsibility and used tax monies to buy raw materials to give work to
the unemployed. All those at the "workhouse" who were physically
capable were expected to work, at least by growing as much food as
possible and by making their own clothes. By today's standards, the
conditions in the "workhouse" would be considered extremely demeaning
and harsh.
During the Revolutionary War, the town enabled the tenants of the
workhouse to make bandages and blankets for the Continental Army,
providing a necessary service and giving employment to those in need.
Difficult times following the War and after 1812, filled the poorhouse
to capacity and conditions became even more deplorable. If this old
house could talk, it would have a sad tale to relate. By 1841, the
small house no longer could handle the increasing number of poor and
unfortunates and a new, larger poorhouse and farm was established in
Buttonwoods. The house became a private dwelling and after 1875, was
divided into two tenements that were rented to mill workers.
The impact of the Stonington Railroad
When the once lucrative sea trade declined in Apponaug in the 19th
century, the village began to take on a new dimension due to the rise
of the textile industry and the coming of the Stonington Railroad.
While Apponaug Cove continued to be a significant avenue of trade, it
was soon overshadowed by the advantages the railroad offered in the
shipping of goods to the interior of the country.
During the Revolutionary War, Apponaug had benefited when the British
stopped the ferry from Warwick Neck to the islands and forced goods to
be shipped overland. Because of its location on the Post Road. the
village grew in importance as the flow of goods from Warwick's
agricultural community passed through Apponaug.
The need for a railroad
During the early 19th century, the Whigs advocated government support
of turnpikes, canals, and railroads. As the Pawtuxet River gave Warwick
an ample supply of water power for the textile mills, and the high
protective tariffs gave her a waiting market, all that was lacking was
a railroad to ship their manufactured goods to interior markets. The
Stonington Railroad developed as a result of the work of a number of
Rhode Islanders, many of whom had joined the Whig Party in the early
19th century. Apponaug's businessmen realized that the railroad could
offer a greater opportunity for the distribution of goods.
The state's first railroad
In June of 1835, the first railroad train in Rhode Island ran between
Boston and Providence. Within two and a half years, the Stonington
railroad, extending south through the state, was open for travel.
Passengers from Boston to New York in the 1830's and 1840's traveled on
the Boston and Providence railroad to Fox Point. Once in Providence,
they took the ferry to the India Point terminus on the west side of the
Providence River and then rode along the coast to Stonington, Conn.
Here they boarded a steamer to New York. This system continued until
1848 when the railroad was finally extended to New York. At this time,
the name was changed from the Stonington Railroad to the New York,
Providence, and Boston line. In 1893, this railroad merged with the New
York, New Haven and Hartford system.
From the very beginning of its existence, the Stonington Railroad made
some significant changes. Its route closely followed the old colonial
artery, the Post Road, and it rendered the New London Turnpike, which
had become a major artery of trade, practically obsolete. Apponaug,
because of its location on the Post Road was given new life and its
textile industry became even more prosperous.
The new immigrants
In addition to the changes in Apponaug's textile industry, the railroad
brought in a tide of immigration, which was to alter the old fabric of
the village and bring in unimaginable changes. Prior to the coming of
the railroad, Warwick had been almost totally inhabited by
British-Protestant stock. In the 1830s, demand for labor to build the
roads witnessed large numbers of Irish Catholics immigrating to Rhode
Island.
Old prejudices surfaced and a period of culture shock engulfed
Apponaug. The Irish were encamped at Sweet Meadow Brook. adjacent to
the railroad tracks in Apponaug. Local archeologist, William S. Fowler,
in his report on the site notes that. "...sometime between 1790 and
1875 the land was owned by Capt. Daniel Brown, ...the historic event
which more than any other probably altered somewhat the surface of the
site was the laying of the first Boston to New York railroad...."
Fowler tells us. "...Here in 1837 the old Stonington & Providence
Railroad, commonly known as the Stonington road, opened for travel." He
goes on to say, "For several years prior to this it was under
construction by hand-shovel and wheelbarrow labor, and it is likely
that the terrace site beside fresh spring water would have been as
attractive then for a camp as in earlier days."
The archeologist found a number of artifacts in the upper six inches of
soil in the excavated area that indicate the railroad gangs were here.
They found white clay pipe fragments common in the early 19th century,
a copper Roman Catholic religious medal dated 1830, an iron spoon, part
of a china egg and scattered pieces of coal. Later, they discovered
some cut nails, a strap hinge and a copper wire door hook. From this
Fowler concludes, "The workmen may have lived in huts; kept a few
chickens; and worked small garden patches to help provide them with
food..."
When the railroad was completed, some of the Irish remained in Warwick
to work in the mills. Many of them went to the western section and by
the late 19th century became a dominant force in areas such as
Crompton, Centerville, Clyde and Phenix. Later in the century, the
railroads carried large numbers French-Canadians to the Pawtuxet Valley
and many immigrants from Sweden and Italy to the Pontiac mills.
In 1893, the New York and New England Railroad went bankrupt and
Marsden Perry, a master manipulator of businesses, was appointed
receiver. He delivered the assets of this railroad to the New Haven
Line and this enabled John P. Morgan's New York, New Haven and Hartford
Railroad to develop a near monopoly in New England and exert a
tremendous influence on the economy of Rhode Island.