Pettaquamscutt Historical Society Museum

"The Pettaquamscutt Historical Society Museum" houses the organization, a collection of fine Early American artifacts, and a history within the building's wall.

History of the Building

Pettaquamscutt Historical Society Museum in Kingston, Rhode Island, was the location of the former old RI Washington County Jail. [Hoxie, Louise M., The History of Peacedale, Rhode Island, 1968, Chapter 4, p. 32 Wakefield Printing Company for Pettaquamscutt Historical Society, RI] situated at the crest of the hill on Kingstown Road and Upper College Road at the University of Rhode Island southeastern entrance on Route 138. The front building was constructed in 1792, the rear building 1856 as the old jail, for the purpose of confining criminals who disrupted the society of old Washington County, with further redesigned 1861. One of many locals tradesmen, Amos Reynold Sweet [Joy, Robert, 1954, "Natural Bonesetters with special reference to the Sweet Family of RI", Bullentin of the History of Medicine, RI 28, No.3, p. 416-441.] set the rafters of the structure with local oakwood, and built walls of mica greywacke and Westerly RI granite stones, mortar and the iron cell gates. [McBurney, Christian M., A History of Kingston, Rhode Island, 1700-1900, Heart of Rural South County, 2004, Pettaquamscutt Historical Society,Kingston, Rhode Island] The jail was closed in 1956, and the building by 1958 housed the Pettaquamscutt Historical Society Museum. The front secction of the building was redesigned in 1956 to establish the museum art collection, library and historical records, while the rear section of jail cells was refurbished and opened to the visiting public.

History of the Society

The Pettaquamscutt Historical Society was founded in 1958 by South County, RI residents to encourage the study and appreciation of the history of the region; collect and preserve materials of historic interest; and preserve and mark local historical sites. [Greenwood, Courtney, December 17, 2005, Edward Everett Hale House to Become Museum, "Narragansett Times" p. 1 ] A quarterly newsletter is printed offering sponsored educational workshops and lectures, and historical site visits. Pettaquamscutt Historical Society is a member of the Historical Sites Coalition of RI (HSCRI).

Pettaquamscutt Historical Society Museum Collection

The artifact collection and library content was initiated in 1958 by donations from local residents' personal ancestral items of Early American history.

Marjorie Webster Schunke,(1905-2002) a historian was instrumental in gathering the archived historical materials in the library and wrote volumes of printed research on local geneology, sites and cemeteries.

On loan to Pettaquamscutt Historical Museum by his family, William Russell Sweet (1860-1946) [McParland, Martha, Jan. 1968, Family who Practiced the Medical Art of Bonesetting, "Yankee", RI, Vol. 32, p.80, 98-101. (reprinted from McParland, M., Feb. 16, 1830, Family who Practiced the Medical Art of Bonesetting, "Providence Journal",RI )] carved in 1896 a hutch cabinet themed upon the poem "The Song of Hiawatha" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow published 1855. William Russell Sweet greatly admired the American Indian and depicted their lifestyle in some of his art pieces. William Russell Sweet carved many wood pieces including wall plaques, tables and chairs each of individual themes; such as the Sweet Coat of Arms, New England sea shells as quahogs and scallops, maple leaves, nuts and berries, textile weaving patterns, and animals.

The 14-by-6-foot mural depicting a white overseer and black slaves in 18th century Narragansett, RI, entitled "The Economic Activities of the Narragansett Planters", the painting's subject matter -- slavery -- disturbs some people, while others argue it's important to remember southern Rhode Island's plantation past. The mural was painted by Rhode Island native and renowned illustrator Ernest Hamlin Baker in the 1930s, as part of the federal government's Work Projects Administration. It hung for nearly 60 years in the Wakefield, RI post office, until the post office closed in 1999. [Jordan, Jennifer D., January 3, 2003, Controversial painting hangs in limbo, "Providence Journal"]

Footnotes

References

* Hoxie, Louise M., The History of Peacedale, Rhode Island, 1968, Chapter 4, p. 32 Wakefield Printing Company for Pettaquamscutt Historical Society, RI.
* Joy, Robert, 1954, "Natural Bonesetters with special reference to the Sweet Family of RI", Bullentin of the History of Medicine, RI 28, No.3, p. 416-441.
* McBurney, Christian M., A History of Kingston, Rhode Island, 1700-1900, Heart of Rural South County, 2004, Pettaquamscutt Historical Society, Kingston, Rhode Island
* Greenwood, Courtney, December 17, 2005, Edward Everett Hale House to Become Museum, "Narragansett Times" p. 1 (Zwire)
* McParland, Martha, Jan. 1968, Family who Practiced the Medical Art of Bonesetting, "Yankee", RI, Vol. 32, p.80, 98-101. (reprinted from McParland, M., Feb. 16, 1830, Family who Practiced the Medical Art of Bonesetting, "Providence Journal", RI).
* Jordan, Jennifer D., January 3, 2003, Controversial painting hangs in limbo, "Providence Journal", RI.

External links

* [http://www.projo.com/art/content/projo_20030103_skmural3.677e7.html Jordan, Jennifer D. 2003 Projo Providence Journal]
* [http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15768469&BRD=1714&PAG=461&dept_id=73829&rfi=6 Greenwood, Courtney, 2005 Zwire Narragansett Times]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/kingstonrihistory/ McBurney, Christian M. 2004, A History of Kingston, RI]
* [http://www.pettaquamscutt.org The Pettaquamscutt Historical Society Museum]
* [http://www.theotherpages.org/poems/hiawatha.html "Song of Hiawatha" Theotherpages.org]

Contact Information

Pettaquamscutt Historical Society Museum 2636 Kingstown Road, Kingston, RI 02881 401-786-1328

Website: http://www.pettaquamscutt.org PHSM Email: [e-mail]