RIPROVID-L Archives

Archiver > RIPROVID > 2007-05 > 1178858085


From: Jay Leach <>
Subject: Re: [RIPROVID] St Michael's church, Smithfield
Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 21:34:45 -0700 (PDT)


Lisa,
I talked with Fr. Valentine of St Michael's today.
The rec building and the old rectory still stand.
I think I found the site.
Jay

----- Original Message ----
From: Lisa Lepore <>
To:
Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2007 10:58:38 PM
Subject: Re: [RIPROVID] St Michael's church, Smithfield

Hi Jay -

Maybe the library can help you if they give them
a call. I looked at the Sanborn Maps a few years
ago when I had a free trial somewhere, and if you
can find a map, they are great. They don't have
all years for all places, but will all the mills there,
hopefully they will have something between
1875 and 1967.

When I looked through the preservation information
on the site I sent, there was a map in there with some
of the mill buildings. If you can enlarge it, maybe it
will identify the power building of the manville jenks
textile mill.

Do you remember the Rec building? According to
the church book by Cullen, it was next door to the
church. I would imagine there have been some
new buildings constructed since the 1960's.

If the current priest doesn't know where the church
was located, maybe there is a photo or something
in the library.

If you actually attend this church, maybe there is
a long time parishioner who can show you where it
was located, in case the current pastor is too new.

If I find anything else, I'll let you know.

Lisa



----- Original Message -----
From: "Jay Leach" <>
To: <>
Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2007 2:18 PM
Subject: Re: [RIPROVID] St Michael's church, Smithfield


> Hi Lisa,
> For some reason, I can't get into Sanborn maps with my library card.
> Don't know why.
>
> The rec center is no longer there.
>
> I go by there everyday practically and figure out where the property was.
>
> Curiosity has gotten the best of me.
>
> I may ask Father Valentine (current pastor) to take a 5 minute walk with
> me!
>
> Thanks for your info,
>
> Jay Leach
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Lisa Lepore <>
> To:
> Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2007 12:04:01 PM
> Subject: Re: [RIPROVID] St Michael's church, Smithfield
>
>
> Jay -
>
> I checked a few things, and came up with this -
> The current church, built in 1967 is at
> 80 Farnum Pike, Georgiaville, RI
>
> The original church was demolished. I couldn't find
> an exact address, but, from the city directories at ancestry,
> in 1937 & 1939, the church was located on Homestead Ave
> in Georgiaville
>
>
> *The cornerstone was laid May 1875, and the church
> was dedicated in October 24, under Rev. William Wiseman.
>
> In 1935 when the Manville Jenckes property was being sold,
> Father Ryan purchased almost 3 acres adjoining the the church
> and converted the Power house which was next to the church,
> into a recreation center. *
>
> This information is from
> The Catholic Church in Rhode Island
> Authors:Cullen, Thomas F.
> City of Publication:North Providence, R.I.
> Publisher:The Franciscan Missionaries of Mary
> Date:1936
>
> which you can find at Heritagequest.
>
> Found this historic architecture page for North Smithfield.
> http://www.preservation.ri.gov/pdfs_zips/survey_pdfs/smithfield.pdf
>
> on page 46 it talks about the original church being demolished.
>
> The Beers map at the rigenweb pages is from 1870, so
> too early.
>
> Check the Sanborn maps http://sanborn.umi.com/
> if you have a RI Library card. I don't know what years
> or what areas they cover.
>
> Since the church was demolished recently, hopefully
> someone on this list might know exactly what is there
> today.
>
> Lisa
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jay Leach" <>
> To: "RIPROVID-L listserve" <>
> Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2007 10:53 PM
> Subject: [RIPROVID] St Michael's church, Smithfield
>
>
>> Does anyone know the original location of the church?
>> I was told it was on Homestead Avenue but driving around there I don't
>> see
>> where it might have been.
>> There is a small historic cemetery there that I saw.
>> Any historic maps that show where the church was (est. 1875)?
>>
>
>
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