Woonsocket, Rhode Island, USA
1854 - Woonsocket / Beron / Hamlet / Jencksville / Globe / Union

Woonsocket, a flourishing post-village of Smithfield and Cumberland townships. Providence co., Rhode Island, on both sides of the Blackstone river, and on the Providence and Worcester railroad, at the North-eastern terminus of the proposed Woonsocket Union railroad, 16 miles N. by W. from Providence. At present it comprises one principal and several smaller villages, viz. Woonsocket, Beron, Hamlet, Jencksville, Globe, and Union villages, all included under the general name of Woonsocket. There are now in operation at this point, 19 cotton mills, in which are 73,304 spindles, and 1641 looms, annually consuming 6185 bales of cotton, and 11,300 gallons of oil, producing 276,538 yards of cloth per week ; also 5 woollen mills, with 9770 spindles, 227 looms, and 22 sets of cards, turning out 33,000 yards of cloth per week, and consuming annually 600,000 bales of wool, and 10,000 gallons of oil — preparations are being made the present season to increase the above to the extent of 288 looms, and 10,000 spindles— also 8 ma chine shops, 2 iron foundries, 1 gas manufactory, sash, blind, and planing works, 1 spool-thread factory, 1 manufactory of sewing-silk and silk fringes, 1 of gold pencils and jewellery, 1 of musical instruments, i of tin-plate and stoves, 3 of scythe-stones connected with an extensive quarry in the immediate vicinity, and 2 marble-yards, be sides numerous other establishments.

There are in Woonsocket 7 churches, 1 high-school, 1 newspaper office, 6 banks, 1 savings' institution, 80 stores, 3 hotels, and 6 livery stables, containing about 50 horses. Annual amount of freight, 19,681 tons ; value of goods manufactured and merchandise sold, $2,292,670. An eminence in the rear of Beron affords a beautiful view of the town. Many of the most elegant dwellings occupy, in groups, the extensive swells of high land which extend in every direction above the valley of the river. Patriot Buildings (printing) is a fine specimen of architectural beauty. Woonsocket has telegraphic communication with Pawtucket and Providence. Its position on the route of the New York and Boston Air-line railroad is favorable to a rapid increase of business, and before many years the village will, without doubt, contain a large population. Population in 1853, about 6500.

A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

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