Time Has Wrought Marked Changes in Olneyville Square -- part 3 1918 in the Sunday Journal "The great freshet, which occurred about 1865, is well remembered by some of the older residents of Olneyville. The water filled house cellars, flooded the vestry of the church, washed away a part of the retaining wall of Proctor house, while the great cakes of ice that lodged against Tar Bridge so damaged that structure that it was made impassable for quite a while. "The Proctor house was removed to allow of the erection of Irons block, and located at 25 Pocasset avenue. With slight changes, it appears about as it did when it was the residential glory of the square. "The proposition to erect the Irons block, as well as the actual construction, was the talk of the village. It was considered a very important departure for Olneyville, and certainly it did materially alter the appearance of the square. The block was then owned by the Anthony estate. It was built by William D. Sherman, who opened a hardware store at the west end. The Town Clerk occupied rooms on the second floor, using an entrance at the west end of the building. The corner store was occupied by George Whipple, who sold men's furnishings and clothing, Damon Horton being his clerk. "For a long time the central store was occupied by Robert Melvin, a dealer in dry goods. Here, also, was the Post Office when James Walch was the Postmaster from 1891 to 1895, also during the incumbency of Walter Harris, and here Miss S. C. Lewis, after a rest extending over four years, again took employment. "We are now at what is now called Manton avenue, then Tar Bridge road. Over Tar Bridge one entered North Providence, and proceeding on his journey, passed through the villages of Dyerville and Triptown (Manton). "Overhanging the river at the end of Tar Bridge was a small building, in which Abel Reynolds kept a fish market, from 1855 to 1885, when he retired from the business. "A narrow gangway separated the fish market from the tavern building, and about 1861 a two-story structure was added to the tavern, on the upper floor of which was located what everybody in the village referred to as the 'gambling place over the fish market.' The entrance to this was via a narrow stairway, next to the bridge, but there was another leading up from the yard in the rear. "The long two-story building still standing and known as the Olneyville Hotel, was then designated as a tavern. It was kept by 'Ben' Mathewson. About in the centre was the front door leading to the rooms on the first and second floors. The barroom, then as now, was at the east end next to the passageway leading to the barn. There was also a long, open shed under which the farmers and others could leave their rigs while they went inside the house to refresh themselves at the bar. There was a hall on the second floor in which entertainments and dances were held. "One day, in 1861, the hotel caught fire, causing great excitment and a thorough turning out of the villagers. Runners were sent to the city to secure aid, while a bucket brigade worked between the river and the building. "Meanwhile the furniture taken from the tavern was carried to the front yard across the street, 'Ben" Mathewson trusting none to save his beloved fiddle, personally removing it, not to one, but to three different places before he felt quite satisfied that it was safe from injury and surreptitious removal. "The hand engines at last showed up from the city -- the Gaspee, a double-decker, and the No. 10 being located on Tar Bridge, and made ready to pump. The fire chief stood at the edge of the crowd, directing the movements of the men who were sent up the ladders to the roof, through which the flames were now breaking. "The word was given, and the double rows of men at the engines, coatless, hatless and hoarsely shouting, began swinging the handles up and down. 'Break her down, break her down,' they shouted, and the water went flying. A little later the No. 7 brought from Richmond street by men who were panting because of their long run, came down the hill and through the crowd to the square. Soon another good stream was playing on the fire. The blaze decreasing on the main part of the building, attention was directed to the shed. This, however, could not be saved. To be continued. Copied by Priscilla Fanning, January, 2005. --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - now with 250MB free storage. Learn more.