Time Has Wrought Marked Changes in Olneyville Square -- part 2 1918 in the Sunday Journal "The little triangular shaped piece of ground between this building and the church property next adjoining was first covered with a shed which was utilized for storage purposes. Later a barber's shop was placed there, and here for more than a quarter century "Gene" O'Neil has served the public. "Next came the white Free Baptist Meeting House. In front of the edifice was a high picket fence in which three gates were set. Two of these gates opened immediately in front of broad plank steps with a hand rail on either side leading to the platform before the front doors. The other gate opened upon stone steps leading to the vestry in which the Sunday school assembled and where evening prayer meetings were held. "Between the front doors was a large window, and back of this was the organ loft. In the front gable was a half circle window. This window remained when the structure was remodelled. Above the front gable rose a steeple, its spire being tipped with a vane. In the open bell-deck was suspended the bell which was cracked in later yars and still may be heard in the tower of the Plainfield Street Baptist Church. The bell was transferred at the time the Free Baptist Society went to its new home, in 1882 -- they had been in the old edifice since 1827. "At one time the building was used as a carriage repository by Harley Fiske. With many changes it was fitted up as Dyer's Opera House. Nothing seemed to meet with substantial success until the building was purchased and occupied by the Methodist Episcopal Tabernacle Church. "In the early days I am speaking of, and in front of the church where later the town pump stood, was an excavation, the sides of which were stone built up to the level of the street. There was an iron railing around this, excepting on the side next to the sidewalk, where steps led down to the stone floor. In the latter was a circular well-hole, fed by a bubbling spring. For the convenience of the wayfarer tin cups were suspended at the side of the well, and from this spring the near-by houses were supplied with drinking water, and from it the teamsters secured cool water for their steeds. "The water certainly seemed good in those days, though the process of dipping it was without the musical creak and clank of the wooden pump that at a later period lifted the water into the granite watering trough for beasts, or filled the large wrought-iron drinking cup which Luke Hanley forged for the benefit of thirsty humanity. Mr. Hanley was appointed in open town meeting "custodian" of the town pump to serve until removed by vote. "Muscial though the pump was on work days, it was somewhat a trial to the church people during the season when it was necessary to have the windows and doors open for ventilation, Sundays, as well as on the evenings when they gathered for weekly prayer. "Next to the church was a small building, later removed to the corner of the lane west of Wood's Hall, now occupied by a dealer in second hand furniture. At that time I speak of, this building was occupied by Robert Wilson, Town Clerk, as well as the Postmaster. "One entering this little building found Mrs. Mason busily engaged on the town records. At the right-hand side was the small window of the Post Office, at which 'Young Joe Mason' served as the clerk. "Along the sidewalk in front of the building was a row of feed boxes, where visitors from the country who had business with the Town Clerk, or in the neighboring stores, could hitch and provender their horses. "Next, was a two-story building, standing at the corner of the road leading to North Providence. It had a large front yard, which extended far out into the square, and around this was a picket fence. The yard was embellished with shrubbery and contained several cherry trees. This was the Proctor homestead, but it was occupied by Samuel Irons, whose wife was of the Proctor family, and Anthony Knight, whose daughter, Jane, now lives in another house fronting on the square. To be continued. Copied by Priscilla Fanning, January, 2005. --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Search presents - Jib Jab's 'Second Term'