Category: News

Ken Postle – Historic Cemeteries

March 30, 7:00 p.m.
North Gate Upstairs Hall
1873 Old Louisquisset Pike
Lincoln, RI  02865

Talk free and open to the public.  All welcome!

Ken’s Facebook Pages:

River Road, Blackstone River and Canal Cemeteries

Mineral Spring Avenue Veteran’s Cemetery

Jocelyn Dube interviews Ken Postle (from the March Landmark)

Ken Postle is intense. Let me rephrase that; you haven’t met intense until you’ve met Ken Postle. I decided one of the best ways to convey his enthusiasm would be to check out his frequent Facebook posts throughout February and offer you some highlights. His posts are tireless, inspirational, beautiful and emotional. Let’s start with this – If you’re an avid reader of The Valley Breeze, you might find the name Ken Postle slightly familiar. It’s because he’s been part of a news story in the periodical 5 different times in February. (Maybe more?) He was involved in coverage concerning the Lincoln Conservation Commission, as well as the Lincoln Town Council’s, work in regard to cemetery restoration and preservation. Ken, along with BVHS Vice President John Houghton, stood before the Commission and was awarded 600 dollars for restoration work. From there, the Town Council voted to enact stricter legislation on construction near cemeteries, hopefully ensuring their protection. He was instrumental in Pawtucket removing debris that had been allowed to pile up on gravesites behind the public works building. This was a problem that government officials had promised a resolution to years ago. Ken refused it to be swept under the rug. Finally, he was interviewed about the terrible condition of historic cemeteries in North Providence. One theme runs through all these news stories: cemeteries. Ken Postle is enthusiastically working to uncover, preserve and restore historic cemeteries through the Blackstone Valley; right now he’s focused in Lincoln and North Providence.

His Facebook group, River Road, Blackstone River and Canal Cemeteries, shows just how committed he is; and how nothing stands in the way of Ken Postle. On February 6th, for instance, traveling in his wife’s car, he breaks down with a dead battery. Now for me, after waiting in the cold for a jump, I would have called it a day and gone home to some junk TV and high calorie food. Ken Postle, however, made the rounds in Pawtucket, checking up on cemeteries and seeing if progress had been made on the aforementioned debris removal. After discovering a cemetery in North Providence, Ken pulled out a banner day on February 20th. He spent the morning answering e-mails about gravesites and met with the Town Historian, Tom Greene. After that, he shot over to the Sons of the American Revolution Banquet where he was awarded the bronze medal for local preservation efforts. Again, for me, this is a pretty good day, and after the free meal from the S.A.R., I would have gone home and spent the night finding the perfect spot for my medal. Ken Postle pulled on his boots (or maybe he was already wearing them) and spent the rest of the day (right up until dark) cleaning up the newly found plots at NP4, or Sunset Cemetery. He gets his new phone activated on the 21st and instead of calling his friends and installing apps, Ken drives out and tests the camera under the full moon at Sunset Cemetery. This is the type of person Ken Postle is; relentless and incredible. Keep in mind, this is his “side job”. This is his unpaid weekend hobby. Ken works fulltime during the week. He has a lovely wife, 4 amazing children and 2 precious grandkids. His passion for cemetery restoration is exemplified by how critical it is to him that he still fit it into his already busy life.

He has uncovered more than 3000 memorials, most of them Vets and their families. He has obstacles. He has to listen to critics and naysayers who come out and sneer at what he does. People sometimes can’t help but try and get others down by telling them their work is futile. They try to dishearten you by reminding you of how big the task at hand is. Ken’s heart is too strong to be conquered. He is reminded of the grace behind his work when a family gets connected to their ancestors. His work isn’t futile when he sees that spark in other volunteers. It comes in that moment when they uncover something broken and are able to see it fixed.

What does Ken want out of 2016? “I want to continue recovering the fragile and missing in our local connecting communities, while empowering the neighbors of the yards to restore and preserve what we have found-the more civic and school groups we can encourage and involve the better. In Pawtucket, our work efforts led to local school kids doing essay contests, flaggings and parades to honor our fallen and living veterans-I would like to see similar efforts start in Lincoln, Cumberland and North Providence. As always, the work goes on one stone and yard at a time-we can’t get discouraged by the enormity of the missing and neglected, instead we need take advantage of every opportunity to raise awareness and awaken folk to the buried treasures in their midst…” Let’s help him succeed. Donations can be made to BVHS on Ken’s behalf. Attend our lecture on March 30th at 7 P.M. to meet Ken yourself.

Historical Cemetery Recovery and Restoration Project

Lime Rock Grange #22  Exhibit

February 20 and 21, 2016
North Gate Downstairs
2:00-4:00 p.m.

On February 20-21, the BVHS will be exhibiting some of the records and memorabilia from the Lime Rock Grange #22.  Some of this material can be seen in the Online Exhibit on this website.   Please stop by!

On February 21, Michael Di Mucci will be giving a concert in the Upstairs Hall in North Gate. This is not a BVHS event, but we hope many of you will enjoy the concert!

Standards: Songs from the Great American Songbook and Jazz
A Concert
February 21, 2016, 3:00 PM
Tickets: $20.00 Available at the Door

Michael Di Mucci, David Marshall and Brandon Carrita.

A program of great music from Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin and more!

Beginning January 10, the Museum of Work & Culture will be hosting Valley Talks, a series of free, bi-weekly historical lectures. All talks take place at 1:30pm at the Museum of Work & Culture.

January 31: Historian & former RIHS Executive Director Albert Klyberg will discuss the Civilian Conservation Corps’ work in Rhode Island parks from 1932 to 1941 as part of FDR’s New Deal.

February 7: Writer and filmmaker Rick Beyer explores the local roots of the WWII deception unit known  as the Ghost Army, and discusses his ongoing efforts to uncover this amazing story.

February 21: Writer & historical reenactor Paul Bourget examines the Sentinelle Affair, the local underground movement that led to the excommunication of 61 congregants

March 6: Baseball historian Greg Rubano presents on his upcoming book, In the Shadow of Ty Cobb: The Life & Times of Napoleon Lajoie, recounting the meteoric rise of Woonsocket native Napoleon Lajoie from mill worker to baseball Hall of Famer.

Image: Wikipedia Commons

Happy Holidays from the BVHS!  Thanks to all who contributed to our capital campaign for building repairs.  If you would like to join or donate, please see the information here.

The Lincoln Conservation Commission voted last week to give $600 to Blackstone Valley Historical Society for future purchases to be used in the restoration of historical cemeteries.

Ken Postle of Pawtucket and John Houghton, vice president of the Blackstone Valley Historical Society, relayed their concerns about the preservation of historical cemeteries  to the Lincoln Conservation Commission last week.  The Valley Breeze article is here.

Ken has been attempting to locate missing historical cemetery lots, sifting through notes and transcriptions that date back to the 1800s.  The Rhode Island Cemetery Commission’s database gives the descriptions of locations done by cemetery inscription transcribers who inventoried the cemeteries at intervals from 1875 to the 1990’s, but the verbal descriptions can be vague, and later transcribers can sometimes find no trace of a cemetery previously recorded.

Kathy Hartley, president and founder of Friends of the Hearthside, was named a “2015 Rhode Islander of the Year” this month by Rhode Island Monthly magazine.for her accomplishments at the Hearthside mansion on Great Road.

A Presentation by Robert L. Tessier
North Gate, Upstairs Hall
1873 Old Louisquisset Pike, Lincoln, RI 02865
December 6, 2015, 2:00 p.m.

All are welcome.  Presentation is free, donations are gratefully received.

While much of what is known about Albion revolves around the history of its mill, little is known about the area prior to 1822. What has been known about early settlement has come down through oral history and has been repeated many times since its original publication in 1936. Truth does not come through repetition, however. It comes from hard facts and reliable source documents. Based on comprehensive research, this program will identify some of the early settlers of Albion and the lands they owned, with particular emphasis on the Lapham family, who owned land in Albion for over 150 years. In the course of this discussion, many long-held claims will be debunked as well.

Biography: Bob Tessier is a retired Federal employee and Providence College alumnus who spent his formative years in Albion. Currently living in Maryland, Bob has nevertheless maintained a keen interest in the history of Albion. He is the creator and administrator of the Facebook group page “Remembering Albion, Rhode Island” and also the website “Tell Me About Albion, Rhode Island.”  He is a member of the Blackstone Valley Historical Society and the Rhode Island Historical Society, and is completing a research project about an aspect of Albion history that is supported by a grant from the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

LIVE AT NORTH GATE

NIRK NATION

Saturday, November 14th, 2015
7:00 P.M.
North Gate Toll House
Upstairs Hall
1873 Old Louisquisset Pike (Route 246)
Lincoln, RI 02865

Tickets $15.00

Contact: Jason Dionne – jjhdio70@gmail.com, or 401-862-4202

The #1 member of the Rhode Island Hall of Fame, Ken Lyon, returns to North Gate with a brand-new mix of R&B, blues and rock with lead singer Heidi Nirk, whom Ken describes as one of the best singers he’s ever heard. Heidi will be accompanied by Jackie Howarth at the drums, Billy Metcalf on bass, Bill Lacaille on keyboards, Richard “L’il Cousin” Calitri and his harmonica, and, of course, Ken Lyon on guitar.  The incredible mix of such varied music styles, added to the beautiful voice of Heidi Nirk, make for an evening you’ll never forget!

In addition, for your musical enjoyment, the evening will begin with Justin “Winding Boy” Lyon, whose Hill Country Blues will have you moving to the beat, in preparation for the exquisite strains of music as only Ken Lyon can arrange.  Seating is limited, so be sure to get your tickets early: Only $15.00, available from Jason Dionne (above).  See you all then!

Sunday, October 18, 2:00 p.m.

William Jennings  will talk about the subject of his book, Aboard the Fabre Line to Providence: Immigration to Rhode Island, co-authored with Patrick. E. Conley.

Books will be available for purchase at the talk. This presentation is free, all are welcome. Donations are gratefully accepted.

Acute congestion at the port of New York during the early decades of the 20th century resulted in the Fabre Line, a French-registered transatlantic steamship company catering to immigrant transport, choosing Providence as a port of call for its steamers between the years 1911 to 1934. At that time Providence was experiencing a renewed maritime vigor. During its calls there the Fabre Line landed nearly 84,000 aliens at Rhode Island’s capital city, 11,000 of which chose Rhode Island as their permanent place of abode. The two largest immigrant groups to debark at Providence during Fabre’s years were the Portuguese and Italians; however, many others came from various countries around the Mediterranean basin. Immigrants were the mainstay of the line, as was passenger traffic.

Immediately before the outbreak of the First World War, the Fabre Line took off with a boom only to have the conflict dampen its business and its futureexpectations. Yet the line held on, and the initial postwar years were the company’s best at Providence. Then came the national immigration restriction acts of 1921 and 1924 which presented the line with a serious challenge. Seeking to hold on to passenger traffic, Fabre ships began the practice of sending its vessels to various ports in the eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea, along with its traditional calls at Italy, Portugal, and the Azores, in order to fill its passenger manifests. Also, in an endeavor to offset the loss of human traffic, the line sought to increase cargo handling at the port as well as making a vigorous effort to promote tourist business. The line was unsuccessful in each of these latter efforts. When the Great Depression of the 1930s deepened, the Fabre Line quit the port of Providence without recognition or announcement on July 4, 1934. The days of transatlantic glory at Providence came to an abrupt termination.

The Fabre story involves tales of Providence and the state making serious efforts to keep Fabre at the port, Fabre’s friction with the New Haven Railroad, whose dock the line used during it’s initial years at Providence, the perils of transatlantic travel during the war years, the immigrant experience upon landing and the fine efforts of those who assisted them when they arrived, and the line’s attempt to beef up cargo handling and promote tourist traffic at the port in an effort to bolster the losses from sagging immigrant traffic.

Many Rhode Islanders, and those residing in Southern New England, can trace the experiences of their intrepid ancestors journey to the “promised land” of America on the Fabre Line during those early years of the twentieth century.

Selections from the Archives of Lime Rock Grange #22

An Online Exhibit

The Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission has organized a great program of events for Rhode Island’s inaugural Archaeology Month.  Click here for details.  PDF LIst

Blackstone Valley Historical Society
Upcoming Events

Talks are free and open to the public.

November 14, 2015, 7:00 p.m. Ken Lyon presents “Nirk Nation”, featuring Heidi Nirk. Mark your calendars!   A fundraiser for BVHS.  An evening of blues and rock and roll. Poster

December 6, 2015, 2:00 p.m. Robert Teyssier, Tracing the Early Settlers of Albion, RI.  Robert Teyssier is the creator and administrator of the Facebook group page “Remembering Albion, Rhode Island” and also the website “Tell Me About Albion, Rhode Island.”  He is completing a research project about an aspect of Albion history that is supported by a grant from the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.   Image: View of Albion from Cumberland (Woonsocket Call, September 1948), from “Tell me about Albion, RI”