2021 -- S 0691

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

JOYOUSLY CELEBRATING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TOWN OF NORTH

SMITHFIELD ON MARCH 24, 2021

     Introduced By: Senators de la Cruz, Paolino, and Murray

     Date Introduced: March 18, 2021

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, Prior to colonization, tribes of indigenous Native American people

flourished for thousands of years on the land that is now North Smithfield; and

     WHEREAS, White settlers, led by Edward Inman of Providence, first purchased property

in this northern outland area in 1660. For the next 150 years, more settlers increasingly formed

small farms on the land, thereby expanding Roger Williams' "Lively Experiment."; and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island colony incorporated the northern settlements into the

Town of Smithfield in 1731. Due to its key location at the crossroads of early stagecoach routes,

Union Village grew into an important commercial center in the Town; and

     WHEREAS, In 1806, John Slater and his partners first purchased the Buffum Mills

property on the banks of the Branch River leading to the creation of Slatersville, the first planned

industrial mill village in America. In the following decades, new mill villages were formed in

Forestdale, Branch Village and Waterford; and

     WHEREAS, On March 24, 1871, the State of Rhode Island divided Smithfield into

Lincoln, Smithfield, and North Smithfield, and Globe Village was annexed to Woonsocket; and

     WHEREAS, In 1966, the Town opened its first High School continuing an over 150-year

tradition of enthusiastic support for education. In 1971, the residents of North Smithfield adopted

its Home Rule Charter; and

     WHEREAS, Today, the Town of North Smithfield continues to thrive. Its residents

cherish its rich heritage, adapt to current challenges and look forward to a bright future; now,

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby joyously celebrates the

150th Anniversary of the Town of North Smithfield on March 24th, 2021; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Paul Zwolenski, North Smithfield Town

Administrator.

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