Bliven’s Opera House: Westerly’s Premier Entertainment Venue
In the 1880’s, decades before the days of digital media and home entertainment, and long before the rise of motion pictures, one of the most [...]
Mystery of the U-853
Every year on December 7Â the nation honors and remembers the 2,403 citizens of the United States who were killed along with the 1,178 who were [...]
The World is Better for His Life: The Story of George Herbert Utter – Part 1
Despite the pivotal role the town has played in the history of Rhode Island, very few of the state’s governors spent any considerable amount of [...]
July 4, 1876: Westerly’s Centennial Celebration
As we celebrate the 245th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, let us look back at how Westerly celebrated the American Centennial [...]
The Mystery of Fort Ninigret
One of the biggest mysteries in Rhode Island is down the Old Post Road in Charlestown. Who built Fort Ninigret? Canon found in Charlestown [...]
Charles Perry: Westerly’s Most Ardent Abolitionist
Although slavery is a significant part of the history of the United States, it played a much smaller role in New England than it did [...]
Williams Root – A Brief History of Roger Williams
Rhode Island has always been a haven for nonconformists and individuals whose politics were anti-establishment. In 1636 Roger Williams and a group of his followers [...]
“Gallant and Meritorious Conduct in Action”
In September, Westerly and Pawcatuck took part in Bricks and Murals, a two-community event showcasing the town's history and culture. During the four-day festival, fifteen [...]
Excellence in Medicine: The Margaret Edward Anderson Hospital
Today, if you are injured or need urgent medical care, the state-of-the-art Westerly Hospital is the only emergency room in town, however, this was not [...]
Waiting for the Train to Come In: Westerly Train Station’s Past, Present, and Future
Where is Westerly headed? To get a better understanding of that, let's look at the history of where we've been and how we got there, [...]
The Three Histories of Misquamicut, 1632-present – Part 1
In any discussion about the history and settlement of Westerly, the most obvious starting point is the Misquamicut Purchase of 1661. With the purchase of [...]
Continuing Faith: The History of Westerly’s Jewish Community
Although they have always composed a relatively small portion of the town’s overall population, the Jewish citizens of Westerly have played a substantial role in [...]