| R 131 |
| 2021 -- S 0691 Enacted 03/23/2021 |
| 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 |
| 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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| LC002506 |
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