History of West Greenwich Told Through Photographs

Aug. 15, 2011 - PRLog -- The newest addition to Arcadia Publishing’s popular Images of America series is West Greenwich from local author Kathleen A. Swann, PhD, with a forward from Kevin A. Breene. The book boasts more than 200 vintage images and memories of days gone by.

Incorporated in 1741, West Greenwich is the least densely populated and the most heavily forested municipality in Rhode Island. Bountiful timber and streams provided raw materials and power for mills and farms.

In West Greenwich, photographs of beautifully rugged landscapes, with people working and enjoying the land, show the spirit of the community. This spirit continues today, with residents’ efforts to preserve the town’s rural character while transforming into a modern community.

Brushes with fame include a World War II flying ace, visits from President Eisenhower and the King of Nepal, a connection to the death of King Charles I, and a James Gang hanging. West Greenwich presents the entwined histories of people and their land, in the historical context of a remote village moving into the 21st century.

Highlights of West Greenwich:
•   Many of the images in the book were donated from personal collections of local residents and some have never been shared before.
•   As families gathered old photos, many had never seen images of their own past relatives and homes.  Several people connected with unknown family members when trying to identify people in the images.
•   Approximately one-third of the land in West Greenwich was taken by the state by eminent domain for the Big River reservoir project.  The book features images of the lost homes, businesses, and villages.  

Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at www.arcadiapublishing.com or
(888)-313-2665.

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With more than 6,000 local history titles published to date, Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States. Widely recognized sepia books feature hundreds of vintage historical images.