Slatersville Congregational Church, located in North Smithfield, RI, certainly defies the trend that the village green, with its distinctive church, is a thing of the past.
Surrounded by 19th century homes, and adjacent to the town hall and library, this church is still strategically located. Signs of life abound: a food pantry to serve the needy, a vacation Bible school held earlier this month, weekly concerts on the green all summer, and even a paint crew seen recently sprucing up the exterior.
The church's web site indicates that mill owner John Slater started a Sunday School in 1807 (the year after he opened his mill) "to give the youngsters schooling as well as moral instruction". It was one of the earliest Sunday Schools in the US, and was followed in 1836 by the erection of the present building.
Slatersville was in its heyday as a mill village from about 1810-1820, featuring the largest and most modern industrial building of its day. 200 years later, its village green appears to still be thriving. What is the secret of its success?
No comments:
Post a Comment