East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva welcomed about 75 people to a forum at Tockwotton on the Waterfront to present preliminary plans for the revitalization of the Watchemoket Square waterfront gateway district in East Providence, Ri and to solicit input from local citizens. The project will take advantage of new exits from Route 195 that will […]
Eight members of the Sowams Project Steering Committee met on January 14, 2020 to consider ideas for the next steps leading to establishing a National Heritage Area within the eight project communities over the next eight years. The group reviewed the progress-to-date on interpretive signage, brochure and pocket tour guide distribution, cable TV programming, collaboration […]
Sowams Heritage Area Project Coordinator Dr. David Weed greeted East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva at his first public coffee hour at Borealis Coffee Company in Riverside. The Mayor fielded questions and discussed a number of topics relevant to East Providence residents but took time to talk about the relevance of the Sowams Heritage Area Project […]
Pokanoket Nation Sagamore Po Wauipi Neimpaug (William Guy) was introduced to Mayflower author Nathaniel Philbrick at the Providence Athenaeum by Philbrick’s cousin, Timothy, ahead of his presentation at the Unitarian Church nearby on December 12, 2019. The Athenaeum, sponsor of the Author’s talk, provided a reception at which Philbrick met the Pokanoket Sagamore, Winds of […]
Sowams Heritage Area Coordinator David Weed presented the 17th century history of the Sowams Heritage Area to members of the Rehoboth History Club at the Blanding Public Library in Rehoboth on December 17, 2019. Club organizer Hank Coleman opened the program with a reference to Nathaniel Philbrick’s recent talk that was attended by ten members […]
Pokanoket Nation Sagamore Po Wauipi Neimpaug (William Guy) is introduced to Mayflower author Nathaniel Philbrick at the Providence Athenaeum by Philbrick’s cousin, Timothy, ahead of his presentation at the Unitarian Church nearby on December 12, 2019. The Athenaeum, sponsor of the Author’s talk, provided a reception at which the Author’s cousin, Timothy Philbrick (above […]
In 2017 and 2019, Professor Charlotte Carrington-Farmer of Roger Williams University and Historian John McNiff retraced Roger Williams’ footsteps in England with groups of RWU students. At the Peace Dale Museum of Art and Culture, they presented highlights of those trips to a packed audience on December 11, 2019. Museum Board President Lisa Fiore welcomed a standing-room-only crowd to hear […]
Four women, who call themselves the “Broad Scholars” and who explore various locations in Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts, joined Sowams Heritage Area Coordinator Dave Weed to explore some 17th century locations, including King’s Rock, in Swansea. The rock was known historically as the “National Grinding Stone” where indigenous women would grind their corn by rolling […]
Members of the Pokanoket Tribe appeared at the East Providence City Hall on November 20, 2019 to celebrate Native American Heritage Month. City Affirmative Action / EEO Officer Elmer C. Pina welcomed the audience and City Council President Robert Britto welcomed members of the Pokanoket, Narragansett and Seaconke Tribes to the event. Local historian and program coordinator David O’Connell then thanked everyone who […]
The Warren Times published an article on November 13, 2019 that described the efforts of Warren resident David Weed to establish a National Heritage Area that features local 17th century history. Editor Ted Hayes reported: “Places like Plymouth or the Great Swamp may get more attention, but a local historian says this area’s rich Native […]