Rhode Island's Mill Villages

In 200 rare historical photos, Rhode Island's Mill Villages fascinating history comes to life.

Some 200 rare and historic photographs are coupled with detailed and informative captions that immerse the reader in the daily lives and environments of these communities. In the years surrounding the Civil War, European immigrants and textile workers came to Rhode Island to work in the state's mills. Soon, villages and neighborhoods formed around these mills, creating unique and closely knit communities in which the wealthy families who owned and operated the mills lived side by side with those who labored for them. The photographs presented here offer a glimpse at the development of these familial communities that are such an integral part in the history of both Rhode Island and the United States.

Joe Fuoco is a local historian, freelance writer, and the editor of the Federal Hill Gazette. In Rhode Island's Mill Villages, he continues the exploration of Rhode Island's immigrant communities that he began in his volume on Federal Hill. Through these photographs generously donated by residents of the area, he has created a volume that is sure to delight visitor, resident, and historian alike.