>> "OUR TOWN WEST WARWICK IS IS BROUGHT YOU BY THE FOLLOWING PREMIER SPONSORS -- >> AND -- >> JOHN J INSURANCE, CONDUCTING BUSINESS WITH INTEGRITY AND PROFESSIONALISM.

>> AND THE FOLLOWING PATRON SPONSOR.

>> IN BODY FUNERAL HOME.

[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] ♪ >> WHEN YOU LOOK FOR WEST WARWICK ON THE MAP, YOU CAN FIND IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STATE.

WEST WARWICK IS A SMALL TOWN, JUST UNDER EIGHT SQUARE MILES, BUT HAS A BIG POPULATION, 30,000 RESIDENTS.

MANY WHO LIVE HERE WERE BORN AND RAISED IN WEST WARWICK AND THE FAMILIES GO BACK MANY GENERATIONS.

THERE IS A LOT OF PRIDE IN THIS TOWN AND MUCH DIVERSITY.

WEST WARWICK WAS ONCE PART OF WARWICK.

IT FOUGHT TO STAND ON ITS OWN, THE LAST OF RHODE ISLAND'S CITIES AND TOWNS TO INCORPORATE.

THIS IS "OUR TOWN: WEST WARWICK ."

>> THE GREAT DIVIDE WAS SIGNED INTO LAW ON MARCH 14, 1913.

IT MADE WEST WARWICK THE 39TH AND LAST MUNICIPALITY IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.

>> PATRICK HENRY QUINN WAS THE LEADER OF A REVOLT AGAINST THE CITY OF WARWICK, AND THE REASON WAS ALL OF THE MILLS WERE IN WEST WARLICK -- WARWICK.

THERE WERE FRENCH CANADIANS LIKE MYSELF AND WE WORKED AT ALL OF THOSE MILLS AND THE LEADERS FELT THEY WERE BEING UNDERREPRESENTED BY THE CITY OF WARWICK AND THEY BROKE AWAY IN 19 13 AND FORMED THE TOWN OF WEST WARWICK, SO WEST WARWICK IS THE OLDEST, NEWEST TOWN AND THESE PEOPLE WHO EVENTUALLY BECAME THE FIRST TOWN COUNCIL SAT IN THE OFFICE WITH PATRICK HENRY QUINN AND PLOTTED THE OVERTHROW OF WARWICK AND LED WEST WARWICK TO WEST WARWICK THE GOVERNMENT OF THE TOWN OF -- AND LED THE REVOLT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF WARWICK AND LED TO THE FORMATION OF THE TOWN OF WEST WARWICK.

WEST WARWICK WAS KIND OF THE IMMIGRANT POPULATION OF THE CITY OF WARWICK ALONG THE PATUXENT RIVER, WHERE ALL THE NIGHT MILLS ARE WHICH PEOPLE KNOW RIGHT NOW AND THE RIVERPOINT MILLS.

AND SO IT WAS JUST NATURAL FOR THEM TO SAY, LOOK, WE WANT TO BREAK AWAY FROM WARWICK AT THAT TIME.

>> ONCE A DIVISION OCCURRED, THE GOVERNOR SET UP A COMMISSION TO DETERMINE THE ASSESSMENTS OF EACH NEWLY FREUND -- NEWLY FORMED TOWN.

SO THE NEW TOWN, WEST WARWICK, OBTAINED LAUREL HIGH SCHOOL WHICH WAS AN WEST CARD VILLAGE.

A NEW TOWN HALL WAS SET UP ON PIKE STREET IN RIVERPOINT BY THE PIKE FAMILY.

THEY CONVERTED THEIR MANSION INTO THE TOWN HALL.

THE FINAL FINANCIAL FOR THIS DIVISION ACCOUNTED FOR A LITTLE OVER 37% OF WARWICK'S TOTAL ASSETS IN DEBT.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT WEST WARWICK ESCAPED WITH SIGNIFICANTLY LESS OF THE BILL.

BUT THAT'S POLITICS.

>> THE CROMPTON MILLS, IN THE SECTION CLOSEST TO EAST GREENWICH, MOST OF THE VELVET WAS MADE THERE ALONG THE BANKS OF THE RIVER IN CROMPTON.

AND SECTIONS OF ARCTIC AND RIVERPOINT AND SECTIONS OF PHOENIX IN NATICK, ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF MILLS, BUT MOSTLY TEXTILE MILLS.

SOME JEWELRY MANUFACTURING.

SO, A LOT OF THE BRANDS WE KNOW ABOUT GOT THEIR START FROM MILLS THERE AND THE BILLS WERE THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING.

ALL OF THE HOMES ALONG, NEXT TO THE MILLS.

THE MILLS AT THAT TIME REALLY PROVIDED A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY, NOT ONLY FOR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES LIKE IN MY CASE -- MY GRANDPARENTS ARE FROM CANADA.

AND ALSO THEY HAD THE MILLS STORES AND EVERYTHING CENTERED AROUND THE MILL.

IT SETTLED INTO THE RICH ETHNIC AND CULTURAL HERITAGE OF WEST WARLICK -- WEST WARWICK WHERE A CERTAIN AREA OF TOWN WOULD BE ITALIAN AND IN NATICK IT COULD BE IRISH AND POLISH AND IN RIVERPOINT IT WOULD BE FOR CHICKIE'S.

-- PORTUGUESE.

THE FAMILY SETTLED THERE AND NOT BY ANY COINCIDENCE THEY WOULD RECRUIT BUSES TO GO TO CANADA BECAUSE THERE WAS A SHORTAGE.

>> MY NAME IS STUART BENTON.

WE WERE FOUNDED IN 1876 BY TWO GENTLEMEN WHO CAME OVER FROM BRADFORD ENGLAND -- BRADFORD, ENGLAND.

BRADFORD, ENGLAND WAS THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY OF THE WORLD AT THE TIME.

SPECIFICALLY THIS AREA WAS THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY OF THIS WORLD.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CHANGE WITH THE TIMES.

WE WENT INTO FLAKES SOAP AND TEXTILE SOAP AND FIRE RETARDANT'S AND PAPER TO MAKE IT GLOSSY AND THEN WE GOT INTO BAR STAFF AND WE WERE REALLY THE PREEMINENT COMPANY.

IN THE 1950'S, THE GRANDFATHER OF THE BUSINESS GOT INVOLVED IN THE BUSINESS.

AND WE STARTED TO DIVINE THE FINE TOILETRIES.

WE HAVE COMPANIES ALL OVER THE WORLD, PREDOMINANTLY NORTH AMERICA.

WE OWN THAT TECHNOLOGY.

YOU COULD ALMOST CONSIDER IT A TWO-PHASE PROCESS.

WE HAVE OUR OWN NOODLES, WHERE WE ARE TAKING COCONUT OIL, TALLOW AND WE CREATE A SOAP NOODLE.

WE HAVE CREATED OVER 50 BASIS AND THERE ONLY TWO UNIVERSES OF SOAP.

THERE'S ALL NATURAL AND HEALTHY AND THEN THERE IS THE SCIENCE SIDE.

YOU COMBINE ALL THE NATURAL INGREDIENTS AND ADDITIVES.

WE HAVE A HISTORY OF DEVELOPING NEW PRODUCTS WITH THE CUTTING EDGE AND THERE IS A GROUP OUT THERE.

WE ARE THE ONLY SOAP COMPANY IN THE WORLD USING THIS SOAP THAT'S DERIVED FROM THE RAIN FOREST ALIGNED NOODLES.

WE USE PALM OIL COMING OUT OF GUATEMALA THAT HAS BEEN CERTIFIED BY THE RAIN FOREST ALLIANCE AND WE PUT THAT IN THE SOAP, SO WE KNOW IT IS SUSTAINABLE.

SO, IT'S PRETTY COOL.

REALLY, HOW WE SURVIVED AND HOW WE CONTINUE TO SURVIVE IS WE REALLY HAVE A VEY INNOVATIVE COMPANY TAKING A VERY -- YOU WOULD THINK, VERY SIMPLE PRODUCTS AND MAKING IT VERY EXCITING AND GIVING PEOPLE A REASON TO WANT TO BUY DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF SOAP.

ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT BEING HERE IS THE PEOPLE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE LAST ACTIVE -- I SAY ONE-OFF -- IT IS THE LAST ACTIVE MILL ON THE PATUXENT.

WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THAT.

PEOPLE HAVE GREAT EXPERIENCE AND THEY HAVE A HUGE HISTORY.

WE REALLY CAN DELIVER AND JUST THE EXPERIENCES OF RHODE ISLAND AND NEW ENGLAND.

THAT'S REALLY THE GREAT THING ABOUT WEST WARWICK.

>> HE IS 95 YEARS OLD AND CURRENTLY RESIDES AT THE CEDARCREST NURSING HOME.

THE BOOK TELLS THE STORY OF HER LIFE IN WEST WARWICK THROUGH 1957.

>> THAT BOOK SHE WROTE IN THE 1980'S EXPLAINS WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE IN WEST WARWICK WHEN SHE WAS A YOUNG GIRL AND GROWING UP IN WEST WARWICK DURING THE DEPRESSION WITH A SINGLE MOM -- HER MOTHER WAS A SINGLE MOTHER, AND WHAT THEY DID TO SURVIVE.

>> THE HOUSE WAS LOCATED ACROSS FROM A MILL.

IT WAS A DUPLEX OF SEVEN ROOMS WITH A MIRROR IMAGE OF THE OTHER SIDE.

BY TODAY'S STANDARDS, IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED ROUGHING IT WITH ONE BATHROOM AND NO HOT, RUNNING WATER FOR EIGHT PEOPLE.

BUT WE DID NOT FEEL DISADVANTAGED BECAUSE WE WERE USED TO LIVING THAT WAY AND MOST OF OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS LIVED THAT WAY AS WELL.

>> THE MILL WAS DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM OUR HOUSE MADE OF RED BRICK AND IV WALLS.

THERE WERE TWIN -- IVY WALLS.

WE COULD HEAR THE CONSTANT MUMBLE OF MACHINERY.

THE MILL DOMINATED OUR LIVES.

FEW PEOPLE OWNED CARS PRIOR TO WORLD WAR II.

THEY NEEDED A PLACE CLOSE TO WORK.

WE ARRANGED OUR LIVES AROUND IT.

NO MATTER WHERE WE WERE PLAYING, WHEN THE 5:00 WHISTLE BLEW, WE KNEW IT WAS SUPPER TIME.

PRIOR TO OUR LIVING THERE, THE MILLS CLOSED AND MOVED SOUTH.

MANY OF THESE PEOPLE TOOK JOBS IN PLACE MILLS, WHICH WAS A BIG INDUSTRY.

THE SHOPPING DISTRICT WAS IN THE CENTER OF TOWN ON MAIN STREET.

MANY PEOPLE CAME FROM THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

OUR PARENTS WERE NOT VERY STRONG CATHOLICS, BUT MADE SURE THAT WE WERE RAISED IN THE RELIGION.

PRIESTS WERE GOD'S RIGHT HAND AND NO ONE QUESTIONED THEIR AUTHORITY.

IN THE AFTERNOON, WE WENT TO THE MOVIES AT THE THEATER ON MAIN STREET WHILE OUR PARENTS RELAX.

SUNDAY WAS THE DAY THAT OUR RELATIVES CAME TO VISIT.

FEW PEOPLE HAD CARS.

THE ONES WHO DID WOODPILE EVERYONE IN TO GO FORA DRIVE.

WHEN THE PLACE TRADE WENT INTO A SLACK PERIOD, PA DECIDED TO GO TO MASSACHUSETTS TO HELP UNCLE HENRY ON HIS FARM.

PA WOULD PEDAL THE GOODS AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND THEN HE WENT BACK TO WORK.

>> PA WORKED THE MORNING SHIFT THE DAY BEFORE HE DIES.

HE COMPLAINED OF CHEST PAINS AND MOM MUST HAVE IT WAS SERIOUS.

THE DOCTOR GAVE HIM MEDICINE WHICH SEEMED TO HELP, BUT HE DIED IN HIS SLEEP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

>> MA MANAGED THE WAY THAT HER MOTHER DEAD, BY TAKING HER OLDEST OUT OF SCHOOL AND HE AND SHE WENT TO WORK IN THE PLACE NEIL -- PLACE -- PLACE -- LACE MILL.

PEOPLE WHO WORKED WITH HER SAID THAT IF THEY DID NOT KNOW HER SITUATION THEY WOULD NOT THINK SHE HAD A CARE IN THE WORLD.

>> THE RAILROAD WENT RIGHT THROUGH WEST WARWICK, EVENTUALLY TO NEW YORK AND EVENTUALLY TO WASHINGTON.

I THINK PEOPLE FORGET HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS -- ALL THE GOODS BROUGHT TO US WERE BROUGHT BY TRAIN.

>> HE WAS BORN IN IRELAND IN 1840.

>> HE SET UP THE FAMILY HOME.

HE WAS ORIGINALLY A FARMER.

HIS THREE SONS WORKED FOR THE RAILROAD.

WHEN MY GREAT GRANDFATHER RETIRED IN 1893 IS WHEN MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER TOOK OVER HIS POST.

THAT IS WHEN MY GRANDFATHER TOOK OVER HIS POST.

MY GRANDFATHER, HIS SHELTER WAS A SMALL SHELTER.

HE WOULD STOP THE TRAINS, CLEAR THE TRACKS, TRY TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS.

THERE WERE ALSO RECORDS ON HIM WORKING WITH DETECTIVES TO SOLVE BREAK-INS.

SO HE HAD A VARIETY OF RESPONSIBILITIES.

>> WE HAVE LANTERNS THAT HUNG ON THE PORCH IN OUR FAMILY HOME FOR MANY YEARS.

WE HAVE PICTURES HERE ABOUT THE DIFFERENT SIGNALS.

>> I AM SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT THAT MY GRANDFATHER PROBABLY HAD THIS IN HIS JACKET POCKET.

>> HE RETIRED AFTER 50 YEARS OF SERVICE.

THERE IS A LOT OF TESTIFYING TO THAT.

>> I HAVE ONE PICTURE IN PARTICULAR THAT MAKES ME WONDER BECAUSE I LOOK AT IT AND I SEE PEOPLE GETTING ON AND OFF THE TRAIN AND I THINK -- I KNOW THAT TRAIN IS ON ITS WAY TO THE DEPOT WHERE MY GRANDFATHER WORKED AND I LOOK AT THOSE PEOPLE AND I WONDER IF ANY OF THEM SAID HELLO TO MY GRANDFATHER OR IF THEY HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THEM.

TODAY, MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER LIVES IN CONNECTICUT AND THE SAME TRACK GOES BEHIND MY PROPERTY.

YOU CAN GO BY MY HOUSE, CONTINUE ON AND WE HAVE THREE AND FOUR DEPOTS WHERE MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER RAISED HIS FAMILY IN THE 1800S.

WHEN I GO ON THE BIKE PATH TODAY, I JUST THINK WHAT IT MUST'VE BEEN LIKE TO BE ON A TRAIN.

IT'S -- IT'S JUST A WHOLE DIFFERENT WAY OF LIFE.

MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER, JAMES, WAS ALSO ON THE COMMITTEE THAT HELPED ESTABLISH THE FOUNDING OF C JAMES PARRISH.

ON MAIN STREET NEXT TO THE BUILDING THAT IS NOT THERE ANYMORE, THAT WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE FIRST ORIGINAL ST. JAMES CHURCH AND LATER ON, THERE IS THE PROPERTY ON THE OTHER SITE OF THAT.

ORIGINALLY, THE IRISH WENT TO ST. MARY'S AND IT'S GETTING OVERRUN BY THE FRENCH.

THERE IS A STORY ABOUT HOW IT WAS A MARKET AND THE FRENCH AND THE IRISH SHOWED UP WITH BILLY CLUBS AND THEY WERE BATTLING IT OUT BECAUSE THE IRISH WERE UPSET THAT THEIR CHURCH WAS BEING TAKEN OVER BY THE FRENCH.

THEY WERE LIKE, IT'S OUR CHURCH, NO IT'S OUR CHURCH.

THEY WENT TO FATHER GIBSON, WHO WAS THE PASTOR OF ST. MARY'S.

HE WENT TO BISHOP HENRIK AND, AND HE IS THE ONE WHO GOT THE DIOCESE TO FORM.

THEY CREATED SAINT JAMES PARRISH SPECIFICALLY FOR THE IRISH.

IT WAS FOR THE IRISH TO MEET, TO ENTERTAIN, TO HOLD DANCES.

MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER USED TO RUN THE DANCES THERE AND EVENTUALLY BECAME THE 1ST STREET JAMES CHURCH.

HIS BROTHER AND SISTER, ALL OF US WENT TO SCHOOL HERE.

SO MANY KIDS WENT TO ST. JAMES.

THE WAY OF LIFE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CHURCH.

AS LIFE STARTED TO CHANGE IN THE 1970'S, MY FATHER WAS ON THE COMMITTEE THAT ULTIMATELY HAD TO DECIDE THE PARISH HAD TO CLOSE.

IT WAS HEARTBREAKING FOR MY DAD TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE WHEN HIS GRANDFATHER AND FATHER HELPED START THE PARISH.

IT WAS NOT SOLELY HIS DECISION, BUT HE WAS ON THE COMMITTEE.

THEY TRIED EVERYTHING TO TRY TO KEEP THE PARISH OPEN AND FOR YEARS, THEY USED TO LET KIDS WHO BELONGED TO THE PARISH, THEY COULD GO TO SCHOOL FOR FREE, AND THEN THEY CHANGE THAT.

THEY HAD TO PAY A FEE AS WELL AND THEN THE SCHOOL CLOSED.

AND THEN THE PARISH POPULATION JUST STARTED DECREASING MORE AND MORE AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS.

I KNOW ONE OF THE PRIESTS, THEY TOOK IN MONEY FOR ANYONE WHO SHOWED UP THE DOOR AND MONEY, THE PRIEST WOULD GIVE AWAY MONEY AND BOTH OF MY PARENTS USED TO BE COLLECTORS WHERE THEY WOULD COLLECT MONEY AND HELP THE PRIESTS KEEP TRACK OF THE FINANCES AND GRADUALLY OVER THE YEARS, WE JUST REALIZED IT WAS GETTING MORE AND MORE IN DEBT AND LIKE MANY OF YOUR PARISHES, WHEN THE CHURCH CLOSED WE WERE ALL ALLOWED TO WALK THROUGH THEIR.

WE USED TO CLEAN THE VESTIBULE, WAYS TO SET UP THE PRIEST VESTMENTS, JUST DUST THE STATUES.

I CAN REMEMBER FINDING THE NOTES AND PRAYERS PEOPLE WOULD WRITE.

IT WAS HEARTBREAKING TO WALK THROUGH THE CHURCH FOR THE LAST TIME AND LITERALLY THEY CLOSED THE DOORS BEHIND US.

AND THEN THEY CARRIED -- THE UNION GOT ITS NAME FROM THE CIVIL WAR.

MY GREAT UNCLE JOHN WAS THE BAND DIRECTOR.

MY GRANDFATHER WAS THE TREASURER AND THE SECRETARY IN DIFFERENT TIMES.

THEY PERFORMED IN ARCTIC, THEY PERFORMED IN PHOENIX, THEY PERFORMED IN EAST GREENWICH.

THEY PLAYED AT FUNERALS, ALL KINDS OF EVENTS, POLITICAL EVENTS.

THEY WERE THE MAIN ATTRACTION, THE MAIN FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE DAY.

SHE USED TO TO GO AND LISTEN TO THE MUSIC.

MY GRANDFATHER WAS A CLARINETIST AND MY GREAT UNCLE WAS A CORONET OF SPIRIT AND MY GRANDFATHER -- WHEN HE WAS SITTING AT THE DEPOT WAITING FOR THE TRAINS TO COME HE WOULD PRACTICE HIS CLARINET.

THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE -- IT WAS -- IT WAS NOT WEST WARWICK PER SE.

THERE WERE PEOPLE FROM THE WESTERN AREA OF WARWICK.

THERE WERE MEMBERS.

IT WAS NOT SOMETHING THEY PAID FOR.

IT WAS SOMETHING THEY ENJOYED.

GROWING UP IN WEST WARWICK IN IT WAS VERY IDYLLIC.60'S, FOR U- EVERYTHING REVOLVED AROUND THE CHURCH AND THE FAMILY.

MY FATHER USED TO LOVE TO TAKE ME TO THE MOVIES.

AS CHILDREN, MY FATHER STARTED BRINGING OUT THE OLD PICTURES, SAW THE INSTRUMENTS WE USED TO PLAY WITH.

WE USED TO DRESS UP IN THE UNIFORMS.

THEY HAVE THE REMNANTS OF THE LITTLE JACKETS AND THE HATS THEY USED TO WEAR.

WE ALL LEARNED TO PLAY THE PIANO >> IN THE LATE 1800S, IT WAS A COMMUNITY OF MAINLY FRENCH-CANADIAN EMIGRANTS.

THEY WORKED IN THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY, THE MILLS.

SINCE THE IMMIGRANTS WERE PREDOMINATELY CATHOLIC, ST. JOHN'S PARISH LED BY THE REVEREND BECAME THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY.

HE WAS DEEPLY INVESTED IN THE LIVES OF HIS PARISHIONERS.

HE DEVELOPED A GREAT LOVE OF MUSIC AND THEATER, SEEING PRODUCTIONS OF FAMOUS PLAYS AND ATTENDING MUSICAL CONCERTS.

THIS LOVE AND APPRECIATION OF THE ARTS STAYED WITH HIM HIS ENTIRE LIFE.

WHEN HE LOOKED FOR A WAY TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF HIS PARISHIONERS, HE KNEW THAT THEATER AND MUSIC WERE A PERFECT WAY TO DO IT.

IT WAS THE CULMINATION OF HIS MISSION TO FILL THE LIVES OF HIS PARISHIONERS WITH SOMETHING OTHER THAN WEAVING AND SPINDLES.

HE ENLISTED A LOCAL CARPENTER.

LIFE WAS HARD IN THOSE DAYS.

THE THEATER WAS ARRAY OF SUNSHINE.

NOT ONLY COULD THE LOCALS ATTEND CONCERTS AND LECTURES, THEY BECAME THE ACTORS AND MUSICIANS PERFORMING ON THAT GRAND STAGE.

CLASSIC FRENCH PLAYS WERE PERFORMED.

PEOPLE CAME FROM ALL OVER NEW ENGLAND.

ONE DAY HE HEARD A WOMAN SING.

HE WAS SO IMPRESSED BY HER TALENT, HE URGED HER TO START A SINGING CAREER.

SHE WAS TO MAKE HER DEBUT IN NEW YORK CITY, ANOTHER INCREDIBLE ACCOMPLISHMENT.

HOWEVER, AS FATE WOULD HAVE IT, PLANS CHANGED WHEN HER FATHER BECAME ILL.

THE MUCH ANTICIPATED DEBUT WAS CHANGED FROM NEW YORK CITY TO THE ODEON.

ONE CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE EXCITEMENT OF THAT NIGHT.

MEN IN TUXEDOS, FLASHBULBS, REPORTERS SCRIBBLED FURIOUSLY TO RECORD THE GLORIOUS EVENT.

IT'S SAID THAT AFTER THAT NIGHT THE DAYS WERE NUMBERED.

THE MONSIGNOR HENRY VINCENT SOLD IT TO A THEATER GROUP.

EVENTUALLY THE PARIS INSPIRED MECCA OF THEATER ARTS, BUILT BY A PRIEST WITH VISION AND DEVOTION, BECAME A FURNITURE STORE WITH A BARBERSHOP IN THE ONCE GLAMOROUS RECEPTION ROOM.

TODAY, THERE ARE THE OWNERS OF A NEW THEATER, THE ARCTIC HOUSE ON 117 WASHINGTON STREET.

LOCALS CAN EXPERIENCE A HOST OF OTHER ATTRACTIONS AT THE PLAYHOUSE.

THEY ARE ON A MISSION TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF RESIDENTS BY RESTORING AN IMPORTANT PART OF LIFE, THEATER.

>> MY DAD WAS BORN IN FALL RIVER.

HIS PARENTS CAME OVER FROM THE AZORES.

AROUND THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.

THEY SETTLED IN FALL RIVER AND THAT'S WHERE HE WAS BORN.

THEY RAISED 10 CHILDREN.

DAD USED TO TELL US DIFFERENT THINGS ABOUT WHEN HE WAS A KID AND WHEN YOU ARE A LITTLE KID BACK IN THE 1930'S, YOU MAKE MONEY BECAUSE THEY WERE GOING THROUGH A DEPRESSION.

HE WAS A SHOESHINE BOY OR HE CARRIED ICE OF THREE FLOORS TO PROVIDE ICE TO PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT IS WHEN THEY HAD ICE BOXES.

IN 1942, HE JOINED THE MILITARY.

HE SIGNED UP AND JOINED THE AIRBORNE.

THE AIRBORNE WAS QUITE A BIT DIFFERENT.

IT HAD DIFFERENT TRAINING AND MY DAD WANTED SOMETHING, NOT MORE RIGOROUS, BUT SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIAL.

I WAS 21.

AT THAT TIME HE WAS ONE OF THE OLDER GUYS.

HE JOINED THE MILITARY, WENT THROUGH BASIC TRAINING, JUMPED INTO NORMANDY.

I HEARD GOOD STORIES AND BAD STORIES.

SOME OF THE SOLDIERS, THE MEN COMING HOME DID NOT TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE.

I WAS PRETTY FORTUNATE WHERE MY DAD DID.

THE OTHER SOLDIERS WHO FOUGHT ON D-DAY, IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, THEY WROTE A BOOK.

STEPHEN AMBROSE WAS A PROFESSOR AND HE HAD THE THOUGHT THAT THEY COULD TURN THIS INTO A BOOK.

MY FATHER PASSED AWAY.

AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME THERE WERE GRUMBLINGS THAT SOMETHING WAS GOING ON.

THEY WEREN'T SURE.

MY -- THE ACTOR RICK GOMEZ DID A FANTASTIC JOB, FANTASTIC JOB PORTRAYING MY DAD.

WE DID NOT KNOW HOW BIG A ROLE MY DAD WOULD HAVE.

WE DIDN'T KNOW IT ALL.

WE DIDN'T DOWNPLAY IT.

WE DIDN'T UP PLAY IT EITHER.

IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE SERIES CAME OUT THAT WE REALIZED -- IT WAS JUST GREAT RECOGNITION FOR OUR DADS AND PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS THAT MY DAD WOULD SAY IS IT PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF THE OTHER MEN WHO SERVED TO MAYBE TELL THEIR STORY.

THEY ALL SACRIFICED AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE BEEN TO NORMANDY SIX TIMES.

AND TO GO TO THE CEMETERIES TO VISIT THE ONES WHO DIDN'T COME HOME.

>> HI THERE.

MY NAME IS JACK.

IN THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE JC EDUCATION AND LIBRARY FOUNDATION WHICH OVERSEES THE UNION COUNTY AREA.

PEOPLE ASK, WHAT ARE THE JAYCEES , AND MY BEST EXCELLENT NATION IS AT A YOUNG PEOPLE'S LEADERSHIP TRAINING ORGANIZATION WITH AN AGE RANGE OF 18 TO 40 YEARS OLD THAT FOCUSES ON THE INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE PERSON WHILE THEY OFFER SKILLS AND ABILITIES TO ENHANCE COMMUNITY SERVICES.

IN WEST WARWICK, THE JAYCEES HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SPEARHEADING MANY PROJECTS.

>> JACK IS A TREASURER FOR THE TOWN OF WEST WARLICK.

-- WEST WARWICK.

HE AND THE JAYCEES WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR TWO THINGS YOU JUST MENTIONED, ONE WAS THE LIBRARY WHERE THEY CREATED THE EDUCATIONAL -- THE EDUCATIONAL LIBRARY FOUNDATION, THE JAYCEES EDUCATIONAL LIBRARY FOUNDATION, AND THERE WERE ALSO INSTRUMENTAL IN RIVER PARK, WHICH IS THE OUTDOOR SPORTS CENTER AND CULTURAL CENTER REALLY -- BECAUSE THERE'S CONCERTS, THERE'S ALL KINDS OF THINGS THERE -- FOR THE TOWN OF WEST WARWICK.

AND ALONG THE WAY THEY HELPED BUILD A RIVER WALK AND NATURE WALK THAT THE FORMER SENATOR, A BELOVED SENATOR WHO DIED MANY YEARS AGO -- >> WE HAVE THE SENATOR ROCK RIVERWALK.

IT IS A STONE THROW AWAY FROM THE BIKE PATH, THE WASHINGTON SECONDARY GREENWAY.

WE HAVE MANY BEAUTIFUL ACTIVITIES HERE THROUGHOUT THE PLANNING -- PLANTING SEASON FROM APRIL THROUGH OCTOBER.

WE HAVE AN ECOLOGY DAY WITH LOTS OF GREAT VOLUNTEERS.

WE HAVE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE THE COMMEMORATION, THE SAD AND SOMBER 9/11 CEREMONIES.

WE WORK WITH NUMEROUS VOLUNTEERS.

pWE HAVE GREAT PROGRAMS.

THE TREES HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE WE INAUGURATED IT IN 1998.

WE BROUGHT ABOUT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WHICH CREATED A NEW LIBRARY SYSTEM HERE IN THE TOWN OF WEST WARWICK.

>> THE JAYCEES ARE ALWAYS READY TO HELP IN THEIR HELP IS INVALUABLE.

COULD THE LIBRARY EXPANSION HAPPEN WITHOUT THEM?

YES, BUT NOT AS EASY.

COULD THE RIVERWALK PARK HE WOULD IT IS TODAY -- YES, BUT NOT AS EASY.

AND PROBABLY NOT IN THAT CASE.

MANY YEARS AGO, IF YOU HAD A CALL TO HELP FOR VOLUNTEERS, PEOPLE WOULD BE BORING INTO HELL.

IT'S NOT AS EASY NOW.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO FIND VOLUNTEERS, BUT THE JAYCEES ARE ALWAYS THERE.

JACK IS ALWAYS PROACTIVE, NOT REACTIVE, AND I WOULD SAY WITHOUT THE JAYCEES, WEST WARWICK WOULD BE A DIFFERENT PLACE.

CHEST BUT THEY HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED STATEWIDE AND NATIONALLY -- >> THEY HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED STATEWIDE AND NATIONALLY.

THEY ARE VERY PROUD TO WORK ON A SILVER LEVEL TO ENHANCE THE LIVES OF MANY PEOPLE TO ENHANCE THE LIVES OF YOUTH AND MANY YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> THIS IS THE MAIN LIBRARY.

CURRENTLY IT'S THE ONLY LIBRARY.

THE CROMPTON FREE LIBRARY WAS THE FIRST LENDING LIBRARY IN WEST WARWICK, STARTED IN 1876.

AT THE TIME, AND I AM GOING TO SAY LATE 50'S, EARLY 1960'S, EACH VILLAGE HAD A LARGE MILL THAT WAS THE CENTER OF ITS OWN LITTLE UNIVERSE.

THAT LIBRARY WAS BUILT FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF THE MILLS.

THERE WERE -- I THINK THERE'S ONE IN PHOENIX, ONE IN NATICK.

IT WAS DECIDED THAT A CENTRAL LIBRARY WAS NEEDED HERE.

THE TOWN WAS GROWING.

WE WERE CLOSER TO THE HIGH SCHOOL AND IT WAS DEEMED NECESSARY FOR THE IMPORTANT MATERIALS OF THE TOWN.

ONE HAD THE OWNERSHIP OF "THE GLEANER."

IT WAS A NEWSPAPER THAT WAS PUBLISHED THROUGH THE CIVIL WAR THROUGH WORLD WAR II AND IT WAS THESE ORIGINAL PAPER COPIES AND IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THESE THINGS BE IN ONE PLACE.

THAT WAS PART OF THE JAYCEES PROJECT, AND MR. CHAMPLIN, ROBERT CHAMPLIN, HAD LEFT MONEY AND PROPERTY TO HAVE IT BUILT.

SO HE WAS AN IMPORTANT BUSINESSMAN IN TOWN AND WE WERE JUST FORTUNATE HE LEFT US MONEY AND THE PROPERTY.

100,000 DOLLARS.

IT SAT THERE FOR A FEW YEARS.

AT THAT TIME, THE STATE WAS JUST BEGINNING THE PROJECT WHERE WE WOULD MATCH FUNDS TO BUILD FOR A LIBRARY.

AND THEN WE COULD BUILD A BETTER LIBRARY FOR LESS MONEY TRULY.

THE JAYCEES WERE REALLY IMPORTANT WITH THAT.

THEY HELPED US WITH THE FUNDRAISING.

THEY OPENED IN THE FALL, 1966.

SOME OF THE BOOKS CAME FROM THE BRANCH LIBRARIES THAT WERE CLOSING.

THAT IS WHEN THE COLLECTION CLOSED.

SO, THE COLLECTION STARTED THEIR.

THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A BUDGET.

THERE'S COMPUTERS, THERE'S ONE LIBRARY CARD FOR THE ENTIRE STATE.

WE HAVE AN I.T.

LIBRARIAN ON STAFF WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN UNHEARD OF YEARS AGO.

WE HAVE OUR OUTREACH PROGRAM TO VISIT THE ELDERLY WHO WERE NOT ABLE TO COME TO US.

WE GO TO THEM.

WE HAVE A VERY ACTIVE CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENT.

IT HAS CHANGED.

TRAFFIC HERE HAS CHANGED, BUT IT STILL A LOT OF TRAFFIC.

THEY COME IN FOR THE SAME AND DIFFERENT.

NOT EVERYONE OWNS A COMPUTER.

NOT EVERYONE HAS A TABLET.

WE OFFERED THAT CONVENIENCE TO EVERY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC.

>> THE IDEA OF STARTING AN HISTORICAL SOCIETY GENERATED WHEN SENATOR DONALD ROCK, TED WILBURN, AND OTHERS, THEY TALKED ABOUT THE OLD DAYS AND THAT SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO PRESERVE THAT HISTORY.

THE FOUNDERS WERE JANICE -- BOB WOODWARD, ALAN HOWLAND, THOMAS NGUYEN, AND OTHERS.

THE FIRST MEETING WAS HELD AT THE HOME OF A TEACHER AT WEST WARD HIGH SCHOOL.

MEETINGS WERE HELD AT ST. MARY'S CHURCH AND A LOCAL -- OFFICERS WERE ELECTED.

MEMBERSHIP DUES WERE SET.

DICK HUGHES AND CARTER GATHERED PHOTOS AND IN 1988, THE FIRST CALENDAR WAS PRINTED.

AS MORE DONATIONS CAME IN, SPACE BECAME AN ISSUE AND THIS WAS A BUILDING THAT HAD BEEN TURNED OVER IN 1945 BY THE MANAGEMENT.

IT SOON OUTGREW AND SPEARHEADED A MOVEMENT TO BUILD A CENTRAL LIBRARY.

THIS BODE WELL FOR THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

WHILE SOME OF THE MEMBERS WERE FEARFUL OF EXPANDING AND TAKING ON DEBT, DICK HUGHES AND OTHERS WORKED WITH THE MAYOR AND OBTAINED POLICE FROM THE TOWN.

BUILT IN 1876 FOR OTHER VILLAGE RESIDENTS, THE BUILDING WAS STRUCTURALLY SOUND, BUT NEEDED REFURBISHING.

MEMBERS STARTED CLEANING, DISMANTLING, WASHING WALLS AND SHADES.

AND THEY OBTAINED DONATIONS OF USED FURNITURE AND OFFICE SUPPLIES.

IN APRIL OF 1999, WE RECEIVED A REWARD FOR RETURNING THE ONCE NEGLECTED BUILDING FOR THE COMMUNITY LEADERS.

WE LOVE TO HAVE ANYONE COME IN AND WE WERE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE HELP WE CAN GET, BUT MAINLY WE WANT TO SHOW THEM WHAT WE CAN GET.

AND WE WANT TO THANK THEM FOR EVERYTHING THEY HAVE DONE TO KEEP THE SOCIETY GOING.

>> MY NAME IS JERRY AND I'M A RETIRED FIRE BATTALION CHIEF.

VERY INTERESTED IN THE HISTORY OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

IT STARTS FROM THE BEGINNING OF WHEN THE TOWN BECAME A TOWN.

AT THAT TIME, ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS WERE STRICTLY VOLUNTEER.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD THREE STATIONS, PHOENIX FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD ONE STATION.

NOVEMBER 5, THE VOLUNTEERS ASSISTED THE PERMANENT BUILDING AS IT ALL BEGAN.

CHIEF LIONEL WAS THE FIRST FIRE CHIEF THAT WAS APPOINTED TO THE WEST WARWICK FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT WAS THE BEGINNING.

THERE WERE ONLY TWO THAT WERE PAID, AND EVERYBODY ELSE'S VOLUNTEERS AT THAT POINT.

THE PURPOSE OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, ONE IS FOR FIRE PROTECTION TO THE RESCUE SERVICE.

THREE, PUBLIC EDUCATION, THEY RESPONDED TO INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS.

IT'S JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DOES.

FIRE IN MAIN STREET.

OCTOBER 3, 1972, THERE'S THE GREENMAN FIRE.

MAY 12, 19 87, THERE'S THE PETROLEUM FIRE.

MAY 15, 1992, FEBRUARY 20, THERE IS A CLUB FIRE.

MARCH 31, 2005 -- 771 MAIN STREET.

WE LOST A FIREFIGHTER.

CAPTAIN JOSEPH DIED IN A HOUSE FIRE.

HE WAS FIGHTING A FIRE.

THE GUYS FOUND HIM IN THE SELLER AND HE SUCCUMBED TO HIS INJURIES.

WE LOST A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER.

HE BATTLED A FIRE AT THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH IS NOW THE HOGAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN PROVIDENCE STREET.

HE WENT HOME, HE HAD A HEART ATTACK, AND THE STORY IS HE STILL HAD HIS BOOTS ON WHEN THE GUYS GOT TO THEM, SO WEST WARWICK HAS HAD TWO LINE OF DUTY DEATHS IN THEIR HISTORY.

OCTOBER 14, WE BUILT A MEMORIAL.

THIS WE PUT THE NAMES THERE, THEIR FAMILIES COME.

WE DO NOT WANT TO FORGET EVERYONE.

WE HOPE THAT WE NEVER HAVE TO BURY ANOTHER FIREFIGHTER.

>> THE WEST WARWICK POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS ESTABLISHED ON NOVEMBER 8, 1913.

PICTURED HERE FROM 1913, THE ORIGINAL FORCE CONSISTED OF THE CHIEF AND FIVE PATROLMEN.

ANDREW WAS AN EXPERIENCED LAWMAN , APPOINTED AS THE CHIEF OF POLICE.

HE WAS ELECTED TO WORK IN RIVERPOINT, WHERE HE MADE HIS WORK.

HE IS WORKING FOR MANY YEARS.

IT'S NOT ONLY ANDREWS -- ANDREW UP A CS SECOND-IN-COMMAND, BUT PICTURED HERE, THERE IS THE KENT COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF.

THE CANYON PIKE MANSION, THIS BUILDING WAS CEDED TO THE TOWN AND USED AS A TOWN HALL FOR MANY YEARS.

CHIEF ANDREWS HAD AN OFFICE IN THAT BUILDING IN THE 1920'S.

THE POLICE CHIEF -- THE POLICE STATION WAS MOVED AND THE U.S.

POSTAL SERVICE PURCHASED A NEW LOT.

THE PRESENT-DAY POLICE STATION WAS BUILT AS PART OF THE MEMORIAL BUILDING.

THE POLICE SIDE WAS BUILT WHEN THE DEPARTMENT HAD 20 MEMBERS.

PICTURED HERE IS THE ORIGINAL NEON SIGN.

AS FAR BACK AS ANYONE CAN REMEMBER, AT LEAST TO THE 1870'S THERE ARE SEVERAL BUILDINGS IN WESTERN WARWICK.

THESE ARE TOWN BUILDINGS THAT CONTAIN HOLDING CELLS.

THESE ARE LOCATED AT THE LOCATION OF THE CURRENT FIRE STATION.

IN CENTERVILLE, THERE'S THE HOUSE -- THESE BADGES ARE SECOND ISSUE.

THEY USED SEVERAL DIFFERENT POLICE UNIFORMS.

TRADITIONALLY IT HAS BEEN BLUE, WHEN IT WAS CHANGED TO BLACK AND GRAY.

THIS IS WHEN THEY WERE USED FOR CEREMONIAL PURPOSES.

HERE ARE PHOTOS.

THERE WERE EIGHT POLICE CHIEFS.

THEY HAD VARIOUS BASED ON ASSOCIATION OTHER THAN POLICE EXPERIENCE.

THIS IS A PHOTO OF THE WEST WARWICK POLICE DEPARTMENT IN 1940 BETWEEN THE OLD POLICE STATION AND THE OLD POST OFFICE.

THIS IS A PHOTO OF THE DEPARTMENT TODAY, TAKING THE SAME LOCATION 76 YEARS LATER.

THESE ARE OUR OFFICERS.

THIS IS OUR STORY.

♪ >> ♪ HONKY-TONK WOMEN GIVE ME, GIVE ME, GIVE ME THE HONKY-TONK BLUES ♪ >> WE COME HERE EVERY SUMMER.

MY HUSBAND HAS A LOT OF RELATIVES WHO ARE HERE.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE END UP DANCING.

>> ♪ >> IN THE 19 AND 40'S -- IN THE 1940'S AND 50'S -- THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE, IT WAS THE BIGGEST BAND AROUND AT THAT TIME.

>> IT WAS A BIG DEAL TO COME TO THIS TOWN FOR SHOPPING.

A LOT OF NICE DOORS.

I WENT TO SCHOOL HERE AND I REMEMBER WHEN ARTAN WAS A BUSTLING SHOPPING CENTER AND ON FRIDAY NIGHTS, THIS WAS ON THE SIDEWALKS.

>> YOU HAD THE NEWBERRY, WHICH IS THE VARIETY STORE AND THE SODA FOUNTAIN AND THE WEINER JOINT, SO YOU HAD A LOT DIFFERENT TYPES OF STORES.

SO IT WAS A HUBBUB OF BANKING AND RESTAURANTS AND THINGS, SO.

>> IS JUST A VERY STRONG, RICH, CULTURAL TOWN.

THE WEST WARWICK SENIOR CENTER LITERALLY HAS TO PUT ON NOTICE IS SAYING, WE HAVE ENOUGH, WE CAN'T TAKE ANYMORE.

IT IS A CLOSE KNIT COMMUNITY.

♪ [CAPTIONING PREFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS VISIT NCICAP.ORG] >> "OUR TOWN: WEST WARWICK" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING PREMIER SPONSORS -- >> A PROUD SUPPORTER OF RHODE ISLAND PPS, OUR TOWN WEST WARWICK, AND THE COMMUNITY.

>> AND -- >> JOHN JAY INSURANCE.

>> AND THE FOLLOWING PATRON