Rhode Island Mills and Mill Villages Photograph Collection

This collection is comprised of negatives, glossy photographic prints, and oversized photographic prints of mills and mill villages within Rhode Island. All of the photographs were taken by Joseph McCarthy as a Federal Works Agency project, a part of the WPA, in 1940 and given to the Providence Public Library as part of the Nickerson Architectural Collection that same year. A written reference work listing the prints and including an essay of the various architectural styles seen in the photographs was written by Samuel Green to accompany the collection and is held within the Rhode Island Collection.
This collection is part of Providence Public Library Digital Collections, hosted by Providence Public Library.

Items in this collection

Georgiaville. Mill Houses c. 1850

Georgiaville. Mill Houses c. 1850

Providence Public Library

Image shows housing built circa 1850 in the mill village of Georgiaville in Smithfield, Rhode Island. There look to be enclosed water pumps in front of two buildings.

Georgiaville. Mill Detail 1853

Georgiaville. Mill Detail 1853

Providence Public Library

Image shows a detail of a mill built in 1853 in the mill village of Georgiaville in Smithfield, Rhode Island. Over the center window on the first floor, "ZA 1853." is carved in relief.

Georgiaville. Mill Detail 1853

Georgiaville. Mill Detail 1853

Providence Public Library

Image shows a detail of a mill built in 1853 in the mill village of Georgiaville in Smithfield, Rhode Island.

Georgiaville. Mill 1853

Georgiaville. Mill 1853

Providence Public Library

Image shows a mill built in 1853 in the mill village of Georgiaville in Smithfield, Rhode Island. There are several very small structures between the mill and the water.

Georgiaville. Mill 1813 Dwellings 1840-50

Image shows mill in the foreground built in 1813 and housing in the background built 1840-50 in the mill village of Georgiaville in Smithfield, Rhode Island. The mill has broken windows and a bell tower.

Georgiaville. Church c. 1850

Georgiaville. Church c. 1850

Providence Public Library

Image shows a church built circa 1850 in the mill village of Georgiaville in Smithfield, Rhode Island. The church has pointed-arch windows and double doors. To the far left, there is a sign on a tree that reads "You enter the property at your own risk. PLEASE Be Careful. Capt Webb".

Georgiaville. Addition to 1853 mill. c. 1865

Image shows an addition circa 1865 to a mill built in 1853 in the mill village of Georgiaville in Smithfield, Rhode Island. There are multiple buildings in very close proximity to each other.

Gazzaville. Mill House c. 1855

Gazzaville. Mill House c. 1855

Providence Public Library

Image shows housing built circa 1855 in the mill village of Gazzaville in Burrillville, Rhode Island.

Gazzaville. Boarding House c. 1860

Gazzaville. Boarding House c. 1860

Providence Public Library

Image shows a boarding house built circa 1860 and other structures in the mill village of Gazzaville in Burrillville, Rhode Island.

Fiskeville. Superintendent's House c. 1810-15

Image shows the front facade of the superintendent's house built circa 1810-15 in the mill village of Fiskeville in Cranston, Rhode Island. There's a baby carriage in front of the house.

Fiskeville. Stone Houses c. 1810-15

Fiskeville. Stone Houses c. 1810-15

Providence Public Library

Image shows two stone houses in the mill village of Fiskeville in Cranston, Rhode Island. There are wood piles by both houses.

Fiskeville. Mill House c. 1810-20

Fiskeville. Mill House c. 1810-20

Providence Public Library

Image shows a house built circa 1810-20 in the mill village of Fiskeville in Cranston, Rhode Island. Parts of other houses are shown to the left and right of the house. A car is parked between two of the houses.

Fiskeville. Mill Cottage c. 1810-15

Fiskeville. Mill Cottage c. 1810-15

Providence Public Library

Image shows a cottage built circa 1810-1815 in the mill village of Fiskeville in Cranston, Rhode Island. The roof is severely damaged. Part of another cottage is visible in the background.

Fiskeville. Free Reading Room c. 1840

Fiskeville. Free Reading Room c. 1840

Providence Public Library

Image shows a small building built circa 1840 in the mill village of Fiskeville in Cranston, Rhode Island. There is one door and one window on the facade. Over the door is a sign that reads "Free Reading Room" and there is a small sign on the door frame that reads "ICE". There is a truck parked in front of the building. A man sits in a rocking chair on the side of the building.

Davisville. Mill 1848

Davisville. Mill 1848

Providence Public Library

Image shows mill built 1848 in the mill village of Davisville in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.

Crompton. Multiple Mill Dwelling c. 1840-45

Image shows attached homes built circa 1840-45 for mill workers in the mill village of Crompton in West Warwick, Rhode Island. Six exterior doors are visible.

Crompton. Crompton Co. late 1850s

Crompton. Crompton Co. late 1850s

Providence Public Library

Image shows the Crompton Company mill built in the late 1850s in the mill village of Crompton in West Warwick, Rhode Island.

Chepachet Mill 1814

Chepachet Mill 1814

Providence Public Library

Image shows Chepachet Mill built in 1814 in the village of Chepachet in Glocester, Rhode Island.

Central Falls. Stafford Mfg. Co. c. 1845

Image shows Stafford Manufacturing Company mill buildings built circa 1845 in Central Falls, Rhode Island. The buildings are on a body of water.

Central Falls. American Hair Cloth Co. 1864

Image shows the American Hair Cloth Company mill built in 1864 in Central Falls, Rhode Island. A sign on the building reads "The Adam Sutcliffe Co. / Salisbury Mfg Co. / Printing / Tags & Labels / Pin Tickets / Metal Edge Tags".

Centerville. Mill. General view 1873

Centerville. Mill. General view 1873

Providence Public Library

Image shows a mill built in 1873 in the mill village of Centerville in Hopkinton, Rhode Island. A body of water is in the foreground with the mill beyond it. A number of cars are parked outside the building.

Centerville. Mill Detail 1873

Centerville. Mill Detail 1873

Providence Public Library

Image shows a mill built in 1873 in the mill village of Centerville in Hopkinton, Rhode Island. Two cars are parked in front of the building.

Centerville. Mill 1873

Centerville. Mill 1873

Providence Public Library

Image shows a mill built in 1873 in the mill village of Centerville in Hopkinton, Rhode Island. A few cars are parked in front of the building.

Carolina. Mill Village. Store 1820 Houses 1850

Images shows a store built in 1820 and housing built in 1820 in the mill village of Carolina in Charlestown and Richmond, Rhode Island. The store is on the right and has two signs over the door: "Carolina RI Post Office" and "Chick Burdick" with the words Meats, Groceries, Ice, and Grain on either side of the name. There is an advertisement for Bond Bread on the bottom of the door and on for Guest Bread in the lower right corner of the door frame. Several housing buildings in the background.