History

The Town of West Greenwich was set off from East Greenwich and incorporated by the General Assembly April 6, 1741. In 1790 the population of the town was 2,054. In 1920 it had dropped to 387 but in 1970 it had increased to 1,841. The 2000 census data lists the population at 5,085.

The original deed was executed June 30, 1709 for 1,100 pounds. It divided West Greenwich, some 35,000 acres of land, from the vacant land in the Narragansett country tract and ran to 13 residents of East Greenwich and Warwick. A petition was submitted in October 1740, to Governor Richard Ward, requesting that this area be set off as a separate town. It wasn't until April 1741 that the General Assembly for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at the request of freemen of this area incorporated West Greenwich is a separate town. (by Roberta Baker - Bits and Pieces of West Greenwich Memoranda)

Our coat of arms was one of the Coats of Arms of Municipalities in Kent County designed by Howard M. Chapin - one time head of the Rhode Island Historical Society in conjunction with the State Tercentenary Celebration. It is patterned after Greenwich, England in the county of Kent. A silver hour glass on a little blue field, with a golden stripe at the top on which is a red setting sun. The arms are a modification of those of East Greenwich, differenced with the setting sun significant of the west.

 

DID YOU KNOW........

The town hall is 102 feet long and it sits 102 feet from Route 102.
The town hall was opened in 1970 and replaced the old town hall on Nooseneck Hill Road which was taken as
part of the Big River Reservoir Project and later moved to its present location behind Lineham School.  The original
town hall is currently used as storage for the school and as a club house for the EWG girl's softball league. 

 

 

DID YOU KNOW........

 

Cora Lamoureux, born in 1896, retired on October 31, 1983, at the age of 87, after serving as West Greenwich's Town Clerk for 27 years. Prior to that, she was the Tax Collector, Town Treasurer, Welfare Director and a Rationing Board member.  Cora loved this town and knew everyone and everything about West Greenwich.  A party was given in her honor and the then Governor Garrahy proclaimed October 31st Cora Lamoureux Day.  The town council chambers have since been dedicated to Cora and you can find a painted portrait of her there.  Cora was a true West Greenwich spirit!

 

 

HOW NOOSENECK GAINED ITS NAME

Noose Neck Valley in the Valley of the Big River is so called because deer were very numerous there in the days of the Narragansett Indians. The Indians are said to have entrapped many in running nooses hung on the flexible birch trees in that locality. Indians from all over the State used to come there in the fall and depart after they had enough of the delicious venison to last them on their march to the Connecticut border. (by Roberta Baker - Bits and Pieces of West Greenwich Memoranda)

EDUCATION:

In 1889 there were 12 school districts in West Greenwich. The average monthly wage for a teacher was $30.26.

 

District # 8 - Plain School also known as Red School House
Plain Meeting House Road - Built in 1881.

 

 

 

 

District # 7 - Hazard School House
Hazard Road - built in the 1840's.

 

 

 

 

In 1927, the West Greenwich schools united for the first joint graduation in the Town's history. Over 200 people were in
attendence and there were 4 graduates: William Mattscheck, Catherine O'Brien, Dagny Olsson, and Unto Frank Ikonen.
Ice cream and cake was served by M.J. Duff, proprietor of the Noose Neck Inn.

 

Picture taken early in the 1970's of Route 102 headed
North just past Blueberry Heights.
Photo submitted by Lorraine Simpanen

 

 

Click for Rhode Island History and RI History - Kid Friendly

 

 

More to come..............