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Suggest pagesKnightsville, Rhode Island
Knightsville is an urban neighborhood in the City of Cranston, Rhode Island.
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[edit] History
Knightsville is named after local inn keeper and U.S. Congressman Nehemiah Knight (1746–1808). The Knights were descendants of early English emigrants who were some of the earliest settlers in the area. According to at least one source:
Knightsville is known to some residents as Monkeytown, and Cranston Street leading to Knightsville is sometimes referred to as Monkeytown Road. One legend has it that a local lad joined a seafaring voyage, and when he returned he brought back a most unusual creature with him--a monkey in a cage. People traveled from all over to see the animal. Monkeytown is hardly a respectable name for the community named after the Knight family, which owned much of the land and was dominant in state and local government.[1]
Early town meetings in the 18th century were held in Caleb Arnold's tavern, Nehemiah Knight's tavern (currently on the site of present city building), and the old Knightsville Meetinghouse. In 1843 Amasa Sprague, a textile entrepreneur, was beaten to death near what was is now St. Ann Cemetery. His alleged murderer, John Gordon, was the last person executed in Rhode Island.[2] By the turn of the 20th century, the city was home to various thriving businesses and industries, attracting large numbers of European immigrants. Many residents are now Italian-American, with many able to trace their lineage to Itri, a small Italian village approximately half way between Rome and Naples.[3]
[edit] Cultural attractions
The historic Knightsville Meetinghouse, built in 1807, is located within the village. The neighborhood also features church celebrations including the Feast of Saint Mary, under the title of Maria Santissima della Civita, a weeklong celebration featuring a carnival, fireworks, and a religious procession. It is held every July and attracts thousands of visitors. The actual feast day is July 21, and is celebrated the closest weekend to that date. Knightsville is home to several churches, including St. Mary's, St. Ann's, and Knightsville-Franklin Congregational Church. The neighborhood also has a public library and a large park containing a playground, basketball court, and baseball field named after Anthony J. Sivo who was killed in the Vietnam War.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ Rhode Island: Unforgettable Vintage Images of the Ocean State Best of Images of America (Arcardia Publishing, 2000) http://books.google.com/books?id=sR-hiuQ2lWQC&pg=PA9&dq=knightsville+rhode+island+namedafter&lr=&client=firefox-a&cd=2#v=onepage&q=&f=false
- ^ Joe Fuoco, A. J. Lothrop, Knightsville and Silver Lake (Arcadia Publishing, 1998) ISBN 0752412299, 9780752412290 http://books.google.com/books?id=2TxyUErwVsYC&source=gbs_navlinks_s
- ^ Joe Fuoco, A. J. Lothrop, Knightsville and Silver Lake (Arcadia Publishing, 1998) ISBN 0752412299, 9780752412290 http://books.google.com/books?id=2TxyUErwVsYC&source=gbs_navlinks_s
- ^ Joe Fuoco, A. J. Lothrop, Knightsville and Silver Lake (Arcadia Publishing, 1998) ISBN 0752412299, 9780752412290 http://books.google.com/books?id=2TxyUErwVsYC&source=gbs_navlinks_s
