Stillwater Mill

In September 2009, Breakwater Preservation Conservancy was given a donation of some 26 acres of property in Smithfield which included the remaining buildings of the Stillwater Worsted Mills.

This was a very exciting acquisition for us as it is not only one of the most scenic locations in Rhode Island but it is also historically unique in that the whole concept of the mill community started on this very spot.

Battles of King Philip's War took place in the vicinity of Nipsachuck Swamp; at a time when colonists had just begun to move into this Tribal area.

[1] In 1824, Israel and Welcome Arnold purchased property at Stillwater,[3] in central Smithfield, and erected a small cotton mill and two houses for workers.

The small settlement was later purchased by Joseph Clark,[4] and by mid-century Stillwater was only a tiny hamlet – a mill, five houses, a school and a store.

The mill owners effected a number of changes in the late nineteenth century, such as landscaping and housing renovations, that transformed Stillwater into a “model village”.

As an interesting side note, the electric company has warrantee deeds for all the other railroad properties it acquired, but only a quitclaim for the Stillwater lands.

In the 1960s – 1980's the rate of Smithfield's population growth slowed and the development of suburban tracts shifted to the Limerock road and Bryant College areas.

Newer residential development includes structures set in expansive open land, particularly in the south west corner of town and near the Stillwater reservoir.