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Pontiac is a historic village in
/ref> In 1863
Villages in Kent County, Rhode Island Cranston, Rhode Island Warwick, Rhode Island Villages in Rhode Island {{RhodeIsland-geo-stub
Pontiac is a historic village in Warwick, Rhode Island
Warwick ( or ) is a city in Kent County, Rhode Island, the third largest city in the state with a population of 82,823 at the 2020 census. It is located approximately south of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, southwest of Boston, Massachu ...
, and part of the .
History
Native Americans referred to the area as "Papepieset" or "Toskiounke." After arriving in 1642, the early English settlers called the area "Great Weir" becausefishing weir
A fishing weir, fish weir, fishgarth or kiddle is an obstruction placed in tidal waters, or wholly or partially across a river, to direct the passage of, or trap fish. A weir may be used to trap marine fish in the intertidal zone as the tide reced ...
s were used to catch fish near the falls. After a bridge was constructed in the locality, the area became known as "the great bridge near the weir," and eventually " Capt. Benjamin Greene's bridge" then "Arnold's bridge." After Senator John Hopkins Clarke purchased the water rights, the region assumed the name of "Clarksville." After purchasing the area, the Pontiac Manufacturing Company named the area "Pontiac" after Chief Pontiac a Northwestern Indian chief. Allegedly, "Mr. Clark, while out in Michigan, saw the picture of the old chief, Pontiac, and on his return had it engraved, to be used as a label on his goods. The name gradually became attached to the village after he left, though many continued to call it " Arnold's Bridge."''The history of Warwick, Rhode Island, from its settlement in 1642 to the present time: including accounts of the early settlement and development of its several villages; sketches of the origin and progress of the different churches of the town, &c.'', &c by Oliver Payson Fuller (Angell, Burlingame & co., printers, 1875)pg. 25/ref> In 1863
Benjamin Knight
Benjamin Brayton Knight (1813–1898) was a New England industrialist and philanthropist, who was a partner with his brother Robert Knight in the B. B. & R. Knight Company and was one of the largest textile manufacturers in the world when he d ...
and Robert Knight, two brothers, built the Pontiac Mills in the village.
See also
*List of Registered Historic Places in Rhode Island
Image:Rhode Island counties map.png, Rhode Island counties (clickable map)
poly 272 199 262 184 256 177 261 172 262 168 268 163 276 157 280 154 286 156 295 159 305 166 313 180 324 194 330 204 326 211 324 215 318 222 312 228 307 233 305 234 301 23 ...
*New York, Providence and Boston Railroad
The New York, Providence and Boston Railroad, normally called the Stonington Line, was a major part of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad between New London, Connecticut and Providence, Rhode Island. It is now part of Amtrak's high-sp ...
, operated the Pontiac Branch Railroad to the village
* Pontiac Mills
References
External links
*''The history of Warwick, Rhode Island, from its settlement in 1642 to the present time: including accounts of the early settlement and development of its several villages; sketches of the origin and progress of the different churches of the town, &c.'', &c by Oliver Payson Fuller (Angell, Burlingame & co., printers, 1875)pg. 25Villages in Kent County, Rhode Island Cranston, Rhode Island Warwick, Rhode Island Villages in Rhode Island {{RhodeIsland-geo-stub