Wakefield, Rhode Island
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Wakefield Historic District
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Bell Block
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| Location | Roughly, Main St. from Belmont Ave. to Columbia St., South Kingstown, Rhode Island |
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| Coordinates | 41°26′N 71°30′W / 41.433°N 71.500°WCoordinates: 41°26′N 71°30′W / 41.433°N 71.500°W |
| Architectural style | Early Commercial, Queen Anne, Greek Revival |
| NRHP Reference # | 96000572 |
| Added to NRHP | May 30, 1996 |
Wakefield is a village in the town of South Kingstown, Rhode Island, and the commercial center of the town. Together with the village of Peace Dale, it is treated by the U.S. Census as a component of the census-designated place identified as Wakefield-Peacedale, Rhode Island. West Kingston, another South Kingstown village, was the traditional county seat of Washington County. Since 1991, the Washington County Courthouse has been in Wakefield. The Sheriff's Office which handles corrections is also in Wakefield.
The Wakefield village center along Main Street (old Boston Post Road) between Belmont Avenue and Columbia Street was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996 as Wakefield Historic District. The district is significant for being an early commercial and industrial center. The district includes 53 properties over an area of 400 acres (1.6 km2) and also includes Kenyon's Department Store, which is separately listed on the National Register.
Wakefield was a focus for settlement due to its location on the Saugatucket River and the old Post Road, which was laid out early in the 18th century. Settlement began in the early 18th century with establishment of a small mill on the Saugatucket River. A tavern and stagecoach stop were established in 1745 and a snuff mill was built around 1765. The textile industry began to become an important source of economic activity in 1807 when a carding mill was established on the Saugatucket River. By 1822, the village had about 60 residents and consisted of nine houses, a store, the carding mill, a grist mill, a saw mill, and a blacksmith shop. A Baptist church was built in 1830 and an Episcopal church followed in 1840.
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