It’s Impossible Not To Love The Most Eccentric Town In Rhode Island
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Tammy Laforest
Author
Woonsocket, Rhode Island is a strange place indeed. Some of their proudest traditions are sandwiches that no one else has ever heard of and a Chinese food restaurant that features jazz and blues performers from around the world. Follow the Blackstone River through this mill town to find out how Woonsocket became so unique.
Once bustling with industry, Woonsocket is made up of several mill villages, each powered by a dam built on the Blackstone River. The most well-known among the sights here is the Woonsocket Falls Dam, which was rebuilt in the 50s after flood damage.
Presented as a better way of life, mill work brought families from Quebec to work in the mills in the 1840s, bringing with them a vibrant French Canadian culture which remains in the city this day. Don't be surprised to hear someone call their living room a "parlour" in this super French town. But drop the R- it is still Rhode Island after all.
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The fascinating history of textile mills in this city is so important to its inhabitants that the Rhode Island Historical Society created a museum dedicated to it. You can learn all about historical Woonsocket factory life Tuesday through Sunday at 42 South Main Street in Woonsocket.
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You won't learn about the most delicious part of Woonsocket culture in a museum. The rest of the state hasn't caught on to Woonsocket's dynamite sandwich which can only be found in a select few restaurants. Perhaps they are trying to keep it their own yummy little secret.
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Not a secret at all is the super-popular Ye Olde English Fish & Chips. Opened in 1922, it is still run by the same family. Their original batter recipe was so good that they are using the same one to this day! I can't think of a better way to find out what British-American food tasted like 90 years ago.
Woonsocket really is stuck in the past, but we don't mind! The Stadium Theater is one of the few remaining examples of the Vaudeville Theatre era. Since its restoration in 2001, it has hosted many high caliber music, dance and theater acts.
Just down the street you can have your jazz music with a side of...egg rolls? Chan's Fine Oriental Dining is one of Woonsocket's most popular music venues, drawing famous musicians from all over the world so you can hear the finest jazz and blues music while chewing a mouthful of fried rice. What a combination!
Feeling nostalgic? Just on the border of the city is an adorable candy store you just have to see for yourself. Woonsocket's insatiable hunger for the past makes this the perfect location for this brightly painted building filled with candies from your childhood.
Everyone who visits Woonsocket has their own unique story to tell. To read more about another fascinating town in Rhode Island, click here.
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