Richard V. Simpson
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The Basics
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Richard on Patch
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More Stuff
Comments
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On the announcement NEW Tiverton-Little Compton History Available
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On the Blog Post Ask a Conservative: Preconceived Notions and Minimum Wage
Richard V. Simpson
6:49 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
ReplyThis is what being a conseervative means to me, and I approve this message.
Borders : Closed!
Congress : Obey it's own laws!
Language : English only!
Culture : Constitution, and the Bill of Rights!
Drug Free : Mandatory Drug Screening before Welfare!
NO freebies to Non-Citizens! -
On the Blog Post Railway Bridge: 'On the Water'
Richard V. Simpson
6:56 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
ReplySakonnet River Railroad Bridge
A modified Baltimore through truss span and a cantilevered assembly, about 220 feet long, composed of two identical trusses, spanned the Sakonnet River between Portsmouth and Tiverton. The circular track on which the bridge pivots was mounted on a central pier, in mid-river. An engine house mounted atop the central span formerly housed a boiler and a steam engine, which supplied the needed power; later electrified. Semaphore signals were located at each end of the bridge. A large steel tower carries overhead power cables ninety-five feet above the river. The Old colony and Newport Railroad built the first railroad bridge over the Sakonnet River in 1864; in 1898, it was damaged and replaced.
In the twentieth-century, the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad owned the line. Passenger service to Aquidneck Island was provided until 1937. -
On the Blog Post The Roots of Bristol’s 4th of July Celebration: Part VIII
Richard V. Simpson
8:25 am on Saturday, April 28, 2012
ReplyFire Department historian Ray Castro advised me of the following...
• The Hydraulion Co., sponsored the first large firefighter’s muster, held at the new Mt. Hope [Massasoit] Park in August 1898 with an estimated 3,000 people in attendance. "Tubs" transported to the park by steamboat. The event was a great success.
• Walter H. Coggeshall was chief in 1922, not Robert J. Anderson. Anderson was Foreman of the "Hydes" in 1922.
• The reason the fire department did not appear in the 1943 parade was due to the war effort --- gas rationing and many members were in the military. -
On the Blog Post Upcoming Fourth of July Committee Fund Raising Events
Richard V. Simpson
10:59 am on Saturday, April 21, 2012
ReplyThank you for your openess Dick.
From June 1986 – January 1987, Gregory Raposa, and I tried to obtain income and expenditure records from Committee Chair James Farley. Farley refused to turn over any financial records. I took my concerns to the Town Council. Six months of heated exchanges took place.
Pressured by the Town Council, Farley reluctantly released specific financial information to the Council who in turn made the same information available to the original requesters and to the public.
Since the Farley afare, Committee minutes including financial matters are now archived by the Town Clerk and readily available to interested citizens. -
On the Blog Post Notable Buildings No. 4 & 5: The Priscilla Talbee Lindsey House and The Susan Gorham Cottage
Richard V. Simpson
5:38 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012
ReplyFor many decades,the Gorham Cottage was the home of August Miller, Jr., son of celebrated American Impressionest painter Auguest Miller whose family homestead was on the corner of Bristol Ferry Road and Porter Street in Portsmouth. Also for many years, the one-story addition was an antique store operated by (Mrs Salvitore) Carrie Misano.
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On the Blog Post Upcoming Fourth of July Committee Fund Raising Events
Richard V. Simpson
9:04 am on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
ReplyAs of Feb. 28, 2011, the Committee's treasury balance was $127,990.99. Because the Committee is dealing with public money, for the benefit of total transparency, post on Patch the Committee's current treasury balance and the projected budget for the 2012 celebration.
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On the Blog Post The Roots of Bristol’s 4th of July Celebration: Part V
Richard V. Simpson
1:21 pm on Friday, April 13, 2012
ReplyTouché! I did forget Kelly and family in the BLOG. I will fix that in my manuscript. But Kelly has an extensive and sensitive writeup in my 1989 book Independence Day.
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On the Blog Post Notable Building No. 3: Abbie M. Young House
Richard V. Simpson
7:52 pm on Thursday, April 12, 2012
ReplyTrinity Church was an outcrowth on St. Michael's Church. Mrs. Ruth B. DeWolf left a large part of her estate for the purpose of building Trinity. It was a large wood frame building standing on the northeast corner of Hope and Bradford Streets where the Andrews School now stands.
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On the article Tony Teixeira to Lead Fourth of July Celebration
Richard V. Simpson
11:19 am on Thursday, April 5, 2012
ReplySince 1826, when Col. Giles Luther became the town’s first Chief Marshal, the title of Chief Marshal is the town’s most prestigious nonelected position a Bristolian can obtain. Congratulations Tony, you merit the distinction of the title.
Richard V. Simpson
3:03 pm on Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Greetings Sharon & Wendy. I am happy to learn you have stocked my Tiv/LC book, I hope it is selling well.
As a companion to historic Tales of Tiverton & Little Compton, now available from the History Press is Historic Tales of Colonial Rhode Island. In this new narrative is an in depth story of the Battle of Rhode Island which dovetails very nicely with the chapter on Colonel Barton in the Tiv/LC title.