From the time it was separated from Providence in
1759, Johnston has grown from a sleepy, rural town to
a busy urban center with more than 30,000 residents and
a diversified economy. Much of this growth took place
between the mid-nineteenth and mid-twentieth centuries,
and it is this period that Louis McGowan and the Johnston
Historical Society chronicle in this delightful book.
McGowan and the historical society have assembled
more than 200 wonderful images from their archives and
the private collections of many Johnston residents. The
result is a multi-faceted portrait of the town's citizens,
landmarks, and historical figures. Some of the famous
figures discussed include Charles Fletcher, who built or
managed the three largest textile mills in Johnston; the
Reverend Samuel Winsor, founder of the Six Principle
Baptist congregation; James F. Simmons, the sole U.S.
Senator from the town, who was forced to resign his
position in disgrace; and Zenas R. Bliss, winner of the
Congressional Medal of Honor and a distinguished U.S.
Army officer.