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Images of
Lafayette
Lafayette, found on
either side of the Ten Rod Road, was easily the largest and most successful mill
village in North Kingstown and was the center of the Rodman family textile
empire that, at its peak, included the mills at Shady Lea, Silver Spring,
Narragansett Mills, and a mill outside of nearby Wakefield. Rodman purchased
the site, another location with a long history of industry, in 1847 as a cotton
mill, but quickly retooled to utilize wool. He expanded and built the large
brick mill and associated structures in 1877. At its peak Rodman Manufacturing
in Lafayette alone employed more than 500 people. The village included every
amenity required at the time; two churches, two schoolhouses, a community
meeting hall, a post office, a company store, various other stores and shops,
large and small boarding houses, a park, and even a winter crypt were made
available for the greater Rodman Manufacturing “family” across the years. The Rodmans’ themselves constructed four fine mill owner mansions within walking
distance of the mill building. Rodman Manufacturing closed in the late 1940’s
after more than 100 years, largely due to the competition brought to bear by
cheaper costs at southern manufacturing facilities and the onset of synthetic
fabrics.
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