Presentation on Manville history Sunday at North Gate Toll House

LINCOLN – Nestled in the northern part of the Town of Lincoln, Manville is a quiet community that is proud of its working heritage. However, that lifestyle was shaken in 1955 with two terrible disasters that altered its way of life forever.

Join the Blackstone Valley Historical Society Sunday at 2 p.m. as it debuts a tribute to Manville by Roger Gladu, who has been a part of the community for his lifetime. Sections of his video, Part I, will introduce the community, show the working environment in the early 20th century, and the natural disasters that, except for the strong will of the people, could have wiped out Manville forever.

This is the second of two presentations on the life of Manville. The first installment was Sunday, Jan. 14. Susan Clarke, program manager of the society, will nar- rate parts of the video concerning the products made in the factories during those times, interspersed with recorded sections of several persons who did, in fact, work in the major mill. This presentation will be a wonderful introduction to Manville as a quiet, peaceful region that, despite major adversity, still is a proud part of the Blackstone region.

North Gate Toll House, located at 1873 Old Louisquisset Pike (Route 246), Lincoln, is the headquarters of the Blackstone Valley Historical Society, which is dedicated to the history and antiquities of the Northern Rhode Island communities of Pawtucket, Central Falls, Lincoln, Cumberland, North Smithfield and Woonsocket. Although all programs are free, donations are gratefully accepted, and all interested persons are invited to join the organization.