One Rhode Island Family

An exhibit opened a few weeks ago at the Blackstone Valley Historical Society in Lincoln, Rhode Island, “An Elaborate History: The Cumberland Ballous.” Fortunately for those of us who may not make it to the exhibit, much of the content is now online at that link – just keep clicking “Begin” and “Next.”  The exhibit itself was really lovely and nicely displayed; I enjoyed my visit. The web version is well written and contains the story of the pictures and some fascinating details of the Ballous who lived in those houses.

The entrance to the North Gate Toll House, home of the Blackstone Valley Historical Society. The other side of the building is viewable from route 146. Photo by Diane Boumenot

The exhibit links some pictures taken around 1900 with map sites for those properties taken from mid-1800’s maps, mostly in Cumberland.  ALL the houses pictured and mapped were Ballou households, and the original pictures may have been created for a Ballou reunion or some other purpose; at any rate, the pictures, enhanced now with the map locations and some biographical details, present a detailed glimpse into the early Ballou neighborhoods and families.

One side of the exhibit room.

While originally investigating the pictures, which had been donated to the Blackstone Valley Historical Society, researcher Lori Melucci (Vice President of the Blackstone Valley Historical Society) came across a blog post of mine from a few years ago which contained a transcription of an early article from the Narragansett Historical Register, “The Ballou Pioneer Settlers.” As she started recognizing a few buildings (house images in that post, that I had copied sort of randomly from Adin Ballou’s An Elaborate History and Genealogy of the Ballous in America (1888)), Lori began to realize that the collection of pictures were meant to document the remains of early Ballou households, in Cumberland, Rhode Island.

The exhibit extending around the room.

From there, Lori was on a mission to locate each and every home site.  She gathered the pictures, early and recent maps, local contacts, and a pristine 1888 copy of An Elaborate History and Genealogy of the Ballous in America that the historical society had acquired during a museum closing.  She spent many months pinpointing the location of each house and marking them on the old maps, working sometimes alone and sometimes with fellow BVHS members.  To do this she had to learn about rearranged roadways, former swamps, new developments and, of course, some burials here and there.  In the end, Lori is doubtful that any of the near-ruins from 1900 are standing today.

Lori Melucci, pictured on the grounds of the Blackstone Valley Historical Society

Visit the BVHS exhibit online and let her tell the story of these pictures and what she learned about the occupants.  I’m really hoping some direct descendants of these folks will find this.  MY Ballous were nearby but not really a part of this group, which are mostly descendants of James Ballou.

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