North Scituate in Providence County, Rhode Island — The American Northeast (New England)
The Richmond Mill Bell
This structure is a replica of the upper portion of the original Richmond Mill bell tower. The bell - donated to the town by the Joslin family - hung in the original bell tower in the Village of Richmond, Rhode Island. Between 1917 and 1921, the village and its mill, along with the villages of Rockland, South Scituate, Ashland and Kent, were sacrificed to create the Scituate Reservoir.
In the days before electricity and alarm clocks, the bell was used to let the workers know when work began and ended.
Creation of the reservoir effectively ended the availability of water power in Scituate, which essentially brought to an end the town's industrial age.
The original Richmond Mill, owned by the Joslin family, was located about one half mile east of the present intersection of Tunk Hill and Field Hill Roads.
Architectural reconstruction drawings were provided by George H. Myrick, AIA.
Construction was provided by North Scituate Restoration, Inc.
Erected 1996 by The Scituate Preservation
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Historic Bells series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1917.
Location. 41° 50.089′ N, 71° 35.214′ W. Marker is in Scituate, Rhode Island, in Providence County. It is in North Scituate. It is on West Greenville Road north of Silk Lane, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 546 W Greenville Rd, North Scituate RI 02857, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Quiet Corner and in Greater Providence. It is also in the American Northeast, in New England, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Bell Garden (a few
Credits. This page was last revised on September 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 22, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 15 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 22, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
