Rhode Island Tercentenary Issue First Day Cover
300th Anniversary of the Settlement of Rhode Island
Issued on May 4, 1936 in Providence, RI - Scott #777

Unofficial Town Cancel - Woonsocket, RI
John Kilton Cachet - Planty #777-61m

The Woonsocket Post Office, (Woonsocket Township, Providence County) was established on May 8, 1874 under Postmaster Stephen H. Brown. The Post Office was formerly known as Woonsocket Falls; established on December 13, 1827 under Postmaster Daniel A. Daniels. This Post Office is currently in operation under Postmaster Ronald R. Poulin appointed on February 22, 2003.

Woonsocket is the 6th largest city in Rhode Island and borders on the state of Massachusetts to the north. Up until 2000, the population was made up of mostly French ancestry, but after that year the population changed to a majority with Italian ancestry.

Richard Arnold constructed the first sawmill on the Blackstone River in 1660, which was followed by an influx of colonists. Beginning in the 19th century, the Textile Industry took root in the area peaking shortly after World War I. The villages of Bernon, Globe, Hamlet, Jenckesville, Social, and Woonsocket Falls were built during this period eventually joining together to form the city of Woonsocket. During the early 1900s, many French Canadians immigrated to the area and as noted above, citizens of French and Italian ancestry predominated.

The city is located along both banks of the Blackstone River with the old village of Woonsocket Falls as it's municipal center giving the city the unusual feature of having a waterfall in it's center. The textile industry in Rhode Island and in Woonsocket has declined in later years leading to a worsening economy in the area.

After Richard Arnold's sawmill was completed, his sons John and Richard Jr. along with their Aunt Elizabeth were among the first to settle in the area of what is now known as North Smithfield. John settled in Woonsocket in 1712 and built a home on Providence Street which still stands today and is on the National Register of Historic Homes. It is the oldest surviving building in the city.

Sources:
Check List of Rhode Island Post Offices 1790-1994 - Del Beaudreau
Rhode Island Postal History: The Post Offices - Merolla, Jackson & Crowther