To the editor:
Whenever we write or speak about Barrington’s history or any history for that matter, there’s always the story and the story behind the story. People who recount this …
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To the editor:
Whenever we write or speak about Barrington’s history or any history for that matter, there’s always the story and the story behind the story. People who recount this town's past often relate tales originally memorialized by our collective ancestral historian Thomas W. Bicknell. In fact, my previous two articles draw heavily on his work. Bicknell’s "A History of Barrington, Rhode Island", contains a bountiful harvest from old town council minutes, to tales of the town’s long forgotten taverns, our churches, census returns and yes, even our cemeteries.
Bicknell was a prolific writer, educator, state representative, colonel in the Bristol County Militia, and later, commissioner of public schools. As commissioner, he focused on re-establishing the Normal School (now Rhode Island College). He was also a poet, a civil rights reformer, and an early advocate to end Black segregation in schools.
His accomplishments were many, and his ego writ large: In 1914 he offered a 1,000-volume library to any town in Utah willing to adopt his name.
Bicknell described himself as “A Loyal Son of Barrington”, and upon his death, he was buried in Prince's Hill Cemetery. It seems only fitting that in our exploration of the cemetery, we include Bicknell’s final resting place in our ground penetrating radar demonstration.
Dr. Jon Marcoux, anthropologist, award-winning professor, program coordinator, and faculty fellow at Salve Regina University will present a talk on the use of ground penetrating radar (GPR) techniques in cemeteries followed by a practical application of the technology in the Prince’s Hill burial ground. Professor Marcoux will use GPR to scan the vicinity around the slave monument, Section B, and Bicknell’s grave to search for signs of burials or soil disturbances that may indicate a gravesite or sites.
Come with us as we explore Prince's Hill cemetery and discover some of Barrington's forgotten history.
• When: Saturday, July 21
• Where: Barrington Public Library Auditorium and practical demonstration at Prince's Hill
• Time: 2 p.m.
• Rain date: July 28 – same time, same place
This event is free and open to the public. The Barrington Public Library auditorium is equipped with a Hearing Loop System. Those needing assistance can switch their hearing aids to T-coil and take advantage of the loop.
Timothy E. McMahon
Barrington
Mr. McMahon is Cemetery Commissioner in Barrington.