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 A Place Called Wickford


        As you travel down the crowded roads of historical Wickford
Village, you see the many antique homes and shops.  The smell of the ocean
drifts lazily down the street. You may hear the seagull's harsh cries, as
sailboats skim gracefully across the water of Wickford Harbor. You often
see a mother duck leading her ducklings around the inlet. Children and
adults gather at the bridge and toss bread crumbs to the ducks. The light
shimmers on the peaceful surface of the water. The sea adds much charm to
tranquil Wickford Village. As you look around, you may see the many
friendly faces of North Kingstown's residents. Wickford Village is located
in North Kingstown, which is in the southern part of Rhode Island. Rhode
Island, the biggest little state in the union, is located in the
northeastern part of the United States.
        Part of the charm of this place is the small family-owned  shops.
Ryan's Market is a grocery store located in Wickford Village that is nearly
110 years old. Part of Ryan's is on stilts and over the water. All of the
produce and meats are fresh, and are grown by local farmers. Although the
store is small, many North Kingstown and Wickford residents shop there
weekly. Ryan's is definitely part of Wickford's heritage. The courteous
service which includes carrying your groceries to the car is one of the
reasons people prefer  Ryan's to the supermarkets. Another  shop native to
Wickford is the Brown Street Deli. Whether you're a resident of Wickford or
a far away tourist you'll always feel welcome there. Just like the rest of
the village, the atmosphere is casual and comfortable. When you enter this
little sandwich shop you'll notice that this old- fashioned deli definitely
belongs in Wickford. It has wooden shelves and friendly service. The food
is better than any other sandwich shop in North Kingstown (That's our
opinion. We're sure many other people agree.) There you can get almost any
deli sandwich or soup you've ever dreamt of, from regular ham and cheese to
spinach pies and various soups. They use only the freshest ingredients and
rolls to satisfy  hungry shoppers. The Brown Street Deli is just one small
reason why Wickford  is so great.
        Wickford Village, in addition to being  a great shopping area, is
also important because of its historical value. Many houses date back to
the 1700's, when it was first founded. Some of the houses have a
porch-like structure on the roof, called a widow's walk. A widow's walk
allowed  the wives  of the sailors to watch the harbor for their husbands'
return. Another reminder of the history of the village is several small
stones  marked with a miniature flag, apparently the sign of a soldier who
gave his life in one of the many battles of the Civil War. In 1938, a
hurricane of great force hit the village with high winds and much water.
There is a high water mark commemorating this enormous storm. Although a
tiny village, Wickford's historical value is larger than life.
        Annually, Wickford hosts  two unique festivals, that are fun for
everyone. The first festival in winter  is the Festival of Lights. This
festival takes place on the village green on Brown Street in the center of
Wickford. From the green you can see the street glow with beautiful
Christmas lights.  On the telephone poles along the street there are little
Christmas trees with lights that illuminate the night sky. As part of these
festivities children bring ornaments to put on the large, decorated pine in
the village green. Also for your entertainment, there are bands playing and
choirs singing. On the village green Santa Claus  sits in his chair and
asks the children what they want for Christmas. The scent of hot chocolate,
which is offered, fills the air . When it snows it makes the festivities
all the more beautiful.
        Wickford also hosts an art festival each summer.  The Wickford Art
Festival is where qualified artists come and display and sell  their work.
There are sculptures, paintings,  and caricatures. Caricatures, the kind of
drawing where the artists humorously draw your head too big for your body
and exaggerate prominent features, are always a hit at the festival.
Vendors who sell hot dogs and french fries, as well as uniquely Rhode
Island treats such as doughboys, clam cakes, and Del's frozen lemonade
always do well making the festival a celebration of culinary as well as
artistic talents.
        Wickford's atmosphere is suited to all ages, with a feeling of
security throughout the small village. Whether it's the sites, the sea, the
smiles, or just the tranquility that lures you to this wonderful little
village, there will always be something special for you, and you will be
glad you came.


Student Authors:
Chris M., James O.,Betsy W., Faith K., Erika P., Kristin W., Meghan M.
Ryan B., David J., Ben D., Cherry P., Matt D. Kristina S and Jared S.
Davisville Middle School

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