Rhode Island Towns 29 & 30: West Greenwich and Exeter - 8/5/2020

Brian here. 
There are some Rhode Island towns that you hear a lot about -- for example, Bristol on 4th of July, Pawtucket with its mills, etc... I have to say that West Greenwich and Exeter were two places I, Brian, never heard a lot about and prior to visiting thought there were just farms or woods  in those towns.  I was pleasantly surprised on our trip to West Greenwich and Exteter to learn that there is so much more.

​We started with a visit to the Quarry in the Big River Management Area in West Greenwich -- an old quarry, now filled with water to create a stunning pond.  Tarynn immediately began finding the tiniest frogs everywhere along the shore, and in the water we spotted schools of fish swimming about.  We saw several people walking their dogs, and had a very nice chat with a gentleman who was impressed by our young “naturalist”, Tarynn.  

On the way to the quarry

Big River Quarry

Fish in the quarry lake

Tiny frog at the quarry

We then went just down the road to the Rhode Island Desert (not to be mistaken with Rhode Island Dessert - not sure if Rhode Island has an official dessert? 😉).  Sand dunes stretched out to the distance and were unusual and lovely to behold.  Tarynn caught a grasshopper along the way.

Rhode Island Desert

Rhode Island Desert

Tarynn caught this grasshopper

The site I was most looking forward to, learning about it in our research, was next in Exeter.  It was  the grave of Mercy Brown in the Chestnut Hill Baptist Church cemetery.  The story of Mercy Brown is pretty crazy (read more detail here).  Apparently, in the late 1800’s outbreaks of tuberculosis were occurring. People hadn’t figured out yet that it was a bacterial disease and could be treated medicinally.  In New England, especially Rhode Island and Connecticut, there was a trend of interpreting this “consumption disease” as the result of your dead relatives turning into vampires and sucking out your life.  Yes, vampires!!! (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_England_vampire_panic). So, if you wanted to cure someone of tuberculosis, what did you have to do?  Dig up their recently deceased family members, make a beverage of the ashes of their organs, and get the sick person to drink it.  Yuck!  For some reason, this treatment didn’t seem to actually work.  I must say that it is somewhat reminiscent of other questionable treatments for current diseases, like drinking bleach to cure COVID-19.  Maybe it’s just that the vampires have come back?  Aoife and Tarynn did not want to see the grave of Mercy Brown, and stayed in the car while Heidi and I walked the tranquil cemetery and left a “peace” stone on the grave of Mercy Brown.

On the way to the Chestnut Hill Baptist Church

Mercy Brown's grave

Mercy Brown's grave

Next on our drive was the RI Veterans Cemetery in Exeter, a site Heidi was looking forward to.  Prior to the cemetery, however, we saw an unusual building which looked like the head of an alien.  I’m still not sure what it really is.  We also saw an 1878 Town Hall and an old 1800’s schoolhouse.  

What is this thing?????

Old Town Hall

Old Schoolhouse

Looking in the window of the old schoolhouse

The RI Veterans Cemetery was a truly great stop.  It has expansive views, is beautifully landscaped, and the well-constructed monuments to our fallen soldiers are truly awe inspiring.  It was a meditative place and I found myself being thankful for the benefits I have received from their sacrifices. ​

Along our walk to the World War II monument at the cemetery, Tarynn picked up a grasshopper hitch-hiker who landed on her and traveled along on her hat for a while.  ​​

Ri Veterans Cemetery

Medal of Honor

World War II Memorial

Korean War Memorial

Vietnam War Memorial

Hitchhiker on Tarynn's hat

Our final stop was back in West Greenwich, a place called Stepstone Falls.  Given that it is now late in the summer the falls themselves were not that active, but it was a pleasant place to stop, walk on rocks over small streams, and hike in the woods for a while. 

Heading to Stepstone Falls

Standing where the falls would be flowing in Spring

We left a painted rock at the falls

Cardinal Flowers at Stepstone Falls

We ended the day in Griswold, Connecticut, visiting Buttonwood Farms for the sunflower display and ice cream.  It was late in the season for sunflowers, but it’s always the season for ice cream!

Other Places we've enjoyed in Exeter and West Greenwich: 

• Ben Utter Trail - very beautiful trail that leads to Stepstone Falls
• Arcadia Management Area - Over 14,000 wooded acres with numerous trails.  The Wood River also goes through this area and is enjoyed by canoeists and kayakers. 
• Wickaboxet Management Area - Beautiful trails here as well!
• Tillinghast Pond Management Area - Trails around the very pretty Tillinghast Pond