NORTH SMITHFIELD – At the time, it was considered the largest mill fire in northern Rhode Island history, and even 43 years later, images of the massive 1977 blaze bring back vivid memories for many in northern Rhode Island.
Now, director Christian de Rezendes hopes to capture those first-hand accounts of the Stamina Mill fire for his docu-series on Slatersville history.
The fire brought down the Forestdale mill, reducing it to its foundation, which still sits on on the vacant lot – a reminder of the town’s past as a center for industrialism.
de Rezendes, who has been working on a documentary covering the history of America’s first mill village for nearly a decade, has noticed that mentions of that fire never fail to bring out first-hand tales from those who witnessed it.
“Of all the things I post on the ‘Slatersville’ page, it’s amazing how the Stamina Mill fire seems to be the most fascinating,” de Rezendes noted on social media back in 2017. “Every once in a while the post is revisited and a whole new wave of commenting restarts.”
With the decaying office building, one of the last remnants of the massive mill that encompassed a five-acre property on School Street, now slated to come down, de Rezendes has decided it is time to capture those accounts.
“Many people from Slatersville and throughout the region have sharp memories of this fire and how it impacted their families and this town,” he said.
The mill, opened in the early 1900s just down river from the Slatersville Mill, was once owned and operated by the Slater family – a main focus of the director’s eight episode story.
de Rezendes received confirmation in June that his work will air on Rhode Island PBS next fall and is now working on final layout for the project.
Recently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to demolish the office building, and the news has reignited – so to speak –talks about the fire. The property itself was the site of a chemical spill in 1969, and has long been listed by the EPA as a Superfund site.
“It’s a special part of our story,” de Rezendes said.
Images of the fire were donated to his project by both the Primrose and St. Paul Street stations of the North Smithfield Fire Department and the North Smithfield Heritage Association, as well as individuals including Grace Maynard and Sam Walker.
And now, video of local tales will accompany these images of the fire in the final product. The director is seeking people willing to share their detailed accounts on camera.
“Do you recall where you were when it happened?” a flyer for the effort asks. “Were you on a school bus riding by? Were you in a neighboring house? Did you play a role in trying to put the fire out? What do you recall and when?”
de Rezendes will film the first-hand accounts at Heritage Hall on Greene Street on Saturday, Nov. 14 from noon to 4 p.m.
Those interested in participating are asked to send a brief summary of their memory, their age at the time, and their reference background, along
with your name, phone number and email address to firstmillvillage@gmail.com by Saturday, Nov. 7. Chosen participants will be assigned a 20-minute block of time for filming.
The filming event has been sponsored by the North Smithfield Heritage Association.
