A Bridge Too Far

The "old" in Old Danielson Pike alludes to the fact that this stretch of road, which runs directly through the heart of the Hopkins Mills section of Foster, was once the "new" Danielson Pike.  This mile stretch of road was at one time the center of economic activity in the town. The Providence & Danielson Stagecoach carried product from the mills in the village and surrounding area across the Ponagansett River, and the Hopkins Mills Bridge was a vital piece of infrastructure to every business on the route between Danielson and Providence.

With the advent of the automobile, the bridge received a much needed update: in 1913, a new Hopkins Mills Bridge was completed. Only 15 years later, however, the construction of Route 6 bypassed Hopkins Mills completely, and the bridge was no longer a vital thruway. Over time, the mills, along with the amenities in the village that supported them, such as general stores, taverns and inns, shut their doors.

Despite the closed factories, Hopkins Mills remained a close-knit community that flourished into the 1990s.  The Hopkins Mills Bridge stood for over one hundred years until RIDOT deemed the bridge unsafe for public use.  It was demolished in 2014, effectively splitting the village of Hopkins Mills in half. Today, while it remains a National Historic District, the village is a shadow of its former self.  Vegetation has taken over much of the street, not only near the bridge but all along Old Danielson Pike.  The condition of the road is poor at best, and without a thruway, these issues are likely at the bottom of Foster DPW's list.  

Still, Hopkins Mills is an important historical landmark.  It is a prime example of one of New England’s rural industrial villages, many of which have been replaced by strip malls and condominiums.  An autumn walk down Old Danielson Pike provides picturesque views of Colonial, Federal and Greek Revival architecture, babbling brooks and waterfalls, a one-room schoolhouse and (with a little imagination) a glimpse into the way life used to be.

Before photographs: Foster Preservation Society