The Ruins Of Hanton City
Photo via Wikimedia
Although Rhode Island is the smallest state in the US, its bizarre history is large with legends of vampires, ghost ships, and mysterious ocean lights. The weirdest of all may be the ruins of Hanton City, a “lost city” not far from Smithfield.
Originally a small farming community, Hanton City was isolated from its neighbors, which left room for all sorts of suggestive rumors. Some said that Hanton City was populated by freed or runaway slaves, while others believed that the village was a sort of leper colony populated by disease-stricken people forced to live deep in the woods.
Rumors aside, all that is left of Hanton City is a series of stone foundations, some unattached walls, a burial site, and other collapsed edifices. A set of headstones, all of which bear the last name Smith, can also be found in the ghost town. Sadly, not much else is known about this colonial-era settlement except for a few whispered stories about inexplicable noises and a generally spooky atmosphere.
Sounds to me like a place to avoid, ya know? Maybe nothing but stories, but why take a chance?
Coffee out on the patio this morning.
6 comments:
I am wondering why no one has excavated the site as of yet. People are always wanting to dig up stuff, why not Hanton City. Too spooky maybe? Have a great weekend.
Lots of weird places like that in Jersey, too. There is a magazine called "Weird New Jersey" with lots of stories like that!
Interesting story. With a name like Hanton maybe it was a Chinese settlement. Of course that's just another story to added to the mystery. But like Linda said why haven't they excavated the site.
So happy to be back and read the great things here. Coffee on the Patio sounds good.
It would seem that with every one's last name being Smith, that the people there were trying to hide their true identity, or the town was occupied by one large family named Smith. I knew a lot of Smiths through my lifetime.
Hey Linda...
Good question. I wonder what the answer is?
Thanks for stopping by today!
Hey Phyllis...
I reckon that every community has a place like that, maybe more that one!
Thanks for coming by today!
Hey Jo...
More questions than answers on this place.
Thanks for dropping in today!
Hey Dizzy...
Seems like there should be a logical explanation, doesn't it?
Thanks for the visit today!
I would love to live there! Quiet and peaceful. Lots of trees. I recently read it is going to be developed. I read once that it was owned by Dow Chemical Co.
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