Who Am I? Edward Harris!

In a new weekly feature, Woonsocket Patch readers can identify the person in a photo provided by the Woonsocket Historical Society on the first Tuesday of every month for the chance to win a $10 gift card to Dunkin Donuts.

Irene Blais shares the story of the individual pictured in our :

Edward Harris was born in Smithfield, Rhode Island in 1801 and died in Woonsocket in 1872.  He is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery off Rathbun Street.
Harris was the leading mid 18thC industrialist and philanthropoist of the area. He constructed six mills in Woonsocket, which were eventually incorported in the Harris Woolen company.  His largest mill mill was the Privilege Mill on Privilege Street.  His woolen fabric was of the finest quality and was in  big demand througout the world.

Harris' donations to Woonsocket during his lifetime have been estimated at nearly half a million dollars.  He donated land for the original Woonsocket High School and Oak Hill Cemetery and spent nearly $100,000 building new streets in Woonsocket. In 1863, Harris donated the Harris Institue to the city, for the purpose of promoting moral, intellectual and social improvement of the inhabitants of the vicinity.  The first libarary of the state was located on the second floor.  In 1860 when Abraham Lincoln was campaigning for President he came to Woonsocket and spoke at Harris Hall.  That night he stayed at Oakley, Edward Harris' estate in the North End.

In the 1840's he became the first Rhode Islander to run for the office of Governor under the banner of the Liberty Party - the abolitionist party.  His determination to end slavery was further demonstrated when in 1859 he sent to John Brown, the abolitionist, a letter and a check for $100 when he learned of Brown's pending execution.

Edward Harris' name still lives today.  A street is named after him as is the Woonsocket Harris Library.  Some of his mills still partially stand. Woonsocket's City Hall and Harris Hall are housed in the building which bears his name.  His influence on the city as we know it is still felt today.

As the first person to correctly identify Mr. Harris, Linda Fontaine has won the gift card.  Our lucky winner can email me at sandra.phaneuf@patch.com to tell me where to send her prize.