Abandoned Hanton City | Ghost Town | Rhode Island History
Ойын-сауық
Hidden in the woods of Smithfield, Rhode Island are the remains of a town that dates back to the late 1600s. These ruins are spread over a huge area and can be tricky to locate, which is why it took us two separate visits to track down everything there is to see here.
Filmed/Edited by Jason Allard
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Drone: DJI Mini 2 Fly More Combo
Secondary Camera: GoPro Hero8 Black
Editing: Final Cut Pro w/ custom plugins
Listen to the Weird Island Podcast about Hanton City here | rb.gy/ztzfmd
Music By:
Dexter Yu | rb.gy/exmuzo
GLB Beats | rb.gy/cthxih
Welcome to the Abandoned Hanton City.
Visiting here in the summer is definitely exploring on hard mode, but I really wanted to experience it as a truly lost city - completely overgrown. And before you say um, calm down it’s just Smithfield - I grew up in the city so being out here is basically the wilderness, okay? Going off trail even for a few minutes places you in rocky sometimes swampy terrain that all looks the same.
The ghost town today consists mainly of stone foundations and walls, since the original buildings were abandoned and rotted away a LONG long time ago. How long ago?
Hanton City was abandoned sometime in the early 1800s - we can estimate this based on a Providence Journal article from 1937 that sought to identify the earliest settlers of the area.
The journalist mentions large trees growing out of a cellar hole and foundation here, using this to approximate the year it was abandoned.
He says “judging from the apparent age of these trees, which did not begin to grow there until long after the house had fallen to decay, this location hasn’t been inhabited for at least 100 years”. So, 1937 minus about a hundred years brings us to the early 1800s.
An interesting relic here is one of the wells, uncovered and still held together after all these years. If one thing here is haunted or contains a ghost, it’s 100% this creepy well in the woods.
Near here are the foundations to one of the houses with steps to the cellar still visible. Most houses during this time only had cellars beneath the kitchen, so it’s likely these structures were actually pretty big back in the day.
Nearby are the remains of a corn crib, a raised structure where farmers would store and dry their crops. The structure itself sat on these stones but has since completely rotted away.
There is also this dam deep in the woods that was used to help with irrigation - again, invisible here unless you know exactly where to go.
So where did all the people who lived here go?
The stories told are wild, ranging from a mysterious plague that wiped everyone out, to a mass alien abduction that made everyone vanish into thin air. My personal theory though, was that the nearest Dunkin Donuts was over 10 minutes away and they just couldn’t deal with that.
The 1889 Providence Journal article I mentioned earlier interviewed 80 year old Tom Hanton, who still lived on the edge of Hanton City in a one-room shanty. He was described in the story as “the last of the Hantons.”
Born around 1809 and about 80 years old at the time of the interview, Hanton told the reporter that his town “was a lively and enterprising place, when he was young.” The inhabitants worked in stone quarries and made shoes by hand, taking them to Providence to sell at the market. But, the quarry closed and factories full of machines took over the making of shoes, driving the residents of Hanton out of their occupations.
He goes on to say “They had all got poor, and sold out to anybody, and died off”.
Hanton City reached its peak in the 1730s and consisted mainly of poor tanners/bootmakers and their families. It was never more than a small town, and was already abandoned when official state maps were drawn in the 1850s. The residents all relocated once a new highway pattern diverted traffic away from Hanton, which was once a rural trading stop between Providence and Woonsocket.
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As a current resident of RI, it often feels like RI gets overlooked as a state because of how small it is. So it's incredible to see such you, an incredibly talented film maker, researcher, explorer, historian, etc, focus your efforts on subject matter thats of particular interest to a relatively smaller audience. These videos feel like we have our own, local Johnny Harris. RI is lucky to have you. I love the content and look forward to learning a little bit more about this state with each video you put out. I hope you keep up the excellent work and start seeing some much deserved recognition.
@lciummo1
Жыл бұрын
We got the Farrelly Bros and Michael Corrente.
@lukequigley121
Жыл бұрын
Remember a saying "RI , 2 beers long 1 beer wide ".. Moved away in "75 and still cry about RPP closing..
@alp77747
11 ай бұрын
cept ours isn't secretly an agent of the *.*.*. ;)
@lciummo1
2 ай бұрын
@@lukequigley121 What was RPP?
@lukequigley121
2 ай бұрын
@@lciummo1 Rocky Point Park
I grew up in Smithfield. My Grandfathers name is Kenneth Brown Sr. And was the author of the book “Images of America: Smithfield”. He supplied many historic pictures of our town and its really interesting to take a look at if you get the chance. Our ancestors date back to Moses Brown and my Grandfather has been quite good at finding the history of Rhode Island. Thanks for sharing!
@ACL617
5 ай бұрын
No. Thank YOU for sharing!
@lesabooth5243
2 ай бұрын
Id like to read that book 😊
I purchased a new home in 1988, the address was 3 Hanton City Trail 02917! This video is so awesome and answers the questions I've had for many years! Thanks so much Jason!!
Early settlers of Hanton originated a sweet, unheated coffee drink that they mixed with milk from local cows and sweetened with molasses or maple syrup. They brought jugs of this flavoring to Providence to sell at markets, along with the shoes they made by hand.
@christopherj5780
Жыл бұрын
Thats where your coffee milk comes from? Huh.
@lciummo1
Жыл бұрын
Perhaps - I believe they called it "autocrus".
@anthonyr2319
Жыл бұрын
How do you know?
@lciummo1
Жыл бұрын
@@anthonyr2319 It was told to me by a fellow in Olneyville while we dined together at the NY System restaurant - he seemed to be credible - he claimed to be a professor at Brown - the name was "Cranberry", "Carberry" - something like that.
@dsquared1950
Жыл бұрын
Oh yes, the famous Josiah Carberry, professor of psycho ceramics at Brown. So the true story of Autocrat coffee milk was divulged over NY system weiners in Olneyville….perfect!
A lifetime resident of Rhode Island and never heard of Hanton City. I will have to include this in my hiking destinations in the state. I find old colonies all the time while hiking in Rhode Island. The forests are littered with old foundations and abandoned towns. Rhode Island is so rich in history. People just need to get out and explore. Glad I came across this video. Thanks for my next hiking adventure.
@ryanmedeiros9142
2 ай бұрын
46 years old born & lived here my entire life Idk how I've never heard of Hanton. Pretty cool 2c.
@lciummo1
2 ай бұрын
It's really close to Highland Orchards.
these videos are too good, rhode island is so rich in history
I love the Dunkin donuts comment as only a Rhode islander could understand. There had been 4 DD on mineral spring avenue between rte 7 and rte 146, think that was a mile and a half total .
Wow Jason, as always your research and presentation are impeccable! The scenery was just beautiful and the stone walls and foundations are really nice. I only wish that history in school was this much interesting and fun! Thanks.
There’s no other channel I look forward to seeing as much, Jason. Everything is so well done. From concept to story to execution. Just excellent.
Jason! Wow! Brilliant stuff and blows my mind that as a native Rhode Islander and a history junkie, how on earth did I never hear of this fascinating story? I also enjoyed the Smithfield references since it basically was a huge portion of Northern Rhode Island from which came North Smithfield and Woonsocket.
You should do Hillsdale, Rhode Island down here in Richmond. I live right next to the trail head and it's a great ghost town.
Thank you for taking us here. Always an interesting subject.
Always excited to see new material from you. Thank you again!
always a Good watch ! I'm looking forward to the next adventure . cool find
Thank You Jason for doing this piece! This place is very specia,, intriguing and historical to me. Well done man! Props to all who helped! Especially Momma dukes! Appreciate all your work!
Great video dude! Always nice to see some local stuff 👌!
I love local history (I grew up in Boston, can’t help this) and I wonder why I only learn about this channel today! Subscribed!
Kudos. Excellent video as usual. Impeccable research and narration. The Discovery Channel needs you!
what a wonderful video. thank you for making and sharing!
I've read about the british loyalists. Awesome job, that is a neat place. You've certainly inspired me to go back and keep searching.
This reminds me of Dogtown in Gloucester Ma. I’ve lived near there for years and has lots of history behind it
Amazing. Fantastic job uncovering the history.
I just stumbled onto this video, (not even sure how I got here). Stone ruins of New England fascinate me. I'm in rural Maine. Thanks for all your work on this informative video, beautiful and entertaining! I'm looking forward to exploring your other work!
Love the story telling and clever visuals
I grew up in RI. Your videos are a taste of home. Please, keep them coming. And, thanks Mom.
I'm heading to Hanton city with a friend in 2 weeks. Been planning this trip for a few months now. Can't wait!!!
@JasonAllard
Жыл бұрын
Good luck!
Great video Brother! I lived in Smithield in the 90s. used to walk through there all the time!!
There's another abandoned town. I was shown the remnants, back in the mid-1980s, by a friend who knew the area from skiing near West Greenwich fire tower.
as an avid explorer and resident of RI i love these videos man, great job
Big River Management also has a few old abandoned ruins! I see them every time I go hiking there!
Awesome vid. Similar structures can be found at the Monastery in Cumberland. Lots of history there.
Very, very interesting. Thanks to you and your mom for this entertaining and informative video.
Very well done video, the editing is awesome and research is throurough, thank you for taking the time to make this! My friend and I go on explores like this, we watch your videos for inspiration :) cheers from Massachusetts!
Amazing as always!
Great video, I've explored that place so many times and never saw that well, awesome. I'm also from good ole Woonie. keep up the good work man.
Thank you so much for your work. Your videos are very well done.
WOW that was Great I never knew about this place called Hanton City in Smithfield RI well i know now Thanks to Mr Jason your the best of the best another Billion Thumbs up from me
I love all you work. this was cool as I had no idea such a place existed.
Great video Jason...so much detective work ,reading and boring searching through records of old newspapers at the library and online to make such a cool video! I highly recommend you get a compass and learn land navigation from one of the Books they have out there like be an expert with a map and compass or the Ranger compass course, or any of the videos out on land nav by Corporal Kelly on tube you... he's a good instructor on the subject ... Thanks again for a Wicked Awesome video on the history of R I...CHEERS and till the next one, happy Hunting !
Awesome video as always!
A BIG Thank you for this video
Lived in Smithfield for a while. Not sure how close I got to that site but used to regularly ride mountain bikes in the woods and dirt bikes through those powerlines shown near the end. Also my first job the was in the Arcade mentioned with reference to the quarry. Cool seeing these references.
Greta video. there's few things quite as mystic as finding something so historic and raw off a beaten trail
Great video Jason! Two thoughts, I would definitely recommend making a video on George E. Matteson. He is the fella that drew up that very cool map you showed. Very cool life, as a cartographer and forest ranger, and would travel the forests of RI, mapping things out and talking to residents in the area. Secondly, if you stumbled upon a more recent article about Hanton City, it might be featuring yours truly. Very cool experience having a journalist go find things out about a ghost town for you, then to go hunt it down. As such Hanton City holds a special piece of me, and thank you for giving it some thoughtful coverage
@lciummo1
Жыл бұрын
But how would the history of Mr. Matteson fit in with the theme of "Abandoned Places"?
I lived in Smithfield and we still hike through there and check out the area there's a rumor that there's a boulder with a bowl carved in the middle Indians used to bring their corn and grind it to make bread
@gep2771
Ай бұрын
The natives would have mortars in large boulders along their trail routes for a quick meal when hunting or traveling.
This is amazing freaking history man! Kudos from nyc I love this channel.
This is awesome!
Man this was soooo cool.....You do a great job! Subbed
Now I know where I'll be going for my next hike 🖤💪
Great video jason! As someone who lives in Smithfield I've never heard of it would def love to check it out
Finally found it a few years back after itching to see it. I love New England.
@TheFlyingmartini
6 ай бұрын
I want to check it out. How long did it take you to find it?
@Maniac1607
6 ай бұрын
I knew where it was for a while, but someone suggested I take the Reservoir Road exit from 146 and that made it easier.
Awesome video great work ! Thanks Mom!
AWESOME JOB ON THIS
Been there many times, never gets old.
Great story, thanks!!
This is so crazy, my grandma used to live off Mann School Road and had a couple of these half stone homes in her backyard. I have a lot of memory’s playing in them with my sister and cousins🤣 Nice to learn the history behind them now
Great job on the video
Excellent! Oh, and hi mom!!!
Where I grew up in western coventry there were those walls all over the woods we had 32 acres of land and were surrounded by thousands of acres of woods. I remembered these two pools of water that were made with cement and it had weird drill holes in it. The moss was thick I never figured out what it was
Love the channel!
Been there, it was a cool find.... Kinda eerie too
Thank you! I had no idea about this! I live in North Smithfield!
Great video.
So many treasures in Rhode Island!!
Love your content. BTW love how you inserted the Plimoth/Patuxet museum image into the intro. Is there anything to explore on Block Island?
Ayo awesome video brothaaa!!!! I live in south county RI this is great bro I thoroughly enjoy your vids on local history like this. How do you get to Hanton this is my first time hearing about it (which I’m a little upset I haven’t heard of it in the past 😂) but I would love to know where it’s at so I can take a nice hike out to see this this amazing landmark!! Thanks again for sharing your incredible knowledge keep up the awesome work!!!!
pretty rad dude!
Good Job very interesting
You may consider doing a piece on the King Phillip War. I don’t think it’s history is general RI knowledge and there are several remaining landmarks to film. One recommended reference is Bourne’s “Red King’s Rebellion”.
@lciummo1
Жыл бұрын
Sounds more like a Ken Burnes thing - the theme is Abandoned Places.
@noreaster08
Жыл бұрын
Thank you for the reference, adding to my KPW library.
Wish your series could be a history course for high school!
Just imagine in 300 years there will be one of your descendants exploring our generations of abandoned ruins.
Hello Jason as per your video do you have a map/coordinates of all the ruins? I explored the area hiking and with mountain bike for about a year before I found what I think was almost all of them on my own but it has interested me and I still go here fairly frequently as I enjoy the fire trails on my MTB. Would love to compare notes. Specifically did you manage to find Smithfield Historical Cemetery 97, the Brown Lot and the foundation where there is a collection of artifacts right next to it? It's further north to the Southeast or at the 4 o clock position of Fidelity's Vernal Pool Loop. If it wasn't for another mountain biker and youbuter who posted videos on how to find it I would have never come across it, I spent many months looking for it as the historic cemetery database has incorrect GPS coordinates for it. If you're into MTB I will be there next Wed 11-2 at 5pm with a friend to show him the area and riding the trails. It's fine at night just bring good lighting of course thanks to modern LED's you can see the trails pretty well but bring pepper spray. There are bears, deer sized coyotes and mountain lions in those woods! Seen a bear twice once near Rocky Hill rd where that puddle is on the power lines the other times on the gas line. Bears are terrified of you will run like rabbits only bigger and more dramatic. The BIG coyotes aren't afraid of you though they're scary.
Very interesting 🤔
holy hell i had zero clue about this place and i was born and raised in providence, youd think theyd include it in history class to some degree..shits so cool now i wanna go exploring
Very interesting video, Jason. I’m just wondering where exactly Hanton City was . By the map in the video it looks like it could have been in the Georgiaville Pond area.
Jason - Have you done abandoned ski areas of RI - Pinetop, Ski Valley, and Diamond Hill? Might not be dramatic enough.
A couple years back I had to reach some archaic maps to find this place, I think it’s technically on private property or something though so we were kind of worried about being trespassed while we were walking it.
cool story
Your content is great. Insta-watch. 👍
Dunkin Pops when I’m eating dunkin lol 😂
@JasonAllard
Жыл бұрын
I planned that 🍩
my friend and i explored that site in about 1976 and other wooded areas ..that place hasnt changed lol im 63 now
I would love to explore too
Born and brought up in Burrillville till 75".. Remember a Dead Horse Swamp off Gazza rd Mapleville where i lived .. Whole horse teams lost in it..
Funny were the smallest state, I've been here 42 years and I'm still learning about it
I'm heading off Saturday. Any tips for my trip?
i live in smithfield, whole life, ive heard dozens of theories... lepre colony is a big one tooo
The one thing I was looking for that I hoped you would say was what date you thought this place was founded. At the end you say “over 300 years” but the settlers who had the right last names were in the area earlier. So what would you think is the earliest possible date?
Your right in my back yard literally LOL
I've lived here in Rhode island my whole life and never heard of this city.....
Awesome 👏. If you have a mountain bike. Go up rocky hill rd and go into the fire road at the corner.. really cool site.. couple more cemeteries with a pretty big cemetery on the other side of the reservoir…. Cellar holes everywhere
@chriskeating5926
Жыл бұрын
Good to know , thanks for sharing 👍 you can explore alot with a MTN. Bike and map and compass and some time !
I would love to metal detect there......treasures!!!!
I love our small state
Any chance you’d share the coordinates?
Nice work ! You should invest in an electric mountainbike . 😁😁
This is great. There are some significant Native sites in the same area, including the sites of 2 major battles from King Phillips War.....would love to see a video on those
❤
👍
Slavery in Rhode Island wasn't prohibited until 1783 and it wasn't until 1807 that it was officially outlawed. At one time, enslaved persons accounted for almost 12% of Rhode Island's population. So the theory that Hanton City was established by run-away or freed slaves isn't all that far fetched. It kind of fits with the timeline.
Are you related to Brock & Shannon Allard
👍👍