Johnston Historical Society

10/23/2026

“The Legend of the Panther” & “Hannah Frank and John Burke Murders”

Join the Burrillville Historical Society at the Bridgeton School, Thursday, October 29th at 6 p.m. for an exciting presentation titled “The Legend of the Panther”. Hear the weird and bizarre story of a creature called the “panther” that stalked the woods in Burrillville and created fear and anxiety in all those who ventured into the woods. It will also include the story of the Hannah Frank and John Burke Murders in 1832. This presentation was previously given in March 2026 at the Jesse M. Smith Library as part of the Burrillville 250 history lecture series. If you missed it then, you can see it now! Does the panther still roam our woods? Come hear the story to find out!

10/23/2026

Join our neighbors on Monday night.

Monday, October 26 under the glow of a full moon!

Everyone is invited to partake in this eagerly awaited autumn event. This year's Historic Cemetery Lantern Walk will take place at Smithville Cemetery (SC24) nestled behind the historic Old Congregational Church in North Scituate Village. Public welcome. No registration required. Suggested donation: $10 per person. Bring your lantern (or flashlight) and join us for this illuminating experience!

10/22/2026

10/22/2026

JN019, the Colonel Peter Briggs Lot, is behind a Mexican restaurant and day care at 678 Killingly Street. It is squeezed between neighbors fences and a dumpster.

At the end of May, 1937, workmen were clearing the lot and surrounding area in preparation for Memorial Day. One of them dropped the point of a pick into the ground and hit a piece of wood. The men became suspicious that they had unearthed a coffin. The wood was located outside of the fence surrounding the marked gravestones. They did not investigate further, they packed up and left for the day.

The men notified the Town Treasurer whose name was (can't make this up) Mr. Coffin. He called Mr. Dooley, the Town Solicitor. Mr. Dooley said that any investigation under the ground must be "undertaken" by the police department.

Chief Kimball was confined to his home by illness. He had Ptlm. Hiram Kimball, Jr. investigate.

Ptlm. Kimball, Jur. dug down until he uncovered the boards of an ordinary packing case, and them, the skeleton of a dog, which he identified by the jawbone.

Someone had buried their pet dog on a line with the graves of the Revolutionary war hero, outside the cemetery boundary.

(If any neighbors could help us to take care of this lot, please send us a message, thank you!)

10/15/2026

Today's cleanup of JN51. Mother Nature always wins.

10/08/2026

Acquisitions and Items from our Collections:

We collected a photo of Elsie Grace Votolato's Thornton Grammar School diploma from Denny Parillo during our scanning event on September 27, 2026. The diploma is dated June 16, 1931.