Small Village, Big Story: Carolina, RI

As part of its ongoing series, Rhode Island Stories, WSBE presents the two-part documentary, Carolina, RI: The Smallest of the Small, a film by Carla Ricci about the village of Carolina in Richmond, RI.


A hundred years ago, New England had 2,000 mill towns - and one of them was tiny: 75 houses clustered around one street less than a mile long. But, Carla Ricci says, "don't let looks deceive you: Carolina, Rhode Island, has a big story." As mill towns go, it may be the smallest of the small, but this film makes the case that it may be one of the best.

What started out for Ricci as casual conversation between neighbors turned into a seven-year long journey of research and discovery, poring over historical letters, photos, and documents, as well as hours of captured recollections and reminiscences. What resulted is the woven tapestry of the rich - and almost forgotten - history of remarkable Rhode Islanders from a remarkable Rhode Island village.


This link will take you to a video preview. Don't miss the "Cutting Room Floor" for more stories that didn't make it into the final film.


Carolina, RI: The Smallest of the Small will be shown in two parts. Part 1 airs on Saturday, September 24 at 7 p.m. (re-broadcast on Sunday, September 25 at 11 p.m.) on WSBE Rhode Island PBS. Part 2 airs Saturday, October 1 at 7 p.m. (rebroadcast on Sunday, October 2 at 11 p.m.)