The Big River Reservoir project was conceived as early as the
1920s. Starting in the mid-1960s the project went ahead, and the
state began confiscating property in the area by eminent domain,
and in the process abandoned a number of roads in the area, such as
Burnt Sawmill, Sweet Sawmill, and New London Turnpike. Due to
opposition by the federal government (and despite the state having
kicked out all of the landowners!) the project was cancelled in the
1980s, with the land being converted into open space in the 1990s.
The many oddly open fields and house foundations in the area are a
testament to the former civilization.
On the western side of the Big River area, between the Nooseneck
and Big rivers, was the village of Nooseneck, which was a major
center of population and industry, at least by West Greenwich
standards! The first mill in Nooseneck popped up in 1800 and the
village thrived well into the 20th century, with commerce and
industry run by men with names like Hopkins, Reynolds, Carr,
Hoxsie, Tarbox, and Arnold.
The origin of the name "Nooseneck" is unclear. One theory is
that the name derives from a Narragansett Indian use of noose
snares to catch deer in the area, bringing tasty venison back with
them to Connecticut for the winter. Another explanation posits that
the name derives from the shape of the peninsula between the Big
and Nooseneck Rivers.
The cache location is within the bounds of
the Big River Management Area, which is RI DEM land. Be sure to
wear a minimum of 200 square inches of fluorescent orange between
the third Saturday in October and the last day of February, and
between the last Tursday in April and the last day of
May.
Coordinates averaged using a Garmin GPSMap 62s.