E.A. Kenyon Mill Store (Mss. Gr. 103)

Historical note

The general store in Carolina, Rhode Island, which also housed the post office and a grain outlet, was first established as a company store by the Carolina Mill Company circa 1837. Edwin A. Kenyon of E. A. Kenyon and Co. made two attempts at running the business. It is not known when he first bought the business from Carolina Mills. However, he sold the store and the post office back to the Carolina Mill Company in 1871 and bought them back again in the mid 1890s.

William McVay began operating the store in 1901 and was acting postmaster. In 1905 he became postmaster. His successors were Harold and Becky Burdick, who ran the store until it closed in 1951.

Sources for more information include:

Charlestown Bicentennial Book Committee. Reflections of Charlestown, Rhode Island 1876-1976. Westerly, RI: The Utter Company, 1976.

Richmond Bicentennial Commission. Driftways into the Past. Westerly, RI: The Richmond Historical Society, 1977.