Johnston to be featured in RIPBS Our Town marathon

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This November, revisit the local landmarks, cultural hotspots, and untold histories that make Rhode Island such a colorful place to live. In a special two-day marathon, Rhode Island PBS embarks on a special tour of the “Our Town” series so far, spanning 11 episodes from Glocester to Scituate.

“Our Town” shares the charm and character of Rhode Island’s many towns and villages – particularly the untold stories that capture the essence of local life. Resident storytellers and filmmakers are invited to choose their own subjects, capturing a town’s unique history and culture from the perspective of those who know it best. Rhode Island PBS offers technical advice and then stitches the stories together in a one-hour film. 

Part fundraiser, part community builder, part documentary film, and part “day-in-the-life” scrapbook, the projects offers a collection of local legends, historical events, and personal memories from the tight-knight community of Rhode Island.

The “Our Town” marathon begins Wednesday, Nov. 25, with the first three films airing on the hour starting at 8 p.m. Then, on Thanksgiving, the next eight films air on the hour starting at 3 p.m. Part of the line-up is “Our Town: Johnston,” which airs on Thanksgiving at 7 p.m.

Among the stories that appear in “Our Town: Johnston” is a segment about the Clemence-Irons House. Step through the front door of this stone-ender and be transported back to 18th century Johnston. In this tour of the Clemence-Irons House, get a glimpse of how generations of a family lived in the rare, surviving home.

Other segments include:

HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM: The Johnston Historical Society has a barn that contains hundreds of artifacts documenting the town’s history. In this segment, viewers get a tour of the museum and learn more about the town’s history and early residents.

KINGS CEMETERY: One of nearly 100 historical cemeteries in town, King’s Cemetery is the resting place for one of the state’s most prominent families. Find out who they are and how they made their mark not only on Johnston but the state of Rhode Island.

SNAKE DEN FARM: Farming was one of the first industries here in Johnston that has recently had a resurgence thanks to the folks at Snake Den Farm. In this segment, find out more about the farming community of Snake Den Farm.

WICKED TULIPS: Part of the Snake Den Farm community, Wicked Tulips is a pick-your-own tulip farm in Johnston. In this segment, viewers learn more about the farm as they tiptoe through the beautiful tulips. 

RHODE ISLAND RESOURCE RECOVERY: Get a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most well-known businesses in the town. Find out how the state’s landfill and recycling facility is an important service for all Rhode Islanders.

For information about joining the Rhode Island PBS “Our Town” project, visit ripbs.org/our-town, or call Jodi Mesolella (project director) at 401-222-3636, ext. 209; Nicole Muri (producer) at ext. 225; or email ourtown@ripbs.org.

WSBE Rhode Island PBS transmits high-definition (HD) and standard-definition (SD) programming over the air on digital 36.1; on Rhode Island cable services: Cox 08 / 1008HD, Verizon FiOS 08 / 508HD, and Full Channel 08; on MA cable services: Comcast 819HD and Verizon FiOS 18 / 518HD; on satellite services: DirecTV 36, Dish Network 36.

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