May 20, 2010 Dinner Meeting
Bradford Soap Works Tour
Bradford Soap Works has been manufacturing soap for 134 years. Unlike most bar soap manufacturers, Bradford makes its own soap base. But Bradford is much more than just soap. In addition to being the world's largest specialty bar soap manufacturer, Bradford is the world's largest producer of shower poufs.
The company was founded in 1876 by James Rogers and William Murgatroyd of Bradford, England. Although the location of the company's manufacturing facility changed several times, it was always located on one of the large rivers that flowed through Providence. In 1931, Bradford moved to its present location in West Warwick, Rhode Island. The Valley Queen Mill was one of the numerous textile mills that prospered in Rhode Island from the mid-1800's until the early 1920's.
Located on the south branch of the Pawtuxet River, the mill is a long, five-story "L" shaped structure containing approximately 100,000 square feet of floor space. The original sections were built in 1835; it was enlarged to its present size in 1889, and is on the Federal Government's National Register of Historic Places.
Note: Space is limited so reserve your spot today!
Location
of Tour:
Directions to Bradford Soap Works:
From Providence: Take I-95 S to exit 12B onto RI-113 Warwick. Bear left on Bald Hill Road (RI-2 S). Turn right on Toll Gate Road (RI-115), then bear left to follow RI-115. Bradford will be on the right.
Location
of Dinner:
Directions from Bradford Soap Works to Macera's:
Travel back to and turn left onto Bald Hill Road (RI-2 S), then turn right at West Natick Rd (Warwick Mall on corner), after a short distance, turn left on to Lambert Lind Hwy (RI- 5), go approximately 0.4 mi. Macera’s will be on the right across from Uncle Tony's Restaurant, in the Mardi Gras Club shopping plaza.
Time:
5:00 pm - Registration
5:15pm
- Tours Begin
7:00 pm - Dinner at Macera's Italian Restaurant
Menu: Buffet of Soup, Tossed Salad, Pasta with Sauce, Potato, Vegetable, Rolls and Butter, Chicken Piccotta, Scrod Giovanni (with chopped clams in marinara), Coffee and Ice Cream.
Prices: $25 members and guests. $15 unemployed members