The Ramtail Factory Ruins

Deep in the woods of Foster, Rhode Island lay the ruins of the Ramtail Factory (Foster Woolen Factory). Founded by William Potter in 1799, and mysteriously destroyed by fire in the 1880s, it continues to haunt the hollows of a town fifteen miles from the capital city of Providence, situated on the extreme western boundary of Rhode Island, bordered by Killingly and Sterling in Connecticut.

Once primarily an agricultural community, Foster remains sparsely settled as most of its acreage is hilly or heavily forested. The town is rich in historic resources – homes, farmsteads, stone walls, roads, and yes—mill ruins—namely, the Ramtail Factory, officially cited by the 1885 Rhode Island State Census as being haunted.

The area, considered part of the Scituate Reservoir, is protected by the Providence Water Supply Board, so no trespassing is allowed except for the RI Paranormal Research Group who conducted a full investigation in this hotbed of spirited unrest.

Nevertheless, native Rhode Islanders and out-of-towners alike are sure to acquire an appreciation of Foster lore to foster an interest in exploring other historical and geographical haunts in the township.

Lure of the lore:

By 1813, William Potter expanded mill operations and made son-in-law, Peleg Walker, a partner. Walker, no pun intended, walked the beat as a night watchman, holding onto his lantern while making his rounds to all the buildings, and pulling the cord to sound the bell in the tower to summon workers for the day shift.

Supposedly after racking up mileage on his shoes over several years, an argument between partners brewed. Purportedly Walker retorted to the gist that “one day they’d have to grab the keys from a dead man.”

As prophesized, on May 18, 1822, Potter walked into the factory and found his son-in-law had hung himself from the bell rope with the keys visibly hanging out of his pocket.

Shortly after his demise, strange events occurred: the bell tower struck at the stroke of midnight though no one pulled the cord, prompting replacement of the bell; the townspeople witnessed the mill running without anyone operating it, whereby the water flowed in the opposite direction of the stream; the apparition of Walker making his night rounds holding a lantern; the mysterious fire.

Most of the villagers fled town in fear of the mill. Visitations by The RI Paranormal Group document both audible and physical manifestations as well as photographic confirmation which more than confirmed the area is quite active – “The feeling of being watched closely and followed is a given at Ramtail Factory!”

Vivid details of the lore surrounding the Ramtail Factory ruins of Foster may be found in 'Haunted Rhode Island' by Thomas D’Agostino and 'The Encyclopedia of Haunted Places' by Jeff Belanger, where you may trespass and tarry in the deep woods of words.

However, the bell tolls for Rhode scholars and out-of-towners eagerly roped into exploring historical and geographical haunts in the rural enclave of Foster beyond the remnants of the Ramtail Factory's ruins.