>> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>> TRYING TO GREAT A FLAVOR OF ITS OWN.

FOR ME, THIS RESTAURANT REPRESENTS LIKE A TO TEACH PEOPLE THAT -- WHAT'S IN YOUR BACKYARD?

>> WHY DO YOU FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THIS GENERATION TO KNOW HER STORY?

>> SO MANY WOMEN IN THAT TIME OF OUR HISTORY ARE UNKNOWN AND UNNAMED.

SHE TOOK FREEDOM INTO HER OWN HANDS BECAUSE SHE HAD TO AS BLACK WOMEN HAVE AT ALL TIMES.

>> HE WAS A WRITER, A PRINTER, A PUBLISHER, A SCIENTIST, AN INVENTOR, DIPLOMAT, STATESMAN, AND HE KNEW A LOT ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS.

TODAY WE WOULD CALL HIM A MAJOR INFLUENCER.

>> ABSOLUTELY, YES.

♪ >> GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>> AS WE NEAR THANKSGIVING, MANY ARE THINKING ABOUT A DINNER OF TURKEY WITH ALL THE FIXINGS.

BUT FOR SOME, THE TRADITIONS ARE A RELATIVELY NEW CONCEPT.

>> TODAY, WE MEET A NATIVE AMERICAN CHEF.

>> WE'VE BEEN HARVESTING QUAHOG'S FOR ABOUT 12,000 YEARS.

THESE ARE ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I LEARNED HOW TO DO.

>> ON A WARM NOVEMBER MORNING SHE IS MAKING SEAFOOD CHOWDER.

>> WITH QUAHOG'S, WE USE THE SHELL.

BACK IN THE 1600S, 1700S, WE USED IT FOR CURRENCY.

WE UTILIZE EVERYTHING WE DO AS FAR AS PURVIS AND FROM THE EARTH.

-- HARVESTING FROM THE EARTH.

>> QUAHOG'S AREN'T THE ONLY THING ON HER MENU.

>> WE MAKE OUR OWN VENISON SAUSAGE.

WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED THE INDIGENOUS.

WE PUT IT ON FRIED BREAD OR WE CAN PUT IT ON CORN CAKES.

YOU CAN USE DUCK EGGS, QUAIL EGGS, THOSE ARE OTHER DIFFERENT EGGS I'M TRYING TO INTRODUCE TO PEOPLE.

>> BEAUTIFUL.

WE DO DUCK HASH.

ROASTED RABBITS.

SMOKED SALMON.

SMOKED BLUEFISH, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

>> THE MENU IS INSPIRED BY THE FLAVORS OF A CHILDHOOD LIVED CLOSE TO THE LAND.

>> I GREW UP IN THE 60'S.

THE DAUGHTER TO BOTH INDIGENOUS WAMPANOAG PEOPLE.

MY MOTHER AND MY FATHER.

FATHER WAS THE CHIEF OF OUR TRIBE.

HE WAS AMAZING.

>> THE WAMPANOAG NATION ONCE INCLUDED MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND.

THEY WERE THE FIRST PEOPLE THE PILGRIMS MET.

CONFLICT LED TO DISEASE AND WAR THAT REDUCED POPULATION AND THREATENED THEIR WAYS OF LIFE.

PRESERVING THEIR ANCIENT TRADITIONS WAS SOMETHING THAT SHE LEARNED EARLY ON.

>> I HAD PARENTS THAT WANTED US TO LEARN HOW TO LIVE BY THE SEASON, HOW TO TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES.

WE WOULD ALL PILE IN MY DAD'S TRUCK IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK WITH OUR HERRING NET AND GO TO THE RIVER TO SEE IF THERE WAS HERRING IN THERE.

IF THERE WERE, SAYING IS THE RIVER BLACK MEANS IT'S LOADED.

IT MEANS YOU CAN JUMP IN THE WATER AND SCOOP UP TWO HERRING IN EACH HAND.

IT'S FUN.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR YEAR.

>> AT HOME, THE CATCH OF THE DAY MADE IT INTO HER TOY OVEN.

>> I WAS PROBABLY SIX OR SEVEN AND I GOT A SUSIE HOMEMAKER.

THAT WAS THE BEST THING THAT ANYBODY COULD EVER GIVE ME.

THERE WOULD BE QUAHOG'S IN THERE.

DEAR MEET OR RABBIT.

WHATEVER WAS IN THE REFRIGERATOR WAS GOING IN MY LITTLE PAN AND I PUT IT PROBABLY IN THAT EASY BAKE OVEN FOR AN HOUR.

I WAS THE CHEF.

I KNEW THAT WAS WHAT I WAS GOING TO BE.

>> PAGE EIGHT OR NINE, SHE BEGAN TO FEEL DIFFERENTLY ABOUT THE FOOD HER FAMILY WAS EATING PARTICULARLY FOR THANKSGIVING DINNER.

>> WE HAD RACCOON.

I LOVE RACCOON, BUT I WANTED TURKEY LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

IT WAS REALLY EMBARRASSING.

WHEN YOUR FRIENDS ARE ASKING YOU WHAT DID YOU HAVE?

I HAD RACCOON OR MUSKRAT.

STUFF THAT MY DAD LITERALLY CAUGHT THE DAY BEFORE.

>> WHEN DID YOU COME TO APPRECIATE THAT THIS IS MY INDIGENOUS CULTURE?

THIS IS SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF?

>> NOT UNTIL LATER.

NOT UNTIL I RAN A CULTURAL CLASS MYSELF.

I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW VALUABLE THE TEACHINGS THAT MY PARENTS DID UNTIL I COULD TALK ABOUT IT UNTIL SOMEONE ASKED ME ABOUT, WHEN THEY ASK YOU ABOUT YOUR CHILDHOOD AND YOU TELL THEM YOU ATE THIS AND THAT AND YOU HUNTED AND YOU FISHED.

THAT'S NOT THE AVERAGE CHILD.

I'M TALKING ABOUT A CHILD STARTING AT THE AGE OF THREE AND FOUR.

FROGGING.

WHO DOESN'T LIKE FROG LEGS?

>> TODAY, SHE SEES HER RESTAURANT AS A WAY OF SHARING HER HERITAGE WITH EVERYONE.

>> THE VENISON SAUSAGE AND THE CORN CAKES.

I GET THIS EVERY TIME I COME HERE.

>> I HAVE TO COME BACK FOR DINNER BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO >> MANY OF HER DISHES HAVE A STORY BEHIND THEM.

>> THROW THEM IN, YOU'RE GOING TO CREATE A FLOWER -- FLAVOR OF ITS OWN.

>> LIKE HER THREE SISTERS SECOND TEST.

>> -- SUCCOTASH.

CORN, SQUASH, AND BEANS THEY WERE GIVEN TO US FROM THE CROW.

THAT'S HOW YOU SACRED.

-- HOW YOU SAY CROW AND MY LANGUAGE.

THANK GOD WE HAVEN'T LOST OUR LANGUAGE.

LOSING A LANGUAGE IS LIKE LOSING A TRIBE.

>> ANOTHER DISH SPEAKS TO THE HISTORY OF COLONIZATION.

FRIED BREAD WAS INITIALLY A NAVAJO DISH WHEN THEY WERE RELOCATED.

>> THE INDIANS WERE STARVING.

THEY MOVE THEM TO A RESERVATION WHERE THERE WAS NO WATER, NO VEGETATION.

IT WAS HARD TO SURVIVE.

THEY WERE STARVING.

THEY WERE GETTING SICK.

THEY NEEDED FOOD.

THEY DROPPED OFF LARD AND TOLD THE INDIANS TO FIGURE IT OUT.

>> THE PROBLEMS PERSIST TO THIS DAY.

PART OF THE PARTNERSHIP WITH NATIVE AMERICANS, AT LEAST 60 RESERVATIONS DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

THE SITUATION HAS HELPED SPUR A MOVEMENT CALLED FOOD SOVEREIGNTY .

THE IDEA IS TO REVIVE TRADITIONAL WAYS OF GROWING, FORAGING, AND COOKING FOOD.

>> SAVING OLD RECIPES AND COOKING THE OLD WAY WITHOUT COLONIZING OUR FOOD LIKE WE WANT TO GO BACK TO BEFORE EUROPEANS GOT HERE.

I'M TRYING TO TEACH MY PEOPLE ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THERE WERE.

YOU PROBABLY NEVER HEARD OF A JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE OR A GROUNDNUT.

PEOPLE USE ROUND FOR WEEDS.

DID YOU KNOW THOSE WEEDS ARE DANDELION GREENS THEY ARE GETTING RID OF?

THAT IS FOOD AND MEDICINE.

>> SHE BELIEVES IN USING NATIVE PLANTS AND ANIMALS.

>> LOTS OF GOOD STUFF OUT HERE.

>> BECAUSE OF HEALTH CODES, SHE GETS MOST OF HER INGREDIENTS FROM DISTRIBUTORS.

>> YOU CAN PUT WHAT YOU WANT AND SUCCOTASH.

>> FOR ME, THIS RESTAURANT REPRESENTS ME AND MY FAMILY AND MY UPBRINGING AND LIKE A THANKSGIVING TO TEACH PEOPLE THAT WHAT'S IN YOUR BACKYARD?

I WANT TO TEACH PEOPLE THAT THERE'S MORE THAN CHICKEN, STEAK, AND PORKCHOPS.

[LAUGHTER] >> NOW A GRANDMOTHER, HER GOAL IS TO PASS DOWN HER KNOWLEDGE TO AT LEAST SEVEN GENERATIONS.

>> YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO SUSTAIN YOURSELF.

YOU HAVE TO TEACH YOUR CHILDREN.

THOSE ARE ALL LIFE WAYS THAT WERE PASSED DOWN TO US THROUGH ORAL HISTORY.

ORAL TRADITIONS.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT YOUR CHILD IS NEVER GOING TO FORGET.

HE OR SHE IS GOING TO BE HAPPY TO TEACH SOMEONE ELSE.

>> UP NEXT, OF RHODE ISLAND.

DUCHESS QUAMINO WAS SOLD INTO SLAVERY AND BROUGHT TO NEWPORT IN 1750.

HER LEGACY HAD A PROFOUND IMPACT ON THE PEOPLE AROUND HER.

PART OF THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF HER TIME.

DAVID WRIGHT HAS HER STORY.

>> THIS IS A STORY ABOUT ONE WOMAN'S RECIPE FOR STIRRING THINGS UP IN COLONIAL RHODE ISLAND.

BAKING HER WAY TO A BETTER LIFE.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THIS GENERATION TO KNOW HER STORY?

>> SO MANY WOMEN IN THAT TIME OF OUR HISTORY ARE UNKNOWN AND UNNAMED.

SHE TOOK FREEDOM INTO HER OWN HANDS BECAUSE SHE HAD TO AS BLACK WOMEN HAVE ALL OVER THE WORLD AT ALL TIMES.

>> SHE WAS KNOWN AS DUCHESS QUAMINO HER ACTUAL NAME WAS CHARITY.

>> NO ONE REMEMBER'S THAT.

SHE WAS KNOWN AS DUCHESS.

>> SONNY IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE RHODE ISLAND BLACK HERITAGE SOCIETY.

>> SHE ARRIVED IN NEWPORT SOMETIME AROUND THE 1750'S.

SHE WAS PROBABLY 10-13 YEARS OLD.

QUITE YOUNG.

MOST TO ARRIVED WERE CHILDREN.

THEY WERE IMMEDIATELY ENSLAVED INTO THE CHANNING FAMILY.

SHE STAYED THERE FOR PROBABLY A LITTLE OVER 20 YEARS.

>> THERE ARE NO PICTURES OF DUCHESS OR HER HUSBAND JOHN.

>> THEY MET IN BIBLE STUDY AND THEY HAD FIVE CHILDREN.

THEN HE WINS THE LOTTERY AND HE PURCHASES HIS FREEDOM.

>> HE IS FREE, SHE IS NOT.

THEIR CHILDREN?

WOULD THEY HAVE BEEN BORN SLAVES?

>> YES, BY THE CONDITION OF THE MOTHER.

>> JOHN HAD HIS FREEDOM AND A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD OF HIM.

HE MAY HAVE BEEN THE FIRST BLACK AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENT.

HE CAUGHT THE EYE OF SOME OF NEWPORT'S MOST PROMINENT COLONIAL CITIZENS.

ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF BROWN UNIVERSITY AND AN EARLY PRESIDENT OF YALE.

AND SAMUEL HOPKINS THE PASTOR OF NEWPORT'S FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

>> SAMUEL HOPKINS DID NOT BELIEVE IN SLAVERY.

HE PREACHED AGAINST IT AT A TIME WHEN NO ONE WAS SAYING ANYTHING.

WE CONSIDER HIM ONE OF THE FIRST ABOLITIONIST.

HE DECIDED THE BEST WAY TO CONVERT AFRICANS TO CHRISTIANITY WAS TO SEND MISSIONARIES WHO WERE AFRICAN.

SO HE DECIDED HE WAS GOING TO CHOOSE TWO MEN WHO WERE OF NOT ONLY WELL-VERSED IN THE BIBLE AND CHURCH BUT THEY COULD READ AND WRITE AND STUDY.

THEY SENT THEM TO WHAT IS NOW PRINCETON, THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY, AND THEY STUDIED BUT THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR BROKE OUT.

>> HIS PRINCETON STUDIES CUT SHORT, HE ENLISTED AS A PRIVATEER HOPING TO BUY FREEDOM FOR HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN.

TRAGICALLY, IT WAS NOT MEANT TO BE.

HE DIED IN BATTLE AUGUST 1779.

>> HE WAS GONE.

SINCE HE WAS GONE, THAT MEANT THAT I NEEDED TO FIND A WAY TO BE FREE AND TO HAVE FREEDOM FOR MY CHILDREN.

>> VALERIE OF THE RHODE ISLAND BLACK STORYTELLERS PICKS UP THE TALE PERFORMING A MONOLOGUE IN THE VOICE OF DUCHESS QUAMINO .

>> I THOUGHT ABOUT THE THING THAT I KNEW HOW TO DO THE BEST, BAKING.

I WENT TO THE CHANNING'S AND I ASKED THEM IF IT WAS OK FOR ME TO USE THE OVEN ON THE DAYS THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO WORK AND THEY AGREED.

I WAS ABLE TO MAKE THESE THINGS, PUT THEM IN MY BASKET, AND CARRY THEM TO THE MARKET.

>> SHE IS WIDOWED, LEFT WITH FIVE CHILDREN, ALL OF WHOM ARE ENSLAVED.

SHE SOUNDS INCREDIBLY ENTREPRENEURIAL.

>> VERY MUCH SO.

>> SHE WOULD GO WANT TO BE CELEBRATED AS THE PASTRY QUEEN OF RHODE ISLAND.

FAMOUS FOR HER FROSTED PLUM CAKES SAID TO BE A FAVORITE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON.

LEGEND HAS IT WHEN HE VISITED NEWPORT, HE HAD SECONDS.

>> WE DON'T HAVE HER RECIPE.

IS THIS A KIND OF CAKE THAT HAS BEEN PASSED DOWN?

>> YES, AS WE UNDERSTAND IT.

>> THEY MAKE PLUM CAKES FROM THEIR GRANDMOTHER'S RECIPE IN THEIR KITCHEN IN MIDDLETOWN KNOWN AS THE ENGLISH COUSINS BECAUSE THEY ARE SECOND COUSINS.

THEY RUN A MAIL-ORDER BUSINESS AT CHRISTMAS TIME.

>> WE HAVE AN ORDER FROM JAPAN THIS YEAR.

WE HAVE SHIPPED TO TURKEY, AUSTRALIA, BRAZIL.

SWEDEN.

>> THE RECIPE HANDED DOWN FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT.

>> THIS IS MY GRANDMOTHER'S COOKBOOK PUBLISHED IN 1927.

IT IS EXACTLY ALMOST EXACTLY EXCEPT FOR THE CHERRIES TO OUR RECIPE.

9 >> DUCHESS QUAMINO WOULD NOT OF HAD AN ELECTRIC MIXER.

IT WOULD'VE BEEN HARD TO DO THIS WITH A WOODEN SPOON.

>> YES, ESPECIALLY IF YOU WERE IN A COLD KITCHEN WHERE THE BLUSHER -- BUTTER WAS REALLY HARD.

IT WOULD'VE TAKEN HER CLOSE TO AN HOUR JUST TO GET IT TO THIS STAGE.

>> SHE WOULD NOT OF HAD BROWN SUGAR, EITHER.

SHE WOULD HAVE USED MOLASSES, PART OF THE TRIANGLE TRADE THAT ENTRENCHED SLAVERY AS ONE OF THE EARLY PROFIT CENTERS OF THE AMERICAN COLONIES.

>> THAT'S GOING TO GO RIGHT IN HERE.

>> THE WHOLE CONCOCTION BAKED AT RELATIVELY LOW TEMPERATURE FOR THREE HOURS.

FROSTED WITH MARZIPAN AND ROYAL ICING, THE RESULTS ARE WORTH THE WAIT.

>> THAT'S DELICIOUS.

SOFT ENOUGH YOU COULD EAT IT WITH WOODEN TEETH.

[LAUGHTER] ESPECIALLY DELICIOUS WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT CAKES LIKE THESE HELP DUCHESS QUAMINO EARN ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY FREEDOM FOR HERSELF AND HER FIVE CHILDREN.

>> IT'S AMAZING.

>> IT'S A LOVELY STORY.

BAKING CAKES.

>> THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE.

>> WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW HER STORY AND THE STORY OF THE PEOPLE OF OUR TIME QUICK SMART?

>> YOU KNOW GEORGE WASHINGTON'S STORY.

YOU KNOW THOMAS JEFFERSON'S STORY.

YOU KNOW THE STORY OF MOST OF THE WHITE TRADERS WHO ARE HERE.

IT GIVES YOU A SENSE OF BELONGING TO THIS COUNTRY.

I THINK THE PEOPLE OF COLOR DESERVE THAT AS WELL.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY KNOW THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO STOOD UP AGAINST ENSLAVEMENT.

IT'S IMPORTANT THEY KNOW THERE WERE ENTREPRENEURIAL WOMEN EARLY ON.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR GIRLS REGARDLESS OF RACE.

>> ONE MONUMENT TO HIM OR HER ALMOST WARM BEAR.

YOU CAN JUST MAKE OUT INTELLIGENT, AFFECTIONATE, HONEST, DECEASED JUNE 29 1804 AGE 65 YEARS.

THE EPITAPH WRITTEN BY THE SON OF HER FORMER OWNERS.

>> LATER IN LIFE, HE CREDITS HER AND ANOTHER AFRICAN WITH TEACHING HIM EVERYTHING HE KNEW ABOUT GOD AND THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY.

>> WILLIAM CHANNING WOULD GO WANT TO BE ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE UNITARIAN CHURCH.

A PROUD NEW ENGLAND LEGACY THAT CLEARLY OWES A DEBT TO THE PASTRY QUEEN OF RHODE ISLAND.

>> TELL THE STORY, LET THE WORLD KNOW ABOUT FAMILY QUAMINO .

>> YOU CAN FIND THE PLUM CAKES AND OTHER TREATS MADE BY THE ENGLISH COUSINS.

JUST GO TO THEIR WEBSITE.

NOW TO A FOUNDING FATHER AND ONE NEW ENGLAND TOWN LIBRARY JUST OVER THE NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND BORDER SITS FRANKLIN, MASSACHUSETTS.

NAMED IN HONOR OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

THE STATESMAN DECIDED TO SEND A PRESIDENT -- PRESENT TO THE TOWNSPEOPLE.

THE GIFT WAS NOT WHAT THEY HAD ORIGINALLY HOPED FOR.

IT WOULD ULTIMATELY INFLUENCE THE FOUNDING OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN AMERICA.

>> PEOPLE ALWAYS WANT TO SEE THE BOOKS AND TOUCH THEM.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE A SACRED ARTIFACT.

>> THIS REFERENCE LIBRARIAN SAYS THE COLLECTION OF BOOKS IS SO PRECIOUS, IT IS KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY IN A GLASS DISPLAY CASE.

>> THIS IS IT.

>> THE TOWN OF FRANKLIN, MASSACHUSETTS TREASURES THESE BOOKS FROM THE 1700S BECAUSE THEY ARE THE GENESIS OF THE FIRST AND OLDEST PUBLIC FREE LENDING LIBRARY IN CONTINUOUS OPERATION IN AMERICA.

REVOLUTIONARY IDEA AT THE TIME, THE VOLUMES WERE A GIFT FROM BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

>> HE WAS A WRITER, PRINTER, PUBLISHER, SCIENTIST, INVENTOR, DIPLOMAT, STATESMAN, AND HE KNEW A LOT ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS.

>> TODAY, WE WOULD CALL HIM A MAJOR INFLUENCER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

[LAUGHTER] HE WAS A ROCK START.

>> HE WAS SO POPULAR, THERE ARE 31 TOWNS IN THE UNITED STATES NAMED AFTER BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

FRANKLIN, MASSACHUSETTS WAS THE FIRST.

>> THIS HAPPENED IN 1778.

THE DOCUMENT WAS PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATURE FOR NAMING THE TOWN AND SOMEBODY CROSSED OUT THE ORIGINAL INTENDED NAME AND WROTE IN FRANKLIN.

>> THE COMMUNITY LEADERS MAY HAVE HAD AN ULTERIOR MOTIVE FOR BESTOWING DAUGHTER.

-- THE HONOR.

>> LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THAT.

THE LOCAL PREACHER DECIDED THAT IF THEY GAVE THE HONOR TO DR. FRANKLIN, HE WOULD GIVE THEM A BELL FOR THEIR NEW MEETING HOUSE.

MAYBE ONE OF PAUL REVERE'S SPECIALS.

THAT WOULD BE NICE.

>> THE BELL REQUEST WAS ENGINEERED BY A POWERFUL MINISTER.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN REPLIED BY SENDING THE HISTORIC COLLECTION OF BOOKS INSTEAD.

THEY WERE LOANED OUT FROM VARIOUS BUILDINGS AROUND TOWN UNTIL THE FRANKLIN LIBRARY WAS BUILT IN 1904.

WHY DID HE SEND BOOKS INSTEAD OF A BELL?

HE EXPLAINED IN A LETTER TO THE TOWN.

ONE LINE IS INSCRIBED ON HIS STATUE.

SENSE BEING PREFERABLE TO SOUND.

>> WOULD THEY RATHER KNOW SOMETHING OF VALUE OR THE JUST WANT TO LISTEN TO THE THING IN THIS PEOPLE?

I GUESS THAT'S WHAT HE HAD IN MIND.

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST PARTS IS THE WORKS OF JOHN LOCKE.

THIS IS PART OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT.

HIS BLOOD THEORIES WERE BIG PART OF THAT.

THE PERSON THAT CAME UP WITH THE THEORIES OF ALL PEOPLE HAVING THE RIGHT TO LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS, THAT IS ONE OF HIS CONCEPTS.

A LOT OF WHAT HE WROTE ENDED UP IN THE CONSTITUTION.

ALMOST VERBATIM.

>> THERE IS ANOTHER CHAPTER TO THIS STORY.

A FRANKLIN FARMBOY BORROWS THESE BOOKS.

>> HE WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE.

HE WAS SELF EDUCATED THROUGH THE BENJAMIN FRANKEN COLLECTION.

>> THAT STUDENT WAS HORACE MANN.

CONSIDER THE FATHER PUBLIC EDUCATION IN AMERICA.

>> HE BELIEVED THAT ALL HAD THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION AND IT SHOULD BE TAX SUPPORTED.

>> NOT ONLY PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR WHITE PEOPLE, BUT HE THOUGHT THE NATIVE AMERICANS, PEOPLE OF COLOR, WOMEN SHOULD HAVE THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO SECURE A GOOD EDUCATION AND WHEN HE BECAME THE PRESIDENT OF ANTIOCH COLLEGE, HE OPENED THE DOORS TO WOMEN, NATIVE AMERICANS, PEOPLE OF COLOR, ALL ON AN EQUAL BASIS.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN NEVER GOT TO VISIT HIS TOWN IN MASSACHUSETTS.

HE DIED IN 1790 SHORTLY AFTER DONATING THE BOOK COLLECTION.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK HE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF HIS NAMESAKE TOWN?

>> I THINK HE WOULD BE HAPPY, ESTABLISHED A GOOD HOME FOR HIS BOOKS AND I THINK HE WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY TO KNOW THAT HIS BOOKS STARTED SOMETHING VERY POSITIVE.

I THINK HE WAS HOPING THAT SOMEBODY IN THIS TOWN WOULD PREFER SENSE TO SOUND.

♪ >> FINALLY TONIGHT, MARK PATINKIN BRINGS US HIS THOUGHTS ON THE NEW MINOR LEAGUE SOCCER STADIUM.

>> JUST SOUTH OF WHERE THE BALLPARK WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BUILT IN PAWTUCKET BUT NEVER WAS, YOU SEE A VISION OF HOPE.

THE ONCE DRAB BANK OF THE RIVER IS BEING PREPPED FOR THE NEW MINOR LEAGUE SOCCER STADIUM.

THAT PHRASE SOCCER STADIUM HAS LIKELY GOTTEN SOME VIEWERS READY TO SEND ME ANGRY COMMENTS BECAUSE IT IS CONTROVERSIAL.

TAXPAYERS HAVE NO BUSINESS HELPING PRIVATE DEVELOPERS.

WE HEARD THAT DURING THE PAWSOX DEBATE AND IT COST US.

THE TOWN HAS NOW REVITALIZED WORCESTER BECAUSE THEY HAD THE VISION TO BUILD SOMETHING GREAT.

THE SOCCER STADIUM PAST ON A RAZOR THIN BOAT -- VOTE AND THEY ARE STILL SAYING THE TAXPAYER HIT IS OUTRAGEOUS.

THAT NUMBER IS DECEIVING.

IT IS FROM A NUMBER OF TAX BREAKS OVER DECADES AND DEVELOPERS HAVE PLEDGED HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS MORE TO TRANSFORM THE RIVERFRONT INTO A CITY WITHIN A CITY.

SKEPTICS SAY IT WILL BE A BUST.

SOCCER WON'T DRAW.

TELL THAT TO THE BOOMING DIVERSE COMMUNITIES WHO BREATHE AND EAT THE SPORT.

STADIUM PLAN HAS ELECTRIFIED THEM.

I RECENTLY WENT TO THE SITE WITH A CLUB PLAYER WHO GREW UP IN AFRICA AND PROVIDENCE.

HE GOT EMOTIONAL AS HE TOLD ME THE STADIUM HAS MADE COUNTLESS FOLKS LIKE HIM FEEL INCLUDED IN RHODE ISLAND LIFE GIVING THEM A SENSE OF PRIDE THAT THEY MATTER.

I'M SURE THE CONTROVERSY WILL CONTINUE BUT TO BE A GREAT STATE, WE HAVE TO BE BOLD ENOUGH TO BUILD GREAT THINGS AND I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK THAT ONCE THE SOCCER STADIUM IS FINISHED, BRINGING NEW LIFE TO PAWTUCKET AND READING NEW MEMORIES FOR FANS AND FAMILIES, IT WILL GIVE RHODE ISLAND SENSE OF PRIDE AS WELL.

>> OUR THANKS TO MARK PATINKIN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK FOR ANOTHER EDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

UNTIL THEN, YOU CAN VISIT US ONLINE.

OR LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST AVAILABLE ON ALL OF YOUR FAVORITE AUDIO STREAMING PLATFORMS.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪