Anyone familiar with the former "Log Curtain and Gift Shoppe," located
on Hartford Avenue in Johnston, Rhode Island, may have wondered about
the historic building it was housed in for many decades. The house,
which bears a plaque placed there by the Johnston Historical Society,
was once home to Frederick A. Bailey (1842 - 1913). He was known
nationally as "Big Shang," who had performed with the P. T. Barnum
traveling circus as a giant. A civil war veteran, he ran a roadhouse at
the home, where a traveler could find alcohol and women. Later in life,
Bailey found religion, and was rumored to pour all the liquor out into
the street.
Former owner of the Log Gift Shoppe, Anthony Ursillo, also a member of
the Johnston Historical Society, has researched Bailey's life, visited
his grave, and collected lots of ephemera from the period. Ursillo has
spoken previously at the Johnston and Burrillville (another town where
Bailey ran a tavern) historical societies, and will speak once again,
this time focusing on Bailey's civil war service and imprisonment in
three confederate prisons:
Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014, 6:30 - 8 p.m.
Providence Public Library
150 Empire Street, Providence
the presentation is free.
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