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throwawaay76453 t1_irt73ku wrote

“The Pic-Wil Nature Preserve, named after the former land owners Picerelli and Wilson, became a Barrington Land Conservation Trust property in 1987. The property was once the home to a bottling factory known as Deep Rock Water Company. Today, the property has three large meadows, a small forest and a salt marsh on the upper reaches of Narragansett Bay. “

Edit: he Deep Rock water Co. was in West Barrington, RI. Clifford Wilson was listed as bottling spring water in 1919. The Deep Rock Spring was listed in 1922-25, but not in 1920. It was on Washington Rd. Nayatt, RI. In the 1927 Barrington directory it was listed as the Deep Rock Farm. Clifford Morris Wilson (1879-1971) was the proprietor. He was previously an electrician (in 1918). Alice J. Wilson was listed as the owner in 1928. In 1930 it was called the Deep Rock Farm Water Co. In 1930-35 it was called Deep Rock Inc. In 1938 Clifford was still the proprietor and Alice J. Wilson was the treasurer. It was called the Deep Rock Spring Water Co. in 1936-1944. In the 1930s they had a partnership with the Citrus Products Co., and were bottling Kist, Chocolate Soldier, and Blue Bird Beverages. Peter Piccirilli was the vice president and manager in 1943. By 1947 the 7-Up Bottling Co. was also at this location. Clifford M. Wilson was still the owner in 1953. The company had 21 employees at the time. It was still on Washington Rd. in 1963. That year the Tru-Ade Bottling Co. was also at that location. Peter Picerelli was the proprietor. All three companies were there in 1966. In 1969 only Seven Up was listed there, but Deep Rock was still owned by Mary Picerelli. In 1969 only Deep Rock was listed. In 1976-1980 it was at 376 Washington Rd. Robert F. Killian was the president. In 1984 an article stated that the “Deep Rock Corp.” was moving to Warwick. They were last listed in 1993.

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drewh130 OP t1_irt8ael wrote

Wow! That nature preserve is right next to my house. So cool to have a little piece of the neighborhood history. From the looks of it, this guy has been in the Bay for a long time! Thanks for the info!

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