The New England Wireless and Steam Museum
1300 Frenchtown Road
East Greenwich, RI 02818 USA
Telephone: 401-885-0545
Robert W. Merriam, Director
1300 Frenchtown Road
East Greenwich, RI 02818 USA
Telephone: 401-885-0545
Robert W. Merriam, Director
This 1918 Steam Macadam Roller originally belonged to the State of Rhode Island. In the mid-1940s the state auctioned the roller and Searles Ball of Block Island won the auction. He used it to repair the damage to the road to one of his family's houses from the 1934 hurricane road. It was used again to repair damage from the 1954 hurricane. In 1967 the roller was donated to the New England Wireless and Steam Museum.[1]
The Shop Number is 11175.
The following images are from September 1,1974 and show Searles Ball working with the roller.
1) The Block Island Times, Volume V, Number 6, August 22, 1974